Looking for IT work in (or around) Helsinki

[rinso]

Also, if you are a HR person and you have 2 equal candidates but one speaks the language and the other one doesn't, I reckon you would pick the one that speaks the language

I tend to agree with you. Certainly if a foreigner tries to learn Finnish (even is it stays below par) it shows he is willing to commit himself to Finland. That is a positive aspect in the recruiting process.
But don't expect to learn enough Finnish for work level in a few years. English will remain your working language for a long time.

[finlandforumuser]

Certainly if a foreigner tries to learn Finnish (even is it stays below par) it shows he is willing to commit himself to Finland.

A person would show far more significant respect to the country if he or she would hardly work and pay high tax. As higher tax as higher commit self to Finland.

[Pursuivant]

well if they want to let their maid do the shopping by all means...

[Pursuivant]

Next, HR ( or actually prospective manager) would select the person with higher skill set than language (meaning IT where I work here over decade).

well if I had a person been here years and not speaking the language I'd make it my point not to speak English at all.

And again, after learing Finnish in 5 years you would very likely decide to travel around world to work in other countries

why would you hire someone who is going to leave?

[finlandforumuser]

And again, after learing Finnish in 5 years you would very likely decide to travel around world to work in other countries

why would you hire someone who is going to leave?

People come and people leave. This is normal process. Even a person speaks local language it is not guaranteed he or she would not decide to work somewhere abroad in couple years. This, however, doesn't mean a local company should not hire. Labor force rotation is something natural.

[Pursuivant]

and why do you think women in "fertile age" have problems getting hired?

[Oombongo]

I really don't need the language at job but I would like to learn because I need to interact and deal with folks outside of my work cave.

[Pursuivant]

w00t? you have a life outside your job!?

[Mies Belgiasta]

I tend to disagree with the statement that one doesn't need to know the language in the field of IT. I've applied for a lot of jobs, and always got a "no, thanks...". Happened last week to me, I applied my CV to a Finnish IT company here in Espoo, this guy my gf's dad knows told me to send him my CV. I got a reply a few days later trough the dad, saying I would be appropriate for the job, if I spoke better Finnish.

Maybe in a big international company, where everyone has to speak English your rule may apply. But unfortunately not in the other Finnish companies.

[sy]

I also have similiar experience recently. I applied for an IT project manager position at a small Finnish IT company (even their company name is pure Finnish). I got a quite quick reply that my qualification and background is good and interesting to them, but the only consideration at that moment is my Finnish language skill.

In my CV I mentioned that I have got the certificate of YKI taso 4. And in my reply to them I explained that I can speak Finnish in everyday life and work related issues. My actual skill level of Finnish could probably at least Level 5, if not Level 6. I haven't yet taken the test of Ylin taso, because I have never been required to show such a cerficate in any situation before.

The HR lady promised that they would contact me in two weeks; however, they failed to do so.

[finlandforumuser]

In my CV I mentioned that I have got the certificate of YKI taso 4. And in my reply to them I explained that I can speak Finnish in everyday life and work related issues. My actual skill level of Finnish could probably at least Level 5, if not Level 6. I haven't yet taken the test of Ylin taso, because I have never been required to show such a cerficate in any situation before.

The HR lady promised that they would contact me in two weeks; however, they failed to do so.

Very good example when professional skills are far more important than linguistic. In spite of good or excellent local language you were not hired as your professional skills not match to company expectations. Or your experience was not found attractive. If you would be previously employed by Microsoft for 5 years, I believe, it would be no problem in finding job here. Btw, currently MS at Ireland is hiring.

[Rosa_G]

Hæ Kjarri,
rakst inn á síðuna til að taka út augl. mína hérna og rak augun í umræðuþráðinn frá þér. Gangi þér vel að finna vinnu hérna í Helsinki!

Mbk,

[Kjarri.Ho]

Hæ Kjarri,
rakst inn á síðuna til að taka út augl. mína hérna og rak augun í umræðuþráðinn frá þér. Gangi þér vel að finna vinnu hérna í Helsinki!

Mbk,

Takk fyrir það

[Tiwaz]

Very good example when professional skills are far more important than linguistic. In spite of good or excellent local language you were not hired as your professional skills not match to company expectations. Or your experience was not found attractive. If you would be previously employed by Microsoft for 5 years, I believe, it would be no problem in finding job here. Btw, currently MS at Ireland is hiring.

Did you bother to READ his message? The problem was precisely his language skills, he did not have anything to prove that he really has reached level 5 or 6.

If you think that companies that make up huge majority of employers, small to medium, will want to start changing their way of working because one poorly speaking foreigner is hired you are total idiot.

If you do not speak fluent Finnish, you are very likely shut out from majority of employment area. Nobody wants to rock the boat in small/med company for sake of one foreigner who might just leave next year. And trying to push to (most likely) already overworked staff new language policy is rocking the boat.

[Kjarri.Ho]

Hey everyone,
Nice to see how this thread has developed

I've managed to find a decent job in the IT business that requires only English skills (and some Cisco knowledge). It's actually pretty much what I was doing back home so I'm very pleased.
The way I found the job was that a friend of my girlfriend told me to apply there. They didn't have an opening per-se, at least they hadn't advertised it yet so I was lucky.
But to all the English-speakers, just keep sending out them applications and don't give up hunting and don't be afraid to send out tons of open applications (even if the company hasn't listed an opening), it will pay off in the end.

Thanks for all the pointers and advises I've gotten here