How to apply for a job in Finland? Eveliina Nurmi 08.11.2012

Menu of the day

• Most common problems for non- Finns to find a job

• Where to find jobs?

• What jobs to apply for?

• What to put in a good CV and application letter?

• More in work shops: know how to show your know-how

Eveliina Nurmi & Arja Raukola Oy

• Master of Education 2007

• Recruitment Consultant for Arja Raukola Recruitment Services

• Our company is specialised on recruitments and temporery jobs

• Our main field is office jobs: finance, administration, IT, sales etc.

The most common challenges for international students

• Where to find suitable jobs?

• Finnish skills are requiered

• Sometimes employers are prejudice

• Huge amount of applicants

Before starting the job hunting

• Think what you want: • work in your own field • any other job to get some money and experience?

• part time job, full-time?

• in which geographical region are you ready to work? • Extend the region if it seems difficult to find a job in your own region

Where to find jobs?

• Mol.fi

• Jobstep.net

• Aarresaari.net

• Workit.netti

• Vacancies.fi

• Linked In

• Open applications to interesting employers

• Through your own networks: tell everybody you know that you are looking for a job!

What fields employ highly educated international students/recently graduated?• IT (Finnish is not always required)

• Financial Administration (Financial Service Centers)

• Traditional industry that makes international business (steel, forest etc.)

• Start Ups in different fields (Uusi Tehdas)

• Service Sector (cleaning, mail delivery, retail etc., usually while studying)

Job hunting as a sales situation

• Labour MARKET

• Candidates looking for a job = Salesmen – Employers = Buyers

YOU SHOULD CONVINCE THE EMPLOYERS YOUR PRODUCT IS THE BEST!

Your value depends on how many other potential candidates there are in the same field

To improve your position in the market• Make sure you have the knowledge and expertise the employers

want

• Take every opportunity to increase your know-how: be active in studies, extracurricular activies, join networks, try to find internships

• Make sure your sales strategy (what are you applying) and the marketing material (CV, application, Linked In profile) are appropriate

• Improve your Finnish skills

Discussion

• Talk with your neighbours: what do you think of this sales metaphor?

• How do you find your market position as a non-Finn? Is it a challenge? How could you turn it into a advantage?

APPLICATION LETTER

• recommended lenght is one page

• 1. Your contact information, what position are you applying for and in which company

• 2. briefly introduce yourself and tell, why the open position and employer interest you

• 3. describe clearly and compactly your relevant competence. Use examples!

APPLICATION LETTER

• 4. Your personality and the way you work. Examples! Emphasise the skills and experience the employer will have use of!

• your current situation and when you would be able to start working

• salary request only when specifically asked for

Curriculum vitae/RESUME

• Max. length 2 pages

• Personal details

• Education (Degree, year,school name, brief description of your studies)

• Work experience in chronological order (state the job title, name of the employer and dates of employment, a brief description of the company, your tasks and responsibilities

• Computer and language skills

• Activities / Interests

• References (name, title, contact information).

Links to CV Models

• http://teekkarintyokirja.tek.fi/en/cv-model

• http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae

• http://www.aansoek.com/English_CV.asp

Kiitos!