I want to Be a Manager

[Mölkky-Fan]

I would like a few more inches... can someone help me out?

My wife doesn't, so no offers please

[maurine]

Finnish language is a major requirement if you need to work in this country. Being a manager is another thing........i think its hard for Finns to be bossed by foreigner, or simply there are few foreign managers unless the company is yours.

[Mölkky-Fan]

Finnish language is a major requirement if you need to work in this country. Being a manager is another thing........i think its hard for Finns to be bossed by foreigner, or simply there are few foreign managers unless the company is yours.

The second part is generalising a little, I am a COO and not Finnish (and it is not my company) and I know of other non-Finnish senior managers (I know a Dane, 3 Brits, 2 Americans, 1 Chilean, a Frenchman, a Canadian lady and an Austian in senior positions... VP or higher, and I do not claim to know a large number of foreigners here). Depends on the person and the company.

Finns (like most people) appreciate good managers and when things are going well for them personally are quite happy, and I have only come up against the mentality you mention a couple of times, and anyway if it is not the nationality it will probably be something else and rightly so, managers have a responsibility to employees and if they do not met expectations then they deserve critisism.

As I have said a few times, if you find the right company (mostly export sales for example where Finnish is not so important) and the right management/ owners then there are jobs available if you have the skills (and of course some luck and hard work). When I came to Finland I went from senior PM position to lowliest PM position just to get a job after some painful searching... then you have to prove yourself. Being a foreigner is a handicap is some ways, but it helps you stand out if you are good enough... and if you have English or some other required language as your mother tongue then this can also be a benefit.

[Pursuivant]

Well the thing is Finns hate to be managed in a foreign manner. It doesn't depend if the boss is Finnish or Chinese but if (s)hes hovering over you every second wanting this and that...(micromanagement) and then has this fake smile and says how great you are all the time scheming how to knife you into the back (american style) or is too uptight (german style) then its kill-kill-teletubby time. Finnish workers are like independent cruise missiles, not fly-by-wire. Thats also why in USA theres in a hotel three receptionists, one that can read, one that can write, and then one thats a minority for the quota, and three bosses one which can count, one which can kiss ass and the owners fat nephew... and in Finland theres one person doing all those jobs. So we really don't have much "management"... so its not the nationality but the culture that counts. Foreigners just tend to have a different culture...

[Cod]

and in Finland theres one person doing all those jobs...

..fair point..in UK we had the Boss, Directors, Regional Directors, Associates, Architects, Architects Assistants and students.

In Finland we have the Boss, and the rest. Its' wierd but seems to work.

[Mölkky-Fan]

I must have the best job in the world, with mostly Finnish employees how can we fail to rule the world!

Finnish workers are like independent cruise missiles

reminds me of the famous sketch of the 100m for those with no sense of direction...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16iNk1hLJt4

[maurine]

Finnish language is a major requirement if you need to work in this country. Being a manager is another thing........i think its hard for Finns to be bossed by foreigner, or simply there are few foreign managers unless the company is yours.

The second part is generalising a little, I am a COO and not Finnish (and it is not my company) and I know of other non-Finnish senior managers (I know a Dane, 3 Brits, 2 Americans, 1 Chilean, a Frenchman, a Canadian lady and an Austian in senior positions... VP or higher, and I do not claim to know a large number of foreigners here). Depends on the person and the company.

Finns (like most people) appreciate good managers and when things are going well for them personally are quite happy, and I have only come up against the mentality you mention a couple of times, and anyway if it is not the nationality it will probably be something else and rightly so, managers have a responsibility to employees and if they do not met expectations then they deserve critisism.

As I have said a few times, if you find the right company (mostly export sales for example where Finnish is not so important) and the right management/ owners then there are jobs available if you have the skills (and of course some luck and hard work). When I came to Finland I went from senior PM position to lowliest PM position just to get a job after some painful searching... then you have to prove yourself. Being a foreigner is a handicap is some ways, but it helps you stand out if you are good enough... and if you have English or some other required language as your mother tongue then this can also be a benefit.

good for you then. maybe i am just being a stereotype.