Desperately seeking work in Helsinki

[Oombongo]

There are many fellas in here who moved to Finland out of love, and not all but many of them regretted their choices. We just tried to protect from you from a career suicide.
Let me guess. Your lady gave you an impression that you will have job in Finland in no time. Now this mirage is worst that seeing water in desert.

Let's see family problems first:
You will be jobless for sometime. Your lady will see you as a liability eventually. Forget the so-called "equality" propaganda here. If you are not the breadwinner of the house then you're in a bit of problems because you're expected to play your traditional role (like everywhere else). She will face questions like "so what does he do" and if she has no reply (and hence facing embarrassment in her social circle) then she will take her frustration out on you. In a few years, you will end up being a family dog or a cuckold...or both.

Now what will happen to you:
You will end up depressed, your career will hit the bottom. Since you will be fighting possible domestic problems as well as career and financial problems so you will end up like this followed by like this which is followed by this and finally by this and this

As you said that you have more chances in your backyard so why not try your best there. I am sure that you can get more by doing half of what you will end up doing here.

[JoshBMartin]

Ok, Mr. Light-Shines-Out-Me-Arse

Customer service in Finland was originally designed by and for the Finns, so there isn't any huge demand for customer service in a language nobody speaks is there?

Okay, firstly I will just say that I was pretty tired and grumpy when I replied to you all last night and essentially my girlfriend was just a bit upset with your comments. We have talked through our move to Finland at length, I know it's not all rosy, I know that it's going to be tough, we know that she is going to have a bit of pressure while I find alternative ways of making money... we're well aware of what lies ahead, but you guys could at least try to shed a bit of positive light on the situation. Listening to you guys makes me want to kill myself, some of you sound very lonely and you're just as pessimistic as my girlfriend was when I met her-> everything is !"#¤%, everything's going to go wrong, you're gonna waste your life, spoil your career, you're going to end up single and then you're going to die... that's life according to you guys.

Well part of my job in the beginning of our the relationship was to try and see the positive side of things. Anything can be seen in two lights and I prefer to see the positive side, otherwise you just end up depressed and die a sad person. If you try to be happy then you actually will be happier; but if you just try to be a miserable !"#¤%, then no points for guessing what you'll end up being. We've already agreed that if we struggle in Finland, we will move back. She is okay with that, she studies English language and writes English fiction, so she's relatively happy here. We have lots of friends and family in Finland as well, with whom I am very close. I am planning to learn the language. I already have methods of making money through the web, but just not as much as I'd like. I also have a friend out there who may line me up as a small warehouse manager and another friend who may line me up with a warehouse picking job.

In terms of the customer service comments, well obviously I didn't mean customer service dealing with Finns, don't be ridiculous. I mean working in Finnish companies that deal with English companies, clients and customers. My girlfriend is a Finnish Customer Service agent here in England, where she speaks to Finland on the phone all day, so I meant working in company representing them to people in English-speaking countries.

On the subject of going back to University, I didn't mention that I have already been accepted on a place doing an International Law Masters at Helsinki this September. I would love to do that, if I can afford to keep myself afloat during my studies. There's already a paid Doctoral Research post in Helsinki I have my eyes on following the Masters, plus the Masters would give me my own friends and my own social connections and my own reason for being there (obviously it's an English speaking course).

To support me with my studies and my move I will be registering for benefits right away and trying to get a Kela card and of course the engagement with my partner is only going to support my chances of getting benefits from the Finnish govt while I study and actually do things with my life there. That would be a bonus. Otherwise, I may just have to earn the money myself. In terms of working behind bars, obviously I meant bars like the Aussie Bar or Molly Malone's where everyone speaks English.

Right, I've waffled on enough. I appreciate some of your comments. Thank you to Rommel who sent me a message that was actually helpful. And overall, I'd rather not take advice which is covered in !"#¤% as one of you suggested thanks, I'm quite happy with my advice being clean and constructive. However, just so you're aware, I wasn't coming here for relationship advice or for advice with my career here in England; there are a million reasons why I might have turned down legal practice which are not the subject of this discussion. Anyways, how many happy lawyers do you know? I know absolutely loads of lawyers... they're all miserable @#$%. Maybe that's why it's a job that appeals to most of you.

Thank you for the help and any more constructive advice is welcomed!

[JoshBMartin]

Final Note: Of course I am sorry to any of you that have tried to move away with your partners and have had things not work out for you. I appreciate that it's all a risk and it can go wrong. I am sorry it didn't work out for you. But of course you can't regret that decision or beat yourselves up about it, because you made the decision at that time based on what you knew or thought you knew. It can't be rewritten and life moves on.

However instead of trying to discourage me from moving and trying to make my long-term relationship, just because it didn't work for you, maybe just try to offer actual advice and support on how I'm most likely to succeed in my move. My relationship is doomed if I don't try to move to Finland for at least a few years as my girlfriend needs to finish her degree which she's halfway through, so I don't really have a choice. And anyways, I don't mind, I'm up for the challenge!

[Pursuivant]

Listening to you guys makes me want to kill myself, some of you sound very lonely and you're just as pessimistic as my girlfriend was when I met her-> everything is !"#¤%, everything's going to go wrong, you're gonna waste your life, spoil your career, you're going to end up single and then you're going to die... that's life according to you guys.

So, welcome to Finland, theres about 5 million realists living here. That is life, Jim, just as we know it.

On the subject of going back to University, I didn't mention that I have already been accepted on a place doing an International Law Masters at Helsinki this September. I would love to do that, if I can afford to keep myself afloat during my studies. There's already a paid Doctoral Research post in Helsinki I have my eyes on following the Masters, plus the Masters would give me my own friends and my own social connections and my own reason for being there (obviously it's an English speaking course).

Well, as there are no tuition fees you should be able to scrape through. They require 6000 euros per year for a non-EU student to get a RP, so if you calculate that as the budget. Having contacts helps a whole lot.

To support me with my studies and my move I will be registering for benefits right away and trying to get a Kela card and of course the engagement with my partner is only going to support my chances of getting benefits from the Finnish govt while I study and actually do things with my life there.

Yeah, now thats what I call "positive thinking". Just have to piss on your parade - if you come to Finland "for the purpose of studying" you won't get benefits or a KELA card. Well, if you came for work, obviously you wouldn't need benefits. As for "family" reasons, you have proof of 2 years cohabitation? If not, "promioses promises" untill you have actually tied the knot. Its all about "proof". And then, if you are in on the "family" category, you need to do what they say or your benefits are docked. Being a degree student means you are not unemployed so you wont get any integration money (and you arent getting unemployment benefits as you haven't been working for 10 months or paid the unemployment fund fees). And as for getting student benefits, you havent resided in the country for 2 years "on other purpose" nevermind contributing to the national insurance. Catch-22? Think positive, you will loose a lot of weight on the ketchup and noodlewater diet!

In any case, that masters course sounds better than excellent.

[JoshBMartin]

Thanks for the info on the KELA benefits. I was aware of a lot of that. I always knew it was a longshot. Of course I won't be approaching them saying that I am a student. I will be approaching on the basis that I am moving in permanently to live with my wife-to-be and her family. Plus, my hope is, to be earning some money and paying tax in to the system by the time I go to apply - even if that tax is earned part-time and through "self-employment" working on freelance jobs through the web.

But thanks for the info! I am prepared that I may have to scrimp and save during my studies, ideally I will be working a part-time job of sorts, whether that be in a Finnish company or over the web. But like you say, the fact that I am saving £6000 compared with most other countries, I am already up!

[Upphew]

To support me with my studies and my move I will be registering for benefits right away and trying to get a Kela card and of course the engagement with my partner is only going to support my chances of getting benefits from the Finnish govt while I study and actually do things with my life there.

Engagement is nothing, marriage or cohabitation (with paper trail) for two years is. So if you pop here and want to get registered, the officials will want to see how you are gonna live: http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp ... anguage=EN cash or equivalent accepted.
If you are family, then there are different rules..: http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp ... anguage=EN

[Upphew]

Thanks for the info on the KELA benefits. I was aware of a lot of that. I always knew it was a longshot. Of course I won't be approaching them saying that I am a student. I will be approaching on the basis that I am moving in permanently to live with my wife-to-be and her family.

You are not moving in permanently in the eyes of officials. In fact you will be tourist with relevant benefits, eg. none. To "move in" Finland you have to have a reason: work, study or family. To move in permanently you'll need to be here for 5 years: "Unionin kansalaisella, joka on oleskellut Suomessa laillisesti ja yhtäjaksoisesti viisi vuotta, on oikeus pysyvään oleskeluun."

[Pursuivant]

Anyways, how many happy immigrants do you know? I know absolutely loads of immigrants... they're all miserable @#$%.

I think the "discouragement" is the kind of advice a lot of people would have been thankful for getting before they came over. Either totally oblivious, believing what they heard (ooh ist so easy, everyone speaks english), people with no concept of "living" in a foreign country vs. visiting benidorm and sitting in the english pub swigging stella and eating chips and beans... They came here barearsed to the in-laws farm in some godforsaken hick village all the people had moved from in the 70's and are astonished theres no jobs for either a bog-carpet layer nor anyone with a PhD on the anal wars of mites, then they complain the local farmers stare at them and got a cabin fever counting trees as teh "wonderful" white snow lasted 6 months of cold darkness you couldnt even go outside lest your nads froze off. That eats a man slightly.

If you and the gf have things worked out as you said, as long as the education is free grab the chance. Then go make money, then come back to Finland with the money to bring up the kids. You are in a pretty niche environment, but if you do your masters in Finland and a PhD, I'd say you get a lot of doors opening.

And actually, I knew a South African lawyer doing a lot of business in Helsinki, so its not anything "impossible" - just needs a plan.

[mrjimsfc]

Josh B.: I'm sorry I didn't take the time to explain my negativity. Of course you could get a job almost as soon as you arrive in Finland! It just wouldn't be anywhere near Helsinki. I'm sure you could get a job on a farm somewhere out in nowheremäki, herding cows, driving tractor and shoveling $hit. The pay is very poor and you would never get weekends off. You would be in the same fix as if you were home earning a lot more money but unable to see your fiancee. We want you to succeed but with your present lack of planning, success is very tentative. I think you and your fiancee are going to have to do some serious planning to make your dreams come true. If you don't, well, my original reply still holds true.

[sassanka]

Just want to add my personal story. I moved to Finland because of my boyfriend and it took my 6 weeks to find a job. I have to admit that those 6 weeks were as miserable as hell, I dont recall times when I was so desperate, sitting on my ass at home, feeling homesick, hating Fins and Finland and so on. I was angry that I was financially dependent on my boyfriend and envious that he the always the busy one. So yes, it definitely affects the relationship, that's why you have to take any kind of job to keep your head up. I cannot imagine how I would have ended up if it took my longer to find a workplace.
Anyway, even though I work in a restaurant as a waitress (I graduated from International Relations with one year experience in England), I dont complain and Im realtively happy. Because Im here, Im with my boyfriend and I earn enough money for the rent, travel expenses and food. And that's all I need and all what matters now. I know that as soon as I improve my finnish skills, I will get a better job in the future. So that's how it is here, little by little.

So what the guys are saying is true but it doesnt necessarily mean that you will end up destoyed and divorced or whatsoever not. So good luck. Planning is definitely a good advice!!

[Pursuivant]

Yeah, six weeks, sunshine, IIRC Phil of the "How to Marry a Finnish Girl" fame was 8 months looking... Some people find a job in weeks, some people it takes months.. it is a combination of skills and attitude combined with luck. Luck including the local jobmarket in the locality you are in.

The greatest mistake one can do is go to the employment office and imagine they'll do anything to actually help you find a job while you sit at home thumbinarse. The job wont come fetch you from home, and even though there is this mysterious "need for workers" a job hasn't been known to jump from a bush.

[babyloner]

I hope things will work out for you. Good Luck.

[northerandy]

I have a company here in Finland and would be interested in talking to you. Finnish is not a prerequisite. Most of the work is around Web development and Content creation. Contact me at Andrew.Hale at infusionsuomi.com

[Pursuivant]

Now if you got a job before landing, thats what I'd call "luck".

[llewellyn]

wait, not everyone here is such as dicks. I read these comments, and i gotta say some of these people are seriosly @#$% and i don't know wtf they're doing here.

They've been here for a while. When umpteenth person suffering from hbs expects to get positive and helpful advice, they tend to get negative and helpful, which happens to be quite realistic too. Or no replies at all from the dicks.

Oh well, of course there is much wordly wisdom in these weary and/or snide answers, but I would say that Siberia will teach you the harsh facts of life even in your home country and being abroad will unavoidably widen your horizons and the process might be less boring overall - of course there will be those sad cases who think that their sole mistake in life was emigrating but I would not be so sure of that. So, it naturally won't be a bed of roses in Finland, but it won't be a bed of roses either in your native country - I would rather encourage people to live for a while abroad than discourage them (while of course it would make things easier if you would start with a realistic idea of how it's going to be, as it usually won't be easy).