Career Problems/Advice

[astrotrain]

Hello everyone,

I am a new member on these pages, but from reading some of the posts here I hope that someone might relate to my problem and maybe point me to a better direction than the one I am going in.

I'm a foreigner (EU) who has been living in Finland for about three years now, together with my Finnish wife. I don't speak very much Finnish, but I speak English, German, French and Dutch. I recently got my PhD in physics at a Finnish university (I came with a research grant for three years), and I now have a postdoc position at another. The problem is: I don't want to be a scientist or stay at a university. There is very little funding available in my field anyway, there are way too many postdocs who hope for tenure, and apart from that I'm just not that into science any longer.

I have been trying to find a job in Finland for more than two years. I actually wanted to quit my PhD after one year because I did not like it, but I could not find a job, so I continued and obtained my degree anyway. However, I'm back at square one again: I have a job (for one year) that I don't like, but in the industry no one seems to be even remotely interested in a physicist. Even if I try to sell myself with more general skills, they do not even give me a chance. I applied to various jobs, such as analyst, engineer, marketer, consultant, software tester, teacher (at an international school), even cleaner, but my background seems to be irrelevant to Finland's industry. I'm not even looking for a job that has anything to do with physics or science, but somehow every company seems to think that they have no use for me. I visited several career fairs last year and talked to companies but no one spurred any interest; convincing them to take a look at my CV and keep it was already difficult enough, since most people I met there refer to their websites, and don't really want to interact with anyone.

I don't think it has anything to do with the economy though, but it's more a structural problem in Finland. Some people have said that learning Finnish is essential in Finland but even when I browse through all available positions that require Finnish skills, there is not much to see. Am I the only one who thinks that everything revolves around telecommunications, software and paper in this country?

Right now I have an offer for a trainee job with considerably less pay (and believe you me, postdocs don't make that much money anyway!), and it's only 3-5 months. I have no idea whether there are any openings after that with that company or not, so I might end up on the street sooner than with my current job. Should I take a risk that involves less pay, potentially unemployed from the summer onward and no idea whether I will like it at all, or go on and hope for an opportunity that has not come by during the past 2 years? Should I lower my expectations? Am I thinking in the wrong terms?

Here's hoping that someone might have a good idea of where I should be going with my job hunt. Abroad perhaps?

Best,

astrotrain.

[Rosamunda]

Think yourself lucky you don't have children (especially money grabbing teenagers!), a mortgage, dependant parents, health issues etc etc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/fe ... c-downturn

Those most gloomy about their standard of living were aged 50-59 – the sandwich generation most likely to have dependent children and parents, while also facing their own worries about redundancy and under-performing pensions.


(No one can give you the kind of advice you are looking for. You are the only person who can decide what you want to do. If you want to teach, train to be a teacher, but don't drift into it because you can't think what else to do. If you talk like that (your post) when you go for a job interview I don't think you are likely to be offered a job. You need to focus on what you really want to do. Don't blame Finland (you seem to be doing that a lot) and - BTW - trying to hand out photocopies of your CV is probably not going to impress. Contrary to what you think, not everything revolves around "paper" in Finland

[rinso]

Requirements for a job in Finland are generally speaking:
- fluent Finnish
- experience
- relevant degree
- networking
If you can find a job when lacking one or more requirements, consider yourself lucky.

[Skywalker]

Requirements for a job in Finland are generally speaking:
- fluent Finnish
- experience
- relevant degree
- networking
If you can find a job when lacking one or more requirements, consider yourself lucky.

I wouldn't say that fluent finnish is essential, but it depends where you are in the country. I've been here in Tampere for over 3 years now. I now fairly good finnish, my abilty to undersatnd in is much higher than my ability to speak it.

The most important thing to remember is the busines world, whatever it is is mostly not about WHAT you know but WHO you know Get yourself in with the right people. Hard work and networking has got me as far as i have today. it's still slow but its going. i have have great contacts, i earn money, and i learn finnish.

[rinso]

I wouldn't say that fluent finnish is essential, but it depends where you are in the country.

It also depends on how many others apply for the job.
If there are any Finns with equal scores on education and experience, you're an unlikely choice, no matter if the language is essential for the job or not.

[CatNip]

If you are planning to stay and live in Finland, the fact is that complete integration requires Finnish skills.
Most of the Finnish with a degree in physics awould think about a career as a teacher.

Perhaps you could ask advise from the organization of your educational field: http://www.smfl.fi/inenglish.php

Work experience means a lot in Finland. Whatever job you do, work in a way that you will get good references. Good luck and don't give up !

[Pursuivant]

I am at a loss why you still are in Finland, but I guess the HBS is strong in this one.

[mrjimsfc]

Although the OP has told us all the things he doesn't like, we don't know what he DOES want for a job/career. Prospective enployers are probably worried about this same "lack of focus".

[mrjimsfc]

Sorry! Sometimes I get carried away with my pet peeves. Have you tried looking into something like this? It sort of fits with your education.

[Cloudberry]

No one can give you the kind of advice you are looking for. You are the only person who can decide what you want to do. If you want to teach, train to be a teacher, but don't drift into it because you can't think what else to do. If you talk like that (your post) when you go for a job interview I don't think you are likely to be offered a job. You need to focus on what you really want to do. Don't blame Finland (you seem to be doing that a lot) and - BTW - trying to hand out photocopies of your CV is probably not going to impress. Contrary to what you think, not everything revolves around "paper" in Finland

I agree with penelope, although I do believe you can find a professional to help facilitate your career development. You need to get some professional career counselling/coaching to help you develop a career action plan. Until you commit to this process you'll continue to meander along without any real direction. Once you've audited your interests, attributes, skills and life goals, you'll be in a strong position to move forward.

Alumni are usually entitled to free career counselling through their university so I would start there. Good luck!