WORK IN FINLAND

[raamv]

Finland will be self sufficient at least for a couple of generations!!
If you only Rewind to the late 80s in Sweden and the 90s in Denmark, they were like how it is here..so with time These things will iron out as the policies of the Government and some companies here are in some ways in the right direction.
The labor shortage is not really broken down in terms of the urban areas vs rural areas.
Rural areas tend to not want to have anything than Finnish/Swedish and are perfectly capable of living "with the shortage" and will also have problems with immigrants moving there as the value proposition is not much..
Urban areas like HEV area will not mind having the immigrants to integrate with to address the shortages.
As for people who move without preparations, they are going to suffer no matter where they move to!!and complain that the world is an unfair place..

Interesting thing a few days ago..when I was dealing with my Bank in Finnish and English, there were some misunderstandings. Once I approached the officer and proposed a way to deal with the misunderstanding in Finnish only, then things started looking very bright!!
Its not only that Finns expect to provide service in Finnish but the other way around..

[shrecher]

Like, speaking and writing local language...

Of course, the local language is a skill, lack of which should be compensated by another skills.

[mCowboy]

Like, speaking and writing local language...

Of course, the local language is a skill, lack of which should be compensated by another skills.

you mean like Mexicans in the US, who don't speak English end up doing gardening and cleaning pools?

[shrecher]

Hardest part is finding the vacancies to apply for

Finland is not UK. To find a job here be prepared for 4+ months of hard work. You should daily look for opened positions, call companies, submit CV. Even you will successfully pass job interview it might be over two weeks to get the offer (even the company really needs you). This is why the notice period here could last from 4 to 6 months. In many other countries this might look ridiculous, here it is life.

[shrecher]

you mean like Mexicans in the US, who don't speak English end up doing gardening and cleaning pools?

Don't compare US an FI. They are too different on that landscape. In US there is almost no other option than speak English. Perhaps, ER could have a Spanish service. That's all.

If I remember correctly, there are more then 10% of foreigns in Helsinki. In most of public places you can meat English only persons, Finns are fluent in Finglish. There are companies where the English is official language. So, to sum, Finland is far friendly to foreign speaking people the English based countries.

[mCowboy]

Hardest part is finding the vacancies to apply for

Finland is not UK. To find a job here be prepared for 4+ months of hard work. You should daily look for opened positions, call companies, submit CV. Even you will successfully pass job interview it might be over two weeks to get the offer (even the company really needs you). This is why the notice period here could last from 4 to 6 months. In many other countries this might look ridiculous, here it is life.

Notice period generally

Employees
under 5 years of employment -> 2wks
over 5 years -> 1mo

Employers
under 1 year -> 2wks
under 4 years -> 1mo
under 8 years -> 2mo
under 12 years ->4mo
over 12 years ->6mo

Työsopimuslain mukaiset työnantajan noudatettavat irtisanomisajat ovat seuraavat, jos työsuhde on jatkunut keskeytyksettä eikä muuta ole sovittu: 1) Irtisanomisaika on 14 vrk, jos työsuhde on jatkunut enintään vuoden. 2) Irtisanomisaika on kuukausi, jos työsuhde on jatkunut yli vuoden, mutta enintään neljä vuotta. 3) Irtisanomisaika on kaksi kuukautta, jos työsuhde on jatkunut neljä vuotta, mutta enintään kahdeksan vuotta. 4) Irtisanomisaika on neljä kuukautta,jos työsuhde on jatkunut yli kahdeksan vuotta, mutta enintään 12 vuotta. 5) Irtisanomisaika on kuusi kuukautta, jos työsuhde on jatkunut yli 12 vuotta.

Työsopimuslain mukaan työntekijän on noudatettava 14 vrk:n irtisanomisaikaa, jos hän irtisanoutuu keskeytyksettä jatkuneesta työsuhteestaan, joka on kestänyt enintään viisi vuotta. Jos työntekijän työsuhde on jatkunut yli viisi vuotta, hänen tulee noudattaa yhden kuukauden irtisanomisaikaa. Myös työntekijän noudatettavista irtisanomisajoista voidaan poiketa sopimuksella.

[mCowboy]

If I remember correctly, there are more then 10% of foreigns in Helsinki. In most of public places you can meat English only persons,

I don't wanna meat anyone...

[Hank W.]

I wouldn't mind getting carnal

[shrecher]

Notice period generally
....

It is only 6 weeks for YT (union) negotiations in case a company decides go for layoffs. Traditionally, unions agree at least 4 months of pay period since the layoff + notice by contract (1 month). Finally, we have: 6 weeks+4 months+1month.

[Tiwaz]

you mean like Mexicans in the US, who don't speak English end up doing gardening and cleaning pools?

Don't compare US an FI. They are too different on that landscape. In US there is almost no other option than speak English. Perhaps, ER could have a Spanish service. That's all.

If I remember correctly, there are more then 10% of foreigns in Helsinki. In most of public places you can meat English only persons, Finns are fluent in Finglish. There are companies where the English is official language. So, to sum, Finland is far friendly to foreign speaking people the English based countries.

Except you again forget two things...

First, companies who operate with english as work language are huge, but rare. They do not hire that many people.

Second, finns may be fluent but that does not mean they want cashier to say "Bank or Visa" but expect response to be "Pankki vai visa". Nonfinnish speaking customer contact person is worthless. And there just aren't enough comfortable backroom jobs for all willing immigrants.

And about Helsinki, 10% means you still meet 9 times out of 10 people who prefer communicating in either finnish or swedish. Immigrant community is not large enough to support many people who get their living from immigrants only. You need to have finnish customers, which brings us to "pankki vai visa".

[mCowboy]

Notice period generally
....

It is only 6 weeks for YT (union) negotiations in case a company decides go for layoffs. Traditionally, unions agree at least 4 months of pay period since the layoff + notice by contract (1 month). Finally, we have: 6 weeks+4 months+1month.

6 weeks: YT does not mean that you automatically get fired, you're still working for the company and you need to do your job = business as usual

4 months: Traditionally unions haven't been able to get 4 months packages, until very recently. Employer doesn't have to give any other compensation for employee besides, what's stated by the law = notice period based on duration of the work history in the company. If an employer decides to give a severance package, it could be 1 month or 1 year, it's up to their discretion.

1 month: could be 2 weeks or 6 months based on duration of the work history in the company

Don't expect any more than what I stated in my earlier post.

[mrjimsfc]

I don't wanna meat anyone...

Ooh! That sounds vulgar.....but it could be fun.

[antstar]

Hey, nobody is saying there isn't room for skilled and qualified (assuming your qualifications are recognised in Finland... Just that you are thisorthat in whateveristan does NOT equal being qualified HERE) immigrants.

However, what some people sternly refuse to realise is that this is FINLAND.
You know, little like "This is SPARTAAAA!!!" though we don't anymore have bottomless pits to fill with immigrants.

Reality is, in Finland either you speak finnish/swedish or you are odd one out who doesn't really fit in. Finland and finns won't change to better satisfy needs of immigrants, it is immigrant who has to change.

And high unemployment and busy school system makes sure there will be some finn who can be groomed to fill task where immigrant could fit in. It is just question of time and effort, either keep looking or take someone who is available and train them to fit the work. If immigrant beats finn to apply and is able to deal with language and culture, they get the job. If they can't...

Well, it is same as working with only able to speak swahili in China to make it bit more clear to some of you. You MAY find suitable little corner but odds are not as good as if you spoke fluent chinese.


So what is expected is that this skilled immigrant either has sorted out his/her job beforehand or is capable of living in finnish society as it is while looking for that job.

Part of being in society means communicating in ways this society uses for it. Language and culture.

Or we can kick you into bottomless pit. Your call.

I think you need to wake up alittle, in this day and age Europe has changed dramatically and to survive we need to integrate more, sooner rather than later a common "European" language will be needed and it WON'T be Finnish, How many of you remember the Finnish Markka????

[raamv]

Why are you guys trying to explain to this schrecher the Finnish working environment when he seems delusional and ignorant to the facts!!

[Tiwaz]

So you presume to suggest that everyone would switch to english?

Sorry, english is lingua franca but every nation will stick to their languages for any forseeable future. It means everyone better learn language of country they plan to stay in, instead of having wishful dreams of world speaking only english.

Companis will not change their working language to english for one or two foreigners, they instead do not hire immigrants.

You will have died of old age far before joblife has turned into one where finnish no longer is requirement for majority of duties in Finland.