Jobs for non-finnish speaker?

Maximiliano · Post by **Maximiliano** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:59 am

Hi,

I am an EU citizen and recently came to Helsinki to live with my partner. I don't speak Finnish yet but I am a native speaker of English, Spanish and Catalan. I have also just been awarded a Master in Mechanical Engineering (First Class).

I found that in order to register to get help finding work and cheap Finnish courses, I need a Finnish social security number, and for that I need to register with the police as a permanent resident which requires me to prove that I am staying here permanently, i.e. a job with sufficient income. This system seems strange to me because effectively I'm not eligible for help until I no longer need it. I still really need a job, any job I can find for now whilst I learn Finnish.

Can anyone suggest work that I might be able to do here without speaking Finnish?

**Sponsor:**

markbaker · Post by **markbaker** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:16 pm

I have wondered this myself. Seems like your pissing in to the wind unless you know some one who is willing to put you forward to a business. Im sure you will get some negative critics on this forum.

The best option is to go to pubs and kitchens because they don't usually care where your from as long as you work hard.

Language is number one for job searching in Finland, because they are the shyest society and they don't want to talk any thing but native tongue. I see this being very fair it's their world.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:34 pm

Well, the most "help" you would get from the employment office is "look in the internet", so not much loss there. Well, if you do look,theres a few jobs even in English. Your problem is that you're just qualified and they want someone thats got experience... well, how do you get experience if you don't get work... There are temp agencies like Studentwork and others that can help you get something, though these days for all jobs it seems you need some sort of hygiene pass or parquet cosmetology certificate.

Maximiliano · Post by **Maximiliano** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:11 pm

Thank you for the replies. I have signed up with studentwork which might help and I will look at all their vacancies (google translate loaded and ready). I will also try going around pubs and kitchens. If I find work this way it will be thanks to you.

nata_lia · Post by **nata_lia** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:03 am

Hi,

How are you?
I recently came to Helsinki, I am an EU citizen and and I have the same situation like you. So I'd like to ask you if you found a job? And what you did? Did you get a permanenet residence?
Your information will be very helpful for me, I came just a week ago and I don't really know from where to start.

Thank you.

catwoman · Post by **catwoman** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:17 pm

The thing with the language course is, that you do not need the social security number at all to get a cheap one... there are courses that you can find here: https://ilmonet.fi/ilmo/#KurssienSelailuView&e&. I was participating in the Finnish courses, and I was not paying much at all. And I was not having a social security number back then. I also had a great teacher, if you'd be interested, I can send you her name in priv, so that you can maybe find a course that she is being a teacher of.

When it comes to the permanent address... You need to have the job contract that is for at least 1 year. Otherwise you can only get the temporary one. Or then there's the marriage option, which I don't know if concerns you.

catwoman · Post by **catwoman** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:22 pm

oh yes, and with the police thing... Since you do not have a job yet, you indeed need to prove to them, that you are able to support yourself. From what they were telling me, there's no particular amount that you need to have in the account, but like they say "it needs to be enough". And back when I was asking, it also was required, taht you tell/write, how much you are going to spend "on this and that". Complicated procedure, I know.

Adamhoward · Post by **Adamhoward** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:35 pm

You dont need to register with the police station to get SS number, or at leas i didint have to, Head to the majistrates (pardon the spelling) court, there will be one for the area you live in, and you can get your ss number there, you will need to apply at the police station but give it 3 months so you have the evidence you need,

Hope this heps. Give me a shout if you need anything else

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:59 pm

Adamhoward wrote:You dont need to register with the police station to get SS number, or at leas i didint have to, Head to the majistrates (pardon the spelling) court, there will be one for the area you live in, and you can get your ss number there, you will need to apply at the police station but give it 3 months so you have the evidence you need,

Social security numbers haven't been issued since Jesus rode on the dinosaurs: http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/default.aspx?id=45
Maistraatti = local register offices, nothing to do with courts. They do issue the PIN: http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/Services/p ... formation/
By the way, see the "How does the registration happen?" part.

Maximiliano · Post by **Maximiliano** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 5:33 pm

Hi,

Natalia, I ended up taking an offer back in London starting soon and because of this I did not continue looking for work and language courses. So to answer your questions no I did not find work nor permanent residency. What I recommend for you is that you register with the library (Helmet), get the card and then you can start taking out books. I learned some Finnish this way. The Ilmonet courses that catwoman mentioned are also good and cheap, the reason I didn't do them is because the courses start around september and last for months (not helpful during summer), but this should be perfect for you. Marriage or pregnancy are indeed also options. What Catwoman said about the 1 year contract and paperwork sounds right too. I wish you the best of luck Natalia.

catwoman · Post by **catwoman** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:11 pm

Well, I had to go to the police station, to get the paper, that I'm allowed to stay for more than 3 monts. Without it I could NOT get the number from Maistratti. Like point 2, in "How does the registration happen?" posted by Upphew states: "Bring your passport and valid residence permit with you".

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:22 pm

You get the number off the maistraatti if you have a "reason" (work, study, family), but they tick you in as "temporary". To become a resident = get KELA, benefits, etc and show in the computer as "living in Finland" you need to go to the police and get the "EU registration" which requires proof you can support yourself (so you wont use those benefits you are entitled to) , then show that to the maistraatti...

catwoman · Post by **catwoman** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 1:12 pm

Yes, reason of getting the number is true. BUT anyway, the police thing must have been done in my case, even I AM an EU citizen. And at the police station, in order to get registered (not having only the tourist status anymore) either the proof of being able to self-support or job contract must be presented. And in Maistratti any job contract was enough. BUT to get registered as permanently living here, the contract must be for AT LEAST 1 year, otherwise the status is "temporary living in Finland".

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:19 pm

EU citizen exactly needs to "do the Police thing". If you were a non-EU, you'd already had that assesment done getting a RP before you got into the country. The thing with the police is, that as the EU gives this vague description that for example a "specific sum" of money can't be asked, its all then up to the local station and their method of assessing what is "enough". KELA then also has its own rules of figuring out who is entitled to KELA coverage (regarded as "working") and what is required for getting a KELA-card (usually an open end contract and the 3-4 month trial period done). This usually satisfies the police. The number you need to get paid, taxed and so forth, so the maistraatti (or even tax office) do that with just any work contract.

But like what the OP faced - exactly the catch-22.

Jonno71 · Post by **Jonno71** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:02 am

I had an open ended contract with a big event company, but it wasn't enough... I ended up starting a Toiminimi (self employed company) just so I could get paid and then apply for the Social Security number. I am sure this saga has been told many times before, I shall just wish you the best of luck... It took 6 months to get my numbers all sorted with at least 4 visits to the Police, Magestrati and Company registration office.
I know of folk that were sent to a Lego shop by one office, to which the shop keeper said "They often do this, they think it's funny, here s the address of the office you need"...

Sisu! If you really want to be here, you will figure it out.

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