Inquiry about working prospects in Helsinki area

[anonX]

Hi,

Does anyone have experience from looking for a work on behalf of non-Eu citizen in Finland. The job should be something like waitress or comparable job with no specific skill requirements for education (for 23-year-old woman). Finnish skill level is elementary but spoken English fluent. Native Chinese, residence in Finland provided (the person in question being my gf i.e would live with native Finnish). Working permit needed for visa. Any comments appreciated.

[rinso]

Some people find a job within days, others have no success in years.

For a work permit (= residence permit based on work) you need to have a job (minimum 2 year contract) before you come to Finland.
It is very unlikely that an employer will give a two year contract for an unskilled labourer without Finnish skills and still abroad. (processing application can take months)
And for the service industry (waitress) you need a hygiene pass, which you can get after following a short course and exam in Finland. (again, no contract before you get those)

So in your case it will be difficult.

[anonX]

Thanks for your informative reply Rinso,

I didn't know that the contract should be for 2 years which of course makes it difficult to be employed in sectors with high employer turnover ratio. Seems that one option is to get visa for 3 months and try to convert it to work permit by finding employer here willing to apply for that. I'm well aware of regulations in restaurant sector as I worked in it about 5 years ago and maybe will try to arrange something with my previous employer. Also can say that actually for hygiene pass you can just do the exam, no course needed. Several of my university friends are working in the sector with no Finnish knowledge (seems that can work well with student visa). Also hygiene pass requirement is not that strict (usually just considered bonus).

The other option seems to be to get a study place in some 2nd rate school in Finland and use that to work, the application period to schools has just started.

[rinso]

for hygiene pass you can just do the exam, no course needed

There are options where the course is in the morning and the exam in the afternoon.
Although the test is not difficult, I wouldn't recommend doing it without preparation.

Also hygiene pass requirement is not that strict (usually just considered bonus).

It depends the risk the employer is willing to take. Health inspection hardly checks it, unless there is a complain or an incident.