This thread has been created to help anyone wanting to work in Finland to increase their chances of finding a job. Networking is the best way for foreigners to land a job in Finland. Please fill the following information as much as you can of places where you found work. Lets help each other out.
City
Employer
Type of work or industry
Were you an employee,an intern or self-employed?
In a scale from 1-10, rate your Finnish level during your placement. (1) means you could hardly communicate (10) means you used Finnish 100% of the time. (This is to set realistic views of the language skills needed when sending an application)
*Repeat the same format if you have worked in different cities.
Feel free to describe your experience working as a foreigner in Finland and what is like to work with Finns.
Employers that have hired foreigners. Networking idea.
Employers that have hired foreigners. Networking idea.
Last edited by irvman on Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Employers that have hired foreiners. Networking idea.
Huittinen
Agroset Oy
Picking up cucumbers
Employed
1
Tampere
City of Tampere Cultural and Youth Services
Video Editor
Intern
3
Tammerkosken Spotti
Video Editor
Intern
4
Trash Video
Video Editor
Intern
5
Helsinki
Zodiak Television Oy
Assistant
Hired
5
I have lived 3 years in Finland and I have found it very hard to get a job. I can cope with Finnish language but for my career coping is not enough. I got me a hygiene pass to find job as a cleaner but not even that. I been now living in Espoo and would like to know more about media places that take interns or places where foreigners have had luck getting a job. I know the best way to learn to Finnish is to practice and that is why I want to have a job to practice my little Finnish and make it better. I have found that it is hard to make conversation with Finns outside bars and you must have something in common like be in the same martial arts class. When working with Finns they expect you to have experience in your field (big problem if you just graduated) and if you don't speak Finnish well at least speak English. Working in a group is interesting for as soon as they are done with their part of the task they will immediately leave you on your own even if you need help. Drinking is a big problem when traveling and working, not very comfortable to work with drunks or people with bad hangovers. Overall I can say that it is hard to continue a job with a Finnish company unless you can do a job that Finn cannot such as speaking Chinese or be the best graphic designer in the country. As a foreigner you must work harder than a Finn to be noticed but they will only hire you if they have exhausted all possible options and no longer have time to hire.
Agroset Oy
Picking up cucumbers
Employed
1
Tampere
City of Tampere Cultural and Youth Services
Video Editor
Intern
3
Tammerkosken Spotti
Video Editor
Intern
4
Trash Video
Video Editor
Intern
5
Helsinki
Zodiak Television Oy
Assistant
Hired
5
I have lived 3 years in Finland and I have found it very hard to get a job. I can cope with Finnish language but for my career coping is not enough. I got me a hygiene pass to find job as a cleaner but not even that. I been now living in Espoo and would like to know more about media places that take interns or places where foreigners have had luck getting a job. I know the best way to learn to Finnish is to practice and that is why I want to have a job to practice my little Finnish and make it better. I have found that it is hard to make conversation with Finns outside bars and you must have something in common like be in the same martial arts class. When working with Finns they expect you to have experience in your field (big problem if you just graduated) and if you don't speak Finnish well at least speak English. Working in a group is interesting for as soon as they are done with their part of the task they will immediately leave you on your own even if you need help. Drinking is a big problem when traveling and working, not very comfortable to work with drunks or people with bad hangovers. Overall I can say that it is hard to continue a job with a Finnish company unless you can do a job that Finn cannot such as speaking Chinese or be the best graphic designer in the country. As a foreigner you must work harder than a Finn to be noticed but they will only hire you if they have exhausted all possible options and no longer have time to hire.
Re: Employers that have hired foreigners. Networking idea.
ECHA
assistant/secretary
employed
5
manpower
assistant/secretary
employed
5 but I didn't need any Finnish for the job
Les Galopins (French/finnish kindergarden)
lastenhoittaja
Employed
5
Belgian Embassy
assistant
employed
2
french school Jules Vernes
teacher assistant
employed
0
assistant/secretary
employed
5
manpower
assistant/secretary
employed
5 but I didn't need any Finnish for the job
Les Galopins (French/finnish kindergarden)
lastenhoittaja
Employed
5
Belgian Embassy
assistant
employed
2
french school Jules Vernes
teacher assistant
employed
0