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Job hunting

How to find a job in Finland

You should ideally start your search for a job before you arrive in Finland. If you are already in the country you should register as a jobseeker at your nearest employment office.

Unfortunately for newcomers to Finland, most of the best job vacancies are filled before they are even advertised. Most of these jobs get around by word of mouth, so having contacts is invaluable when looking for a job in Finland.

The best thing any expat can do is to talk to people from the moment you arrive – friends, neighbours and local business people, to name a few possibilities. Even if who you talk to cannot offer you anything directly, there is always a chance that they might know somebody who can.

Looking for a job online

The Finnish Labour Administration’s website provides information on jobs available and allows you to narrow your search to match the kind of work you are looking for. The information on the website is available in both English and Finnish, though the actual online job search engine is only available in Finnish. You can access it by clicking here .

Another way to look for jobs online is to use the European Job Mobility Portal (EURES). This service gives you information on job vacancies, as well as how to apply, and the general living and working conditions in Finland. You can also submit your CV on this site in the hope that employers will find you. Click here to visit the EU website .

There are numerous other employment and recruitment agencies in Finland where you can submit your CV online and search for vacancies.

Employment offices in Finland

Most localities in Finland have their own employment office and anyone is entitled to seek advice from them. Some larger offices have EURES advisers who can provide advice specifically aimed at immigrant jobseekers.

Newspapers

Most newspapers in Finland such as the Helsingin Sanomat, Metro, or 100-lehti have a job section, especially on a Sunday. Since most of the adverts are in Finnish you need a decent command of the language. However you will also see some adverts posted by large international firms who are looking for workers from abroad, so there is a good chance that these will be available in English.

It is also possible to post an advert in local newspapers stating that you are looking for a job.

Television

Finnish speakers can view job listings on ‘Teletext’ page 521 on channel YLE. This method is quick, easy and is updated fairly regularly. Some programmes such as ‘Avoimet työpaikat’ also advertise job vacancies.

Notice boards at educational institutions

Looking at notice boards at schools, colleges and other educational institutions is particularly useful for students looking for seasonal work or internships. Full-time jobs are sometimes posted here too, so it is worth visiting any local institution to see if there is anything available.

Direct applications in Finland

You can also apply directly to any company you wish to work for in Finland. Just because the company has not advertised a job vacancy, does not mean they are not prepared to recruit anybody. Go through local and national telephone directories and apply to any company you think you would like to work for.

What if I still can’t find a full-time job in Finland?

Don’t panic. As an expat it is likely to be difficult to find work in the open labour market straight away. If finding a full-time job proves too difficult you have these alternative options available to you:

Work experience placements (työharjoittelu): Offers the chance to gain valuable experience not only in a particular field, but also of working in Finland. With some placements it is possible to receive a small income from Finland’s social security system, known as labour market support.
Voluntary work (vapaaehtoistyö): A good option for those with little or no previous work experience, though generally unpaid.
Work try-outs (työkokeilu): For those who have difficulty finding a job due to health reasons, or those who are considering a career change.
Subsidised employment (työllistämistuki): You can work for a company for 6-10 months and receive financial support. An employment agency will be able to advise you on this route.
Apprenticeship contracts (oppisopimus): A combination of work and study, usually for a duration of 1-4 years depending on your level of education and which field of work you choose to enter.

Although these options are relatively short-term, they will put you in a good position to find full-time employment in the future as you will have gathered experience of working in Finland and, hopefully, will have picked up some of the language too.

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