How do you get a job in Finland?

[Tiwaz]

So what kind of low level job you are thinking?

You can't @#$% flip burgers without FINNISH, or did you presume that person hiring will not think of the mess that takes place when language for communication between front and kitchen has to be changed?
Or did you want to come to counter? Well, tough news OP, I am NOT changing language for some foreigner if I am in Finland and require service. Either you learn language, find someone who knows language or I change place where I do my business.

In short, only jobs where you can get job without Finnish and without any special education are pretty much cleaning jobs. And want to guess how many OTHER no-speak foreigners are already queuing up for them?


Regarding stuff people said about English in office. Yes, huge corporations tend to have English as official language, and it is respected to varied degrees. But reality is, that majority of jobs are NOT in large companies but small to midsize. And there office language is more often Finnish than not.

[jahasjahas]

Or did you want to come to counter? Well, tough news OP, I am NOT changing language for some foreigner if I am in Finland and require service. Either you learn language, find someone who knows language or I change place where I do my business.

Yep, that's how it works in general, although some bars seem to employ people who don't speak much Finnish. I seem to remember being served in English at least in Molly Malone's and Kuudes Linja. But there's quite a difference between their clientele and the people who eat at McD's.

[tummansininen]

Let me know if you find the magic solution... I've even been turned away from cleaning jobs because other applicants had Finnish. It is not a question of "which jobs can you do", it is a question of "which jobs am I the best applicant for above all the others going for work right now". Unfortunately, unless you are in a super-in-demand-niche-speciality, there will already be a Finn applying for the job you want, whose qualifications are as good as yours, but has the added bonus of fluent Finnish.

Things that aren't an advantage which you probably think are:
1. Fluent English (there are millions of them here)
2. Native English (Finns actually think that anyone fluent is as good as a native speaker, and tons have studied English to university level)
3. Spanish (I've met a handful of people who speak it in my three years here, but never anyone who uses it for their job)
4. the fact you've already got two languages (those two in particular won't help you with Finnish I'm afraid)
5. being good with computers/technology (most of the country, and even grannies use internet banking here)
6. having a degree (so has most of the country, or even two of them)
7. confidence and determination (rightly or wrongly can be seen as arrogance by some Finns)
8. Nokia (announced this week they're laying off ten thousand employees)

Your best bet is to land a permanent job here before making the trip, and that's a longshot - the employer generally must be able to prove they can't source an employee from anywhere in the EU before they can hire you for the job, and then be willing to deal with the red tape to import you. Regrettably 90 days of Finnish classes won't realistically get you to the point of discussing the weather - it's a consensus around these parts that 2-3 years of study is "workplace" level Finnish, depending on how intense the study is, and it's sadly common to find "decade club" members who still can't speak it fluently.

You might, however, be able to get a transfer into Finland if you were to get a job in either the US or any other country, which has Finnish offices and is willing to transfer you to Finland. This might be where Nokia could be a leg in?

[Pursuivant]

This might be where Nokia could be a leg in?

If you have followed the news any, the only leg Nokia is giving is a boot in the ass.

[tummansininen]

See my point 8
Sucky prospects, but then, they still have another 100 000 jobs elsewhere in the world. Maybe one or two are still hiring.

[Kutittaa]

This might be where Nokia could be a leg in?

If you have followed the news any, the only leg Nokia is giving is a boot in the ass.

+ 10

That would be very funny, if the situation wasn't so serious.

[Amarulka]

To the desired professions (without Finnish) you can add construction engineers, architects and 3D artists (visualizations and animations).

[Kutittaa]

I disagree.

[Pursuivant]

and 3D artists (visualizations and animations).

I thought they have better opportunity in Greece
- here you see your money
- here you no see money

[Ramonator]

Thanks for your replies guys.

[Amarulka]

I disagree.

You may, but it is a fact..

[Kutittaa]

A fact, or just your opinion?

[Amarulka]

From my own and my friends' (and friends of friends) experience it became a fact.

My opinion has always been that it is very difficult to find any position in Finland but those three fields seem to be exceptional. Or I have exceptionally talented friends..

[Kutittaa]

A few lucky friends, doesn't make it a fact...............

[Amarulka]

What makes a fact then?

All people I know with those professions disappeared from the market within 2 weeks. That makes me suspect it might be a general rule.
Anyways, I am not going to be stubborn about it. Just shared my impression (since you said it is not a fact)

Sorry for the confusion I brought to the discussion.