Working in Finland
The best way to get a job is to be active and send your job application with CV directly to potential employers. You can also ask your own university department for a job. If you don’t speak Finnish, you can approach big international companies, because their business language is often English. If the vacancy is announced in Finnish, you are probably expected to speak Finnish at work. Working and safety instructions are usually available only in Finnish and it’s very important to understand them to avoid accidents at work.
Because good command of Finnish language is required for most of the jobs, the sooner you start learning Finnish, the better job opportunities you will have! Tampere University of Technology offers you an opportunity to study Finnish as foreign language.
CV and application
A curriculum vitae (CV) contains certain facts about the applicant. It should be 1–2 pages (A4) in length and include following:
- contact information: address, telephone number, e-mail address
- personal details: name, date and place of birth (possibly marital status)
- educational information from matriculation examination to current studies; current or most recent education is mentioned first in the list
- relevant work experience, again starting with the most recent employment; describe shortly your responsibilities in each position
- language skills, starting with mother tongue and using expressions excellent/good/basics with other languages
- IT-skills: all essential skills on scale excellent/good/basics
- positions of trust / publications / special skills (these can be mentioned especially if you don’t have much working experience yet)
Application letter is a marketing letter to the employer. Read the job advertisement thoroughly to figure out what the employer wants from an employee and tailor your application to match the position in question. You should emphasize your skills and achievements and connect them to the job you are applying for. Use examples from real life and your own experiences. Tell the employer why you are the best choice for this job! The length of the application letter shouldn’t exceed one page (A4).
A good CV and application letter explain clearly what you can do for the employer. Avoid telling anything irrelevant or negative information. Use simple visual style, write concisely. Always check spelling and grammar and remember to update your CV regularly! Save the application letter and CV preferably in one file and respect the recipient’s wishes on how to send your document(s), e.g. by e-mail or regular mail.
Useful links
Living and working in Finland
Studying in Tampere Region
General information for immigrants
Labour legislation
Public services in Finland
Directorate of Immigration
Information about Tampere
Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions
Information about Finland
Discover Finland on the web
Work related sites
Ministry of Labour
European Job Mobility Portal (Jobs)
A network of Academic Career Services
Recruitment site in English
Adecco in English
Search for companies
Contact Finland
Central Chamber of Commerce
European business directory
If you have any further questions, please visit Adecco’s career services office (mon–fri 11–16) at the main building of Tampere University of Technology!
At your service:
Terhi Mäkinen & Elina Vakkala
Adecco TTY Career Service