Desperately seeking work in Helsinki

[Sami-Is-Boss]

Probably a long shot, but the law firm White and Case have a large presence in Finland. You could maybe try them to see if there's any admin/marketing/dealing with Anglophone countries roles that you could do temporarily while you get your Finnish up to speed.

A lot of the regulars here start slobbering with glee and falling over each other to insult him when they see a chap with a Finnish girlfriend planning to move with her, but they are right in the fact it is a huge challenge which needs commitment from you and patience from her. Good luck

[cors187]

The more paperwork you walk in with only proves that you didnt make it in your own country.(not that this comment is pointed at anyone). Your better off being a hardcore ,hands on man of many talents and try to partnership up with some other local nutter.

[rollodewalden]

Josh,

Frankly, I don't know what the people who regularly post on this site get off on but my best advice would be not to bother with this forum - people are WAY more pessimistic on here than you need to be and only about 3 regular posters actually offer useful advice. I used to go on here the whole time when I was looking for work, but it did nothing to help me and this is the first time I've looked on it in months. Seriously, don't bother, it is disproportionately pessimistic.

I should think I've met about 30 people from English speaking nations since coming here in 2010, and I can only think of one person who had serious issues finding work (and while I wouldn't say it to him, I would guess that was because his previous work history was pretty chequered in the first place). Other than that, everyone found something sooner or later, most often in the areas you have listed (esp. proofreading, etc). It's true that it might be tough for the first six months or so, but there's actually quite a need for native English speakers who can write fluently, which I am pretty sure you are able to do with a law degree. It's not particularly helpful advice in the short term, but your best bet is just to try and make the most of your fiancee's existing networks and meet as many people as possible - people are far more likely to give you a chance if they know you and recognise you are capable.

As a personal case study, I'm a freelance copywriter/proofreader and while I don't make a killing I earn enough to get by relatively comfortably and have a decent life in Helsinki. I had a similar background working in publishing in the UK and couldn't find work for love nor money for about 6 months, but once I got a few projects under my belt and made more of my own friends, I find now almost every time I meet a new bunch of people that new clients come my way. I would say my experience is pretty typical of English speaking graduates living in Helsinki.

Hope this helps.

[Pursuivant]

I had a similar background working in publishing in the UK and couldn't find work for love nor money for about 6 months,

So nobody jumped on you straight off ryanair to work in a TEFL school to "teech engrish"? You didn't think positive enough!?

[Tiwaz]

Probably a long shot, but the law firm White and Case have a large presence in Finland. You could maybe try them to see if there's any admin/marketing/dealing with Anglophone countries roles that you could do temporarily while you get your Finnish up to speed.

Hmm... Why they would actually want to set up guy into Finland to call to people in England and rest of Anglosphere instead of having Finnish speaking lawyer, with Finnish papers who knows Finnish law, to operate in Finland?

Where is the big profit for White and Case?

A lot of the regulars here start slobbering with glee and falling over each other to insult him when they see a chap with a Finnish girlfriend planning to move with her, but they are right in the fact it is a huge challenge which needs commitment from you and patience from her. Good luck

It's reality. Tends to be harsh.

And OP, hint... There are no English call centers in Finland. Reason why your girlfriend was in UK to call into Finland is that call centers are in UK or Ireland. They concentrate much of the centers in same area and hire native speakers instead of setting up separate callcenters in native countries.

Those companies who have English customers simply have their Finnish representatives brush up their English and provide service to both Finnish and English speaking customers.

[Pursuivant]

+ callcentres are usually located in the boonies where you find a lot of cheap property and unemployment figures mean you can get your monkeys for peanuts.

[espoolainen]

I've lived here for a year and a half, am doing a MA-degree at the University of Helsinki and it's been pretty difficult for me to get a job. www.mol.fi has the joboffers listed on there, so you could have a look. If you plan on doing a master's here, the job center will not do much to help you. I went there the other day and they simply stated that because I am a student, I'm not really unemployed. So they couldn't help me at all, because the "really" unenployed people are served first by them. Like someone else pointed out, you won't be receiving any benefits from KELA.

I don't want to be as negative as the others. I've been living here happily for the last year and a half. I had some savings, which I brought here and my partner helps me out a lot. I'm learning Finnish, which is hard, but I see improvement every day. And me moving here hasn't put a strain on our relationship at all. But I guess couples cope with changes in different ways.

So it's not all bad, that's what I'm meaning to say. Just keep an eye out for jobs in Finland and keep in mind that it might take a while to find something. (aarresaari.net is another good site.)

Good luck!

[bertha]

Check here http://www.aarresaari.net/english/jobboard.htm

regards,
B.

[forest_girl]

I dont know if the person in question is still reading this thread, but I have an idea for that guy. With such experience and interests, it would be possible to land a teaching/lecturing job in Polytechnic Universities, which provide English degree programmes.
I have been studying in HAAGA-HELIA UAS and I have met my law / marketing teachers who are foreigners or English (as their mother tongue). And I think the pay is really good.
Think about teaching. That could be one way to get a job without Finnish language and in your best interest groups!

Other polytechnic universities in Helsinki that I know of : Arcada, Metropolia, Laurea .. etc. Google.

Best of luck to you, my dear! I believe you have good chances!

[Upphew]

I dont know if the person in question is still reading this thread, but I have an idea for that guy. With such experience and interests, it would be possible to land a teaching/lecturing job in Polytechnic Universities, which provide English degree programmes.
I have been studying in HAAGA-HELIA UAS and I have met my law / marketing teachers who are foreigners or English (as their mother tongue). And I think the pay is really good.
Think about teaching. That could be one way to get a job without Finnish language and in your best interest groups!

True, but better to check how to do the needed studies withing 3 years. Are they offered in English?
"Yliopettajan/lehtorin/ tuntiopettajan tulee lisäksi kolmen vuoden kuluessa virkaan tai toimeen nimittämisestä suorittaa vähintään 60 opintopisteen laajuinen opettajankoulutus, jollei hänellä sellaista ole virkaan tai toimeen nimitettäessä. "
http://www.oaj.fi/portal/page?_pageid=5 ... ema=PORTAL

[cors187]

+ callcentres are usually located in the boonies where you find a lot of cheap property and unemployment figures mean you can get your monkeys for peanuts.

Pay peanuts and you get monkeys is the flavor all over the world.
The new trend is to get hired and the person/s you will be replacing is the one that trains you.

[Mita nyt]

My 2 cents...Trolls get out....if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing at all.
And yes this forum needs a delete button on unwanted posts by TROLLS that try (or do) high jack threads.
Yeah, you guys know who you are!

[interleukin]

There are a bunch of people who troll in this forum, Mita nyt, but that does not make it ok to call anyone who does not agree with you a troll. Post in this forum and you'll get the "everything will turn out fine" and you will get the "just give up right now" posts. It's like real life, just deal with it.

While I'm writing here, you might want to read rule number 2 of the forum and tone down your use of emoticons and coloured fonts accordingly. Just saying.

/interleukin

[Pursuivant]

.if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing at all.

I found you a positive person - YOU HAVE AIDS!

[Upphew]

if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing at all.

Truth might not be good.