Negative and more NEGATIVE ...

[Karhunkoski]

shrecher, we've been here before. Your experiences within the niche area of IT are not reflective of the overall job market. Man, I still remember you stating categorically that there was no need for a job hunter to analyse either their skills nor analyse the local job market

[shrecher]

shrecher, we've been here before. Your experiences within the niche area of IT are not reflective of the overall job market. Man, I still remember you stating categorically that there was no need for a job hunter to analyse either their skills nor analyse the local job market

First, Finland is not IT country. Here is very limited IT market and it is difficult to find an IT job. A candidate should be very attractive to be hired.

In any case, my position is very simple, don't be negative
- have the good education in demanded specialty and have rich experience, have good English. Finland will welcome you.

If you are nothing, you don't get any job here.

[Karhunkoski]

I haven't said anywhere that I think Finland is an IT country. (perhaps we have a language barrier which is causing confusion)

And up here, having a good education, rich experience and good English is no guarantee of work. As I said, you are an "unknown" until someone recommends you.

[shrecher]

I haven't said anywhere that I think Finland is an IT country. (perhaps we have a language barrier which is causing confusion)

And up here, having a good education, rich experience and good English is no guarantee of work. As I said, you are an "unknown" until someone recommends you.

It is no matter if someone recommends you or not, just be a good professional, then not problems.

[shrecher]

I haven't said anywhere that I think Finland is an IT country. (perhaps we have a language barrier which is causing confusion)

And up here, having a good education, rich experience and good English is no guarantee of work. As I said, you are an "unknown" until someone recommends you.

It is no matter if someone recommends you or not, just be a good professional, then no problems. Finns are smart enough to recognize you.

[Karhunkoski]

It is no matter if someone recommends you or not, just be a good professional, then not problems.

I'm sorry, that simply isn't true.

I have good qualifications, good experience, fantastic references. Initially I approached many many companies here and got knowhere. It was only after friends saw my plight (they were shocked at the lack of success, as was I), that they got me some "introductions". I had three informal meetings with three different companies (two asked for presentations and gave test tasks related to the work). All three said they wanted to offer a job, right there and then. One even recognised my CV from months before, but that's another story.

Unknown CV and covering letter arrives = funny foreigner, what the hell is he doing here, must be a weirdo

CV is emailed over by an intermediary = ah yes, a mate of Pekka's, he must be ok. I've known Pekka for years, he wouldn't reccomend any weirdo

[donald]

JaDLB, what's the rants and the negaitivity about this forum?

When people came here and asked for job prospectives in a specific job then the answer usually was quite fair and sound. People get an overall negative response if they simply ask how long would it take them to get any job after coming here, no specific qualifications are qualifications that are not sought for in Finland, even if they are willing to do everything. Partly the negative reeponses are because people here find that it is more difficult to find an employment than in many other countries, partly it is because the long time participants here are sick of answering the same question that has been answered here already X times.

And the negative responses also come from foreigners on this forum themselves. So...

Compare eg. to http://www.saksalaiset.fi, a German speaking similar forum to this one, where there are almost only foreigners participating. And even there, in that forum that represents almost exclusively the point of view from foreign peoples, the tone is very negative when it comes to finding a job.

[Hank W.]

Ach mein Shatz,

Arbeit in Finnland finden, Sie müssen einiger vergolten Arsch haben und posietieve gedenken... alles ist möglich...

[vincebel]

mmm thats true. ive been here for 4 moths not for jobs but for family reasons but i try to find a job anyway.
I have some good qualifications but mostly no xp and no finnish skills.

I found a job in a boat construction company with the help of the dad of a frien of the sister of my girlfriend.
The boss of the company called me in english and said that a friend of him told about me.
Before that i tried to work as a cleaner a snow remover but no answers.

Once you know someone its easier for sure.

[Tiwaz]

I haven't said anywhere that I think Finland is an IT country. (perhaps we have a language barrier which is causing confusion)

And up here, having a good education, rich experience and good English is no guarantee of work. As I said, you are an "unknown" until someone recommends you.

It is no matter if someone recommends you or not, just be a good professional, then not problems.

Let me see, you have papers from country X, which may carry weight of toilet paper here unless you have "updated" them, you have claimed experience from company XY and possibly even recommendations from worker YZ...

Do you realise that most of that is either unverifiable or way too big trouble for employer to verify so they throw your papers into trashbin if they are not in critical need of hiring someone and there are no more "reliable" people seeking that position?


Not to mention idea that "have good english, it'll do"...

Sweet monkey je....

This is Finland, if you are expected to represent company in eyes of other finns they are not going to have someone who does not speak finnish to be in that position. With possible exception of IT where it is "in" to speak english.

Even if you do not need to be in customer contact it is big problem. Workers would have to speak english to you and it is safer to ignore guy using funny words than risk annoying existing workers by forcing them to speak english.

[littlefrank]

'with the help of the dad of a frien of the sister of my girlfriend'


Sounds like the introduction to this tv series.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md_MVnxw ... re=related

[shrecher]

Do you realise that most of that is either unverifiable or way too big trouble for employer to verify so they throw your papers into trashbin if they are not in critical need of hiring someone and there are no more "reliable" people seeking that position?

It depends on company recommending you. Normally, within a business area all companies know each other. If for example, a person has Harvard education, recommendation from KPMG, where she/he worked for NN years. Would this person be hired at Sampo?

This is Finland, if you are expected to represent company in eyes of other finns they are not going to have someone who does not speak finnish to be in that position. With possible exception of IT where it is "in" to speak english.

Even if you do not need to be in customer contact it is big problem. Workers would have to speak english to you and it is safer to ignore guy using funny words than risk annoying existing workers by forcing them to speak english.

Medical staff is ok with English. For Builder or Contruction workers basic Finnish is OK. Bus driver, lähohoitoja no language requirement.

[Tiwaz]

Do you realise that most of that is either unverifiable or way too big trouble for employer to verify so they throw your papers into trashbin if they are not in critical need of hiring someone and there are no more "reliable" people seeking that position?

It depends on company recommending you. Normally, within a business area all companies know each other. If for example, a person has Harvard education, recommendation from KPMG, where she/he worked for NN years. Would this person be hired at Sampo?

Depends on if the position sought warrants going through trouble of confirming that persons recommendations and background along with qualification being valid in Finland.

Oh, and is this person expected to deal with domestic customers? If yes, then does this person speak excellent finnish?

This is Finland, if you are expected to represent company in eyes of other finns they are not going to have someone who does not speak finnish to be in that position. With possible exception of IT where it is "in" to speak english.

Even if you do not need to be in customer contact it is big problem. Workers would have to speak english to you and it is safer to ignore guy using funny words than risk annoying existing workers by forcing them to speak english.

Medical staff is ok with English. For Builder or Contruction workers basic Finnish is OK. Bus driver, lähohoitoja no language requirement.

Medical staff? Would you mean staff that has to deal with finnish customers who have right to receive service in either of local OFFICIAL languages?

I have feeling that answer for purely english speaker is a no no in most cases since trouble of having someone rushed in to speak finnish to patients would make hiring only english speaker too much trouble.

Bus driver, despite what you think, has to be able to communicate with customers who most likely speak finnish. Bus company risks getting negative response from customers who expect bus driver to tell them things in fluent finnish.

Lähihoitaja, even more finnish based profession by and large. Specially since you are likely to deal with elderly people who do not generally speak english at all. How good job you can do if you have no idea on what your customer needs...

Construction, here we have lots of foreigners and it should be easier to get to since there is lack of workers. Again, if there was abudance of workers compared to work, it would be just easier to hire finnish speaker.

[shrecher]

Oh, and is this person expected to deal with domestic customers? If yes, then does this person speak excellent finnish?

You mean clerk? After Harvard?!

It is enough merkonomi education to work with customers.

Medical staff? Would you mean staff that has to deal with finnish customers who have right to receive service in either of local OFFICIAL languages?

If it is good a doctor is no matter what language he/she speaks.

[raamv]

If it is good a doctor is no matter what language he/she speaks.

and pray what this Good doctor will tell a Only-Finnish-speaking lady when she asks a nice question about her intestinal rupture in Finnish?

Are you really that Stupid to realize that ANY profession that deals with ANY kind of customer service REQUIRES Finnish as a prerequisite and Swedish as preferred?
and What would this Harvard Graduate will do in Sampo applying for customer service jobs?( First of all, Most Harvard Graduates either already have high-paying jobs that they dont need to come here and live and can afford to have multiple trips for their spouses so they dont miss Finland)..
As tiwaz already pointed out, the jobs that you mentioned as bus drivers also need Some level of Finnish to answer to customer's questions.
Niche Jobs that require no interaction with customers are passable with English, provided you have a good network to connect to find one( Even if you have a network, its very difficult to jump from one job to another or to another profession without a big effort)..
Now I am Really positive that you are Stupid than idiotic!!
Lets face it, for every lucky one to get a job, there are 10s of others that need to struggle to get any job..let alone a job that they want.
That is the reality unless the population suddenly doubles with immigrants!!