Bringing my US college degree to Finland

SuomenJenkki · Post by **SuomenJenkki** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:54 pm

Moi,

I am a Finnish-American student living and studying at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and all I know about my future is that I want to spend it in Finland.

In two years I will have a four-year degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics and a minor in Mathematics. I really want to know the strength of this degree in the Finnish job market. However, there are a few things that set me apart from other immigrants looking for work in Finland, and I will list them:

-I am a Finnish citizen with a Finnish passport(as well as a US passport).
-I am conversationally fluent in Finnish. I can read Finnish as well, but writing is a whole other story.
-I am willing to pursue even higher education either in the USA or in Finland.
-I am quite familiar with Finnish customs and culture, as I spent a lot my time growing up there.

Can anyone give me some insight on what I can expect when searching for a job with these qualifications?
Most importantly, is there any demand for economists from the USA?

Really any insight will be appreciated.
-Kiitos!

**Sponsor:**

browndude · Post by **browndude** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:38 pm

You may want to consider getting a postgrad. qualification from a Finnish institution if you want to work as an economist in Finland. A 4 year degree alone may not be enough.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:19 pm

Doesn't sound bad at all, the highest demand is in the banking sector, so some work experience under your belt wouldn't hurt either. What browndude says, a Finnish degree on top wouldn't hust and as you then are all EU, you'd have the whole EU at your feet. Experience with some US bank/investment/insurance wouldn't hurt any, as thats the kind of experience they don't necessary have here - but its a niche at best, so look EU-wide.

SuomenJenkki · Post by **SuomenJenkki** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:53 pm

Thanks for your insight.

If things work out they way they should, I intend to come to Finland for my army service after graduation. At that point I intend to apply to some universities.
I can stay with Family so housing isn't an issue for the first year or so.

Any recommendations on how to get into universities? Helsinki is my first choice, and I think Jyvaskyla is my second.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:45 am

They have prep courses, but if you are looking for graduate courses... hmm... besides which if you are looking for Economics, you are looking at Hanken and HSE (in this order) and not any jyväjemmarikylä

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