Brit looking for work in Helsinki (original, I know!)

[lamcneill]

Hi All,

I am a 24 year old from Scotland and moved to Helsinki 2 months ago. My partner is a Finn who also lived and worked in Scotland.

I have eight years customer service experience (supermarkets, insurance sales and consumer finance) although I understand that jobs in any of these fields will be few and far between without fluent Finnish. I am learning Finnish at the moment but do not expect to have a good command of the language for some time yet(not pessimistic, just realistic!).

I am looking for any job at the moment and would not turn down any opportunity. I am a hard worker and flexible with regards to days/hours of work (I can work any shifts at all - no exceptions).

I would be grateful to hear of any opportunities. I love Finland and really want to settle here!

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards
Lynsey

[rinso]

Your chances in customer service without fluent Finnish are indeed slim.
And it will take a long time to achieve that. In the mean time your experience is outdated and foreign, which is not a pre in itself.
Better look for other options or even start a study in a different field.

[Pursuivant]

Unless of course you land into a niche... hmmm... bagpipers... haggis cook...deep-frier cook... Just kidding.. sales?

[Karhunkoski]

I don't have any positive news for you. Jobs for non-Finnish speakers tend to fall into two categories: "high flyers" and "low flyers". As you're only 24 and have 8 years experience in work, it looks like you left school at 16, without many academic qualifications? So maybe you will be chasing jobs towards the low-flyer end (read: cleaner). Finland is a country full of well-educated people (many of whom study abroad and find partners), so even having fluent Finnish + no qualifications = poor job prospects.

Two practical options:

1. Get a job as a cleaner, study Finnish hard for 5+ years until you're fluent, then hopefully get a job slightly better than a cleaner.

2. Go back to Scotland, study something and try to learn as much Finnish as you can, ready for when you return.

Someone will no doubt help you by posting a link to a HKI cleaning agency, who hopefully won't treat you like dirt.


Good Luck!

[lamcneill]

Thanks Guys

I went to University at 16 to train as a primary school teacher - I only completed two years of the course so did not fully qualify - I don't even mention it on my CV for that reason. I consider my intelligence level to be relatively high but I did make some silly choices when I left school.

I would ideally like to study (both Finnish and a vocational course) to improve my chances of succeeding here - but my concern is, of course, the dreaded money situation.

I'm going to keep fighting for the moment - searching for work and learning the language and hope that something will turn up. As I say, I have no problem in taking a low level job - I was very successful in my last post and may even enjoy a spell of doing some low level work

Thank you for your advice and help - it is appreciated.

Lynsey

[Pursuivant]

Well no worries, you wouldn't be let close to a school here, as you need a masters degree in padagogics to pervert the primary school kids ( you can educate mature students with only a bachelors)... different approach, maybe that explains the PISA scores.

As "studying is free" (but you won't necessarily get any handouts) if I was you I'd look into the polytechnics http://www.admissions.fi - which have bachelors degrees in English. Now if and when you get into the school you should study as many Finnish courses and courses in Finnish as you can (even over you credits) - and if it goes all pear-shaped and you bugger off to blighty then you'd have a fancy paper anyhoo.

[lamcneill]

Thanks Pursuivant,

I'll definitely give the study option some thought while job hunting. I desperately want to stay here, as does my partner so we'll find some way of making it work

Very grateful for your help. Kiitos!
Lynsey