Contemplating job in Finland in 12-24 months time

[prince_capri]

Hei!

(One of the few words I have learnt over the last two days )

I have been seeing someone from Finland for some time now, and am contemplating moving to Finland in an year or two time to be closer to her. My main concern for now, is career opportunities in Finland (I will plead ignorance here!). My background is as follows:

- 23 year old male, Originally from India.
- I have been in England for 6+ years now, 5 of which were spent studying (A levels + Bachelors + Masters) Electonic and Communications Engineering, which I graduated with 2:1 last year.
- I have been in full-time employment since graduation (15+ months now) and currently have IGS (International Graduate Scheme) visa, which will be upgraded to HSMP come February!
- I work in IT sector, as a software analyst for a software firm in England (though the firm is actually a global company, offices in India, US, UK etc...)
- I have no knowledge of Finnish language or culture (except for a few words I have been picking up recently through the girl I am with).
- I am not a big fan of cold weather (but anything consistent is better than English rain!)

So yea, if I am want to move to Finland and find some suitable job there (IT or Electronics or Communications industry, guess Nokia would be top choice!), what hurdles will I face?

I would definitely require visa, would that be a very complicated procedure? Would my tenure in England smooth things over?

I presume the job market is (like anywhere else in the world) lacking at present? Other than present scenario, how has Finnish job market been?

Anything else you could suggest?

Kiipis.

[smilesalot]

Many of your questions are answered here on Finland Forum, please feel free to use the search engine to find them, those you cant find ask the FF group.
Yes anything is possible, but the most important thing is to have your papers in order. It makes your life easier of course if you find your job before you come, because usually the companies here will help you with all the legal issues. Your significant other can also help, if and when that time comes by contacting the Finnish Embassy. Another option that is recommended is coming and visiting here, make some contacts and visit some companies that need and use your technological skills, see how their business is run, tell them your plans to move here because sometimes these companies have business plans that they will be needing someone like you. One of your weaknesses is your experience level since you are only 23 you haven't been that long out in the business world, to help boost that you should prepare some kind of presentation of your knowledge base and what you can do. Also be alittle wary because there are some businesses that will take advantage of you because you are a foreigner and don't understand the way things are done as you probably know make sure you get everything in writing. The weather here is different as well so visiting here at different seasons so a good idea is come experience the darkness and lightness, as well

Hope this gives you a general feel of what your asking for, but please research this website first.

smilesalot

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.
Kahlil Gibran

[rinso]

Yes, you need a residence permit.
The reasons for obtaining one are:
- family ties (marry that girl)
- study (only gives temporary permit)
- job (need a job first)

So you need to find a job first before you can apply for a RP. And employers have to give preference to EU applicants when they have a vacant position.
And although IT is a branch where people without Finnish skills can find a job, many employers do prefer people who do speak Finnish.

In the past year there have been a lot of lay-offs also in Nokia. When there are new openings they start with rehiring those people.

Off course, nothing is impossible, but don't get your hopes up to high.

[nsdh]

Hi,

Better to ask your gril friend to move with you for 5 years or so. It is not easy to get job in finland with 1-2 years of experience. If you have 5 years experience, i would say you have good chance of entry level jobs later and if lucky better job.

For your info, I'm from IT field. so you can trust me.

It is cold and Finland salary is not worth with tax to move here, only summer is greate here. I dont have much options now so I'm in Finland.

[Pursuivant]

Yeah my sentiments exactly, a Finn can find a job in the UK yesterday... vice versa... I'm *not* going to elaborate.

[TampereOwl]

You're eligible for British citizenship, I think, so get naturalised and remove the RP requirement.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... uirements/

[Pursuivant]

Helps moving over tremendously - still doesn't make your arse gilt in getting a job

[Pursuivant]

get naturalised

Ah.. it states there:

you are of sound mind;

he wants to move to Finland

no can do. Insanity plea milord.

[prince_capri]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the detailed responses...I will try and answer (where apt) and thank one by one...

Many of your questions are answered here on Finland Forum, please feel free to use the search engine to find them, those you cant find ask the FF group.

Its the 21st century conundrum! Too many choices, so I was unsure where to start, hence decided to post a background thread to get a more specialised response.

Yes anything is possible, ....... but please research this website first.

Thank you, I do appreciate the detailed response I will look for more information in other threads!

So you need to find a job first before you can apply for a RP. And employers have to give preference to EU applicants when they have a vacant position.
And although IT is a branch where people without Finnish skills can find a job, many employers do prefer people who do speak Finnish.

Off course, nothing is impossible, but don't get your hopes up to high.

Hi rinso, thank you for your response. Well, yes, situation does sound grim, but lets see how it goes. Obviously I understand that EU applicants are given preference, but like HSMP in England, is there any such provision in Finland? Whereby, people can work legally, for a limited time, without a Residence Permit? This is something (as I mentioned before) I have in England, I am not a resident, though I can legally work under IGS scheme.

For your info, I'm from IT field. so you can trust me.

It is cold and Finland salary is not worth with tax to move here, only summer is greate here. I dont have much options now so I'm in Finland.

Well, I trust you As I said, it does look grim. Thanks

You're eligible for British citizenship, I think, so get naturalised and remove the RP requirement.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... uirements/

Thanks TO, but unfortunately, British government does its best to not make the process easy. Being a student doesn't count towards the time required for naturalisation. My current visa doesn't either. So if anything, it will take me atleast 5 more years to be eligible, I guess we'll cross that bridge once we get to it.

[Pursuivant]

Whereby, people can work legally, for a limited time, without a Residence Permit?

Only picking berries in lappland really... and you get a residence permit for a limited time at first. You think UK bureaucracy is something, remember Finns got taught their bureaucracy by Prussians employed by Russians.

[raamv]

So the pipe dram questions have not subsided yet...

[prince_capri]

Pipe Dream Questions?

New development in circumstances, which warrants another question.

Girlfriend is contemplating coming to England to study Primary Teacher Training here, instead of University of Turku in Finland. We are in the process of applying at present. A question, which was raised by her mother is about the significance or relevance of English degree in Finland.

The course in Finland would have lasted 5 years (which I presume is 3 years of Bachelors + 2 yrs of Masters). In England, there is just a 3 year course for PTT (and I am unsure if you can follow that up with some kind of masters..I am sure taht is possible!) Now if anyone would know, would an English degree for her be considered an important asset in Finland? If she was to get a degree here, work here for 2 odd years, would her prospects still be good in Finland?

Thanks!

[Pursuivant]

UK employment standards are lower; to get a tenure in Finland ( a job as "unqualified" she can get) she'd have to complete her studies to get the "qualified papers" here. Then again then you wouldn't have paperwork problems as much if you decided to come over.

[prince_capri]

Hey Pursuviant. Thanks for the response, but there is still some doubt. So after completing 3 years of studies and 2 years of work, she will have trouble finding work in Finland? Or won't she?

Would following this up with a Masters in England be useful?

Will she have to do another degree of sort sort to be employable as a teacher in Finland?

Neither she or I know much about Finnish university and job system, so I am trying to find as much info as I can really.

[inkku]

Neither she or I know much about Finnish university and job system, so I am trying to find as much info as I can really.

Suggest swapping a useless girlfriend to a more useful one.

https://www.oph.fi/koulutus_ja_tutkinno ... nustaminen