Working in Finland?

[Mrneedajob]

Hi, I am a US citizen looking for work, hopefully teaching English in Finland.

I am looking towards a job teaching English in Finland.

I taught in Korea last year and I have a college degree in Political Science for a major University.

I am a retarded American without any formal education in teaching, but I still believe my arse is gilt.

I just started looking this week and am shooting to be in Finland by late next spring or early summer.

So I met this HotBlonde and acquired the HotBlondeSyndrome.

I am curious, where are some good spots online to look for work and what avenues should I take to better my chances of a job?

It is known 35 credits in education brings one qualified to perform as a teacher in their major.

Thank you so much.

We rather you pissed off, lest pray tell us, have you any character in bridge?

Look at the clown everyone!!!

[interleukin]

This "clown" is actually one of the more helpful people in the forum (he has written thousands of posts explaining to clueless idiots how things work). He just needs to fine-polish his people skills sometimes.

[Mrneedajob]

This "clown" is actually one of the more helpful people in the forum (he has written thousands of posts explaining to clueless idiots how things work). He just needs to fine-polish his people skills sometimes.

So if someone doesn't know something about another country they are all the sudden "clueless?" If you guys are so all knowing and so all powerful, why do you come to forums like this to help the peons? Shouldn't kings be sitting in their castle enjoying the spoils of life? Or do you just come here to play pretend?

[rinso]

And the kings invented Google so they would avoid the stupid questions about things "everybody knows".
And they hired jesters to mock those foreigners who wanted to come to "the best country in the world" without doing some homework.

[interleukin]

So if someone doesn't know something about another country they are all the sudden "clueless?"

Don't get all wound up now. You made your post and asked some questions before doing anything stupid or drastic. So you are not one of the clueless idiots referred to. Not in my opinion at least, that is why I wanted to help you out with info.

The really clueless idiots (and the ones who make Pursuivant and everyone else on the forum go all hostile) are the ones who write a post on the forum with something like "hey, I have moved here now and the stupid bureaucrats don't want to do what I imagined they would do (without bothering to find out rules/regulations". Or "hey, they said it would be hard to find a job but I was convinced that was just for other people, not me!" Another ruined year and money thrown away. We have seen it so many times that it is hard to not get cynical.

[Mrneedajob]

So if someone doesn't know something about another country they are all the sudden "clueless?"

Don't get all wound up now. You made your post and asked some questions before doing anything stupid or drastic. So you are not one of the clueless idiots referred to. Not in my opinion at least, that is why I wanted to help you out with info.

The really clueless idiots (and the ones who make Pursuivant and everyone else on the forum go all hostile) are the ones who write a post on the forum with something like "hey, I have moved here now and the stupid bureaucrats don't want to do what I imagined they would do (without bothering to find out rules/regulations". Or "hey, they said it would be hard to find a job but I was convinced that was just for other people, not me!" Another ruined year and money thrown away. We have seen it so many times that it is hard to not get cynical.

I understand. I have been part of boards like that as well. I do appreciate all the help you guys have given. I scoured the net for a lot of into and came up empty on a lot of sites. I did email the consulate, but they haven't got back to me yet. Like I said, I taught in Korea, so I know somewhat of how to mine for information regarding employment abroad. Yes, it is much more simple to get a job in Korea due to their demand for a Native English speakers.

Thanks again for the help. I will keep you updated with any updates.

[Upphew]

I understand. I have been part of boards like that as well. I do appreciate all the help you guys have given. I scoured the net for a lot of into and came up empty on a lot of sites. I did email the consulate, but they haven't got back to me yet.

Do read http://www.migri.fi and take some time to scour more of Finland Forum.

Like I said, I taught in Korea, so I know somewhat of how to mine for information regarding employment abroad. Yes, it is much more simple to get a job in Korea due to their demand for a Native English speakers.

Teaching English in Finland is quite popular idea, so it is discussed many times here too. Long story short: if employer want to hire someone outside of EU (without existing residence permit) then they must show how that talent is not available inside EU -> your main selling points being native speaker and teaching experience -> we have similar skills available in Finland already, not to mention EU. In fact if I had to hire someone with English skills and teaching experience, I would start by PM:ing Penelope and Bubba Elvis in this forum...

[rinso]

I scoured the net for a lot of into and came up empty on a lot of sites.

I find that hard to believe.
When you search for instance for: "Finland, immigration, work" or "working in Finland" (title of this topic) you get several useful links on the first page, including mol.fi. They contain all the background information you need. In fact, most of the information provided in this forum comes from these sources.

What you don't find is a quantification of your chances. That is where this forum can add things.
Unfortunately chances are not big and therefore our advice is often perceived as negative.
Sometimes people (mostly foreigners) condemn this "negativity" and that in turn provoke harsh reactions.

[Mrneedajob]

I scoured the net for a lot of into and came up empty on a lot of sites.

I find that hard to believe.
When you search for instance for: "Finland, immigration, work" or "working in Finland" (title of this topic) you get several useful links on the first page, including mol.fi. They contain all the background information you need. In fact, most of the information provided in this forum comes from these sources.

What you don't find is a quantification of your chances. That is where this forum can add things.
Unfortunately chances are not big and therefore our advice is often perceived as negative.
Sometimes people (mostly foreigners) condemn this "negativity" and that in turn provoke harsh reactions.

I have found sites with info for sure, its just a new experience because I have never looked for a job in the EU. When you type in work in Korea there are more job opportunities than sand on the beach! For Finland, I have found things for students and student teaching, but in terms of possible job placement, not much.

[EP]

When you type in work in Korea there are more job opportunities than sand on the beach! For Finland, I have found things for students and student teaching, but in terms of possible job placement, not much.

South Korea --> 50 million people
Finland --> 5 million people

[sammy]

Try Googling "työpaikat Koreassa" - that should also tell you something, in an indirect way...

did you mean "työpaikat kajaanissa"

(in some matters, Google is not a very good tool)

[rinso]

I have found sites with info for sure, its just a new experience because I have never looked for a job in the EU. When you type in work in Korea there are more job opportunities than sand on the beach! For Finland, I have found things for students and student teaching, but in terms of possible job placement, not much.

So you were expecting job adverts?
Well the lack of them is some indication of how things are at the moment.

[Pursuivant]

And they hired jesters

I've heard the "check is in the mail" - I'd prefer cash.

[Mrneedajob]

Consider Pursuivant's replies to you as a baptism of fire. I wouldn't say that Finns in general will speak to you like this from day to day; in fact, they generally won't say anything out loud at all. But some of them will be THINKING exactly what he has said. You need to adapt your attitude if you want to succeed in Finland. Again not a criticism but an observation, drop your defensiveness a little bit and teach yourself to be far, far less easily "riled". If you don't, you will continually think that people have it in for you once you actually live here. It's not fun to go about your day to day life thinking that Finland has it in for you. And standing up for yourself by aggressively blurting out what you think will get you nowhere, particularly Americans are seen as far too aggressive. It's a culture difference, and although you could quite reasonably think it's unfair, it's still the way you'll be seen - you can't change the way five million Finns think, so unfortunately it's *you* who will need to temper your assertiveness.

There are thousands more English speakers here than there are opportunities to teach. I realise that sounds strange, but Finns have plenty of exposure to the language, it's on the tv 24 hours a day and 90% of students study it in school. The vast majority of students complete at least one degree after school. The end result is that there are LOTS of "qualified" teachers who are fluent in English. Finns seem to think that a degree-qualified non-native speaker is better to teach English to other Finns than a native speaker is.

End result is that even those of us with half a brain and good English skills will never be chosen to teach ahead of a qualified Finn. Even with experience. As Penelope noted it's hard enough for the highly qualified immigrant teachers to get work. Those that do get work will get contracts - hourly or weekly rate that doesn't count as a permanent job - there are several posters on this forum who've been stuck in these contracts for YEARS, and every Summer they are out of work and wonder if they'll be able to get any work in August. Finns in general have no idea how hard it is for immigrants to get work. Ask the immigrants in this forum who have a Finnish spouse, they're usually shocked at the difficulties faced, they just take it for granted that there's work for anyone who tries hard (and I suppose we have the same attitude in our own countries, but then we've never tried to find work without speaking the local language back home!).

It's good that you are doing the research now rather than waiting. The necessary visa or permits can be quite a wait and you will need a reason to be here (family ties, permanent job or fulltime university/polytechnic position offered to you) BEFORE you apply which might need to be up to 5-6 months before you arrive, you can't turn up and then try to get meet one of the options unless you plan to marry her on arrival. I don't think you've given any indication of a "more than girlfriend" relationship to the Finnish lady mentioned, so existing family ties won't work. I personally can't see that you have any realistic likelihood of being offered a permanent job while you're still in the USA unless she can arrange a job for you. That leaves study and that's why people suggested it to you.

Good luck with your quest.

Thanks for the well though out post, I agree with you on most if not all points. They are all logical and reasonable. Like I said I will keep looking and keep trying. I will also do my best to have a better attitude towards mockery or rejections!