World "Recession"-- no job?

[Pursuivant]

wouldn't dismiss Norway offhand either. they got oil and money and they still do employ...

[rinso]

Compared to Finland, The Netherlands is a heaven for foreign workers. Plenty of low level jobs to start (if you don't mind drunk Polish chaps as co-workers ). From there you have time to find your niche. Language barrier is much lower and "foreigner" is not a dirty word.

[raamv]

hmm But why Finland, Netherlands or Norway?
and in case you didnt know, language tech. Could be a niche if you know the right companies..

[rinso]

Am I wrong to be so pessimistic about finding a technology job in Finland?

No.
Since you have a "soft" linguistic education (as I understand from your post) but you do not speak Finnish, I think it will be almost impossible to find a job in your profession in Finland.

[mrjimsfc]

Another trouble is that my degree isn't overly technical-- it doesn't/won't say: "BSc/MSc Language Technology" or "BSc/MSc Computational Linguistics" it's essentially going to be a humanities (general linguistics) degree with a minor in IT/Language Tech, and I've not got ANY formal (i.e. paid) experience with computers.

I can (already) make small talk in Finnish and say things that would really only be useful in a nightclub, in bed or the morning after.

It appears as though you have a specialization in "Copulational Linguistics" and the only job that would help with is becoming a gigolo. That may not be as bad as it sounds. Overweight older women have a lot of money to spend on younger exotic men. Of course, there is the issue with legality....

Some may think this post is funny. Some may think it's crude. Actually, it really is a viable alternative for a short time until you can find a real (lower paying and taxable) job.

Realism can be such a b*tch.

[Pursuivant]

future prospects as a rent boy.... erm... I wouldn't jot *that* down into the cv