How to search for work in Finland?
Voit lukea tämän tekstin myös suomeksi: Miten etsin töitä Suomessa?
Об этом Вы можете прочитать на русском языке: Как искать работу в Финляндии?
Searching for work in Finland happens in a variety of ways.
Different sectors and different professions may also vary.
Here we have gathered general information that is important to you when you are applying for work in Finland.
These are our 3 main tips to help you in job searching:
- Search for open job calls.
- Prepare your job application cover letter and CV.
- Study the Finnish language.
(You can use the links above to go to that part of the text.)
1. Search for open job calls.
You can fnd information on open job calls on various websites and via staffing agancies.
Websites
Information about job vacancies is found online through various websites.
These sites help you see what job vacancies are available around Finland, in any profession.
You can search for examples by profession, sector or region.
- Job Market Finland (E-services of TE services)
- Duunitori (only in Finnish)
- Jobs in Finland
- Work in Finland
This site lists the jobs of cities and municipalities.
- Kuntarekry (only in Finnish)
If you are qualified to work in care or social work in Finland, wellbeing services counties offer many jobs in those fields.
The wellbeing services counties hava also, among others, kitchen jobs.
On this site you can find info of those jobs in Central Finland.
- The wellbeing services county of Central Finland: Avoimet työpaikat (only in Finnish)
Staffing agencies
There are also several staffing agencies to contact.
They find and recruit or hire staff for other companies.
For example, the following staffing agencies are active in Jyväskylä.
They have jobs in a variety of sectors, such as construction, restaurant work, cleaning, factories, warehouse.
- Barona
- Sihti (only in Finnish)
- SOL Henkilöstöpalvelut (only in Finnish)
- Suomen Henkilöstöasiantuntijat (only in Finnish)
2. Prepare your job application cover letter and CV.
Always read through the instructions given in the open job call.
They give you details about how you need to apply for a specific job.
Typically you will fill out an electronic application or send your application by email.
Usually, you need to send also a CV.
The purpose of the application letter and CV is that the employer becomes interested in you and your skills.
Then you may be invited to a job interview.
When you are writing your job application, think about what each employer wants to know about you and your skills.
What is an application letter? (also called cover letter or motivation letter)
The application letter is about your answers to the job call. Tell shortly for example:
- What skills do you have? What work have you done?
- Why are you applying for this job?
- What kind of worker are you?
- What do your coworkers or your former bosses say about you?
See an example of an application letter from TEK Workbook (pdf-file) of Tekniikan akateemiset TEK (a professional organization for academic engineers and architects).
What is a CV?
CV (stands for curriculum vitae) tells shortly about your education and work experience.
Include necessary information related directly to each job you are applying to.
The length of a good CV should be one page, or a maximum of 2 if you have a lot of experience to include.
In Finland, it is typical to include a photo of yourself. Remember to smile!
The photo may be more professional or casual, depending on the sector to which you apply.
Typically a CV includes the following matters:
- Me/my profile (short): Tell a little about yourself and what you can do. Present your competence, skills and attitude.
- Work experience: company, position, start- and end dates (or years), a short description of your duties (and achievements if you have some concrete)
- Education: school, degree, field of study, duration & graduation or start- and end dates (or years)
- Courses and additional training: Hygiene passport, Occupational Safety Card, etc.
- Language skills
- IT-skills
- Hobbies or interests
See an example of a CV from TEK Workbook (pdf-file) of Tekniikan akateemiset TEK (a professional organization for academic engineers and architects).
One form of CVs is a skills-based cv. It could be for you
- if you are lacking in work experience,
- have gaps in your CV or
- would like to change careers
- would like to turn a hobby or passion into a job.
Skills-based CV has emphasis on your transferable skills, rather than your work history.
Read further advice: Skills based CV template (by Reed.co.uk).
3. Study the Finnish language.
Many employers wish to employ people who speak at least a little Finnish.
Therefore, practice the language while also searching for work.
The better you speak, the more options you have for work.
We have compiled information about how to study Finnish in Jyväskylä or via internet or on your mobile phone. See these links for our tips:
- Short courses for Finnish language learning in Jyväskylä. (Sway presentation)
- Full-time courses with Finnish language learning in Jyväskylä. (Sway presentiation)
- Miten opiskelen suomea itsenäisesti? (Sway presentation) This list is in Finnish, but it includes links to online materials for studying Finnish. You can use some of them without Finnish skills, see 'Perustaso (0-A2) links.
The InfoFinland website has also listed options to study Finnish via the Internet: Finnish online.
- The advice and links were compiled by the career advisors of the Jyväskylä Expertise Centre for Immigrants in February 2023.
P.S. Our career advisor Sara has written also about how networking can help your job search: Connections toward employment - Conversaciones hacia el empleo.