Jobs for English Speakers

Domdom · Post by **Domdom** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:00 am

Hi, I am looking for a Job in the Helsinki Area for 8 to 10 months starting in September/October, Im not a Finnish native and do not know the language, so was wondering if their where any sources or posters out there who could help me and point me in the right direction, I am not fussy about what kind of job it is as it is a short term stay. Im a 26 year old male in case that information helps at all.

Lots of thanks, Domdom

**Sponsor:**

cspotrun · Post by **cspotrun** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:04 pm

Best thing to do is start your own bussiness, Finns wont hire if you dont know the language. This culture is very much against Globalism and against excepting other cultures into thiers.... Its not easy to live here if you dont know the language or if you are not a Finn... Most all foriegners either have a job with Nokia, teach english (but must be certified teacher in the EU), or own thier own bussiness. sorry mate

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:42 pm

Its all about finding a niche job. Somewhere that you have a talent someone wants you to hire for. Anything requiring interaction with plebes, be it coworkers or public, you start getting the requirement of "speaking local". Some bars do hire you even if you have a smattering, but for the winter... ummm.. so the question is "what can you do" rather than "what is available" as it is really certain professions. Basically if you go see www.mol.fi => if you can't find the adverts nor use the search, a bit challenging to apply.

Rosilla · Post by **Rosilla** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:44 pm

I got one riding my bicycle delivering packages same day service, and I did not speak much Finnish back then, I found it was pretty easy for me as I loved to ride and could find my way around with a map... I did have to interact with Finns but all that involved was "sign here" so most everyone understood that;) a few times I had a small problem if it was to a smaller company I was delivering to or a private address where they did not understand English... but I managed, and was told by my boss I was better then alot of the Finn's who worked there that tended to be abit lazier:P I did it for the winter in Helsinki (you supply the bike ,they supply the clothes) I went around Europe doing that when I was 22 and I found it nice, of course the pay is not the best, but it is a paycheck(or should I say bank deposit as there are no checks in Finland)...

so ye find your niche like Pursuivant said and it is possible...

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:03 pm

cspotrun wrote:Best thing to do is start your own bussiness, Finns wont hire if you dont know the language. This culture is very much against Globalism and against excepting other cultures into thiers.... Its not easy to live here if you dont know the language or if you are not a Finn... Most all foriegners either have a job with Nokia, teach english (but must be certified teacher in the EU), or own thier own bussiness. sorry mate

Drivel.

MissAlice · Post by **MissAlice** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:36 pm

Domdom wrote:Hi, I am looking for a Job in the Helsinki Area for 8 to 10 months starting in September/October, Im not a Finnish native and do not know the language, so was wondering if their where any sources or posters out there who could help me and point me in the right direction, I am not fussy about what kind of job it is as it is a short term stay. Im a 26 year old male in case that information helps at all.

Lots of thanks, Domdom

Try to go to restaurants and ask for dishwashing jobs.... Thats what I did and now I'm moved up to a waitress and kitchen helper, also now I got a 'never ending' contract with them. Try that or try hostels.

I hope you find a job, but hopefully your willing to wait awhile while your searching for a job. It took me 6 months until I got mine.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:32 pm

sinikala wrote: Drivel.

Ah my china, spotter there hasn't quite embraced the ideas of Globalism nor Free Movement Within EU as understood by the Finns: "If you don't like it here - piss off"

tiago · Post by **tiago** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:16 pm

Start Networking, networking and networking.... Try to be as much social as you can, it will help you. If you start to apply, sending cv`s for jobs on the net or by post, I think it will be easier to win Lotto. So this is quite simple....If you know someone who knows someone, sooner or later you will have a job....otherwise, good luck my friend

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:24 pm

As the Finns say:
WHY do you want to come here?
WHO do you know?

Muddy Zuk · Post by **Muddy Zuk** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:10 pm

print a cv and hit everwhere you can see, bars restaurants etc, you wiont get far without a CV, buy a finn sim card also, most places wont be keen to call a foreign number, besides Finn mobile prices are much cheaper than ,ost others i have found. keep popping into the bars where you get some feedback. Work is there you just have to dig a little. All the no longo speakers i know that found work did through persistence.
Work will never find you is how it goes almost everywhere.
I arrived on a monday and started work on the friday so it is possible despite what a lot of nae sayers may tell you.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:20 pm

Did you get the DMV to love your 4WD?

Muddy Zuk · Post by **Muddy Zuk** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:50 pm

no instead i sold it while travelling around france for the winter to a mad englshman who fell in love with it

cspotrun · Post by **cspotrun** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:51 am

Drivel.[/quote]

Obviuosly you have not seen how finns treat outsiders..... and you have not seen or read the news here hahahahaha

Drivel my ass.... Most finns if you ask do not agree with the open borders or the EU.... And definently are not open hiring someone with out language skills unless you want to pick berries... Srting your own bussiness is the easiest ans fastest way to make money in Finland...

cspotrun · Post by **cspotrun** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:58 am

tiago wrote:Start Networking, networking and networking.... Try to be as much social as you can, it will help you. If you start to apply, sending cv`s for jobs on the net or by post, I think it will be easier to win Lotto. So this is quite simple....If you know someone who knows someone, sooner or later you will have a job....otherwise, good luck my friend

This is the best advice yet... Cause its so true... Finns are very cautiuos and not easy to gain trust with.... So you have to walk on egg shells if your going to make it here...

Mölkky-Fan · Post by **Mölkky-Fan** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:47 am

sinikala wrote:
cspotrun wrote:Best thing to do is start your own bussiness, Finns wont hire if you dont know the language. This culture is very much against Globalism and against excepting other cultures into thiers.... Its not easy to live here if you dont know the language or if you are not a Finn... Most all foriegners either have a job with Nokia, teach english (but must be certified teacher in the EU), or own thier own bussiness. sorry mate
Drivel.

Sini is right... if anyone bothers to read back through the posts there are jobs for foreigners (even those not speaking Finnish, shock horror!) and much advice is given.

Starting a business is not all its cracked up to be, and many fail, so that is also very risky (been there done that).

Many of us non-Finns live here quite happily without Finnish language (although it would be better if we had the language), and I love living in Finland.

As Hank says time and time again, you need to find your niche. Most of my foreign friends (all but 1 now have a full time job) do not fall into the Nokia, teach English or own company bracket... we are everywhere and doing a large range of jobs.

Examples of the niches for someone not speaking Finnish are:
- in a company which does most or all of its business overseas (check out some of the many high tech companies)
- in a company where English is the working language (larger international companies)
- where you have skills which are prized and needed (programming, managerial, engineering, sales, golf professional, greenkeeper etc)
- where you will do work which Finns do not want so much (low paid, hard work or dirty jobs - cleaning, refuse, fast food etc)
- where your language is an asset (teaching English, editorial, technical writing etc)

You can also just get lucky... but this is not so normal. A good route is via your network (family, friends, old work colleagues, people you meet at events etc), but normally you have to also do the tough hard slog of sending out many applications. Do not complain why no-one answers your applications, instead look at how to improve it to get answers (really as my applications improved I got more answers).

It can be painful to start, it was for me... but listen to people. My CV was wrong to start with, so I made it more Finnish style and that worked. I stopped telling people at interviews how great I was, and concentrated on how I could help their business and was humble... that worked.

Sure, if you have no qualifications, experience or local language then employment will be difficult (but what country would that be easy?)

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