Employment process

Coming to Finland for work

You will find detailed information on job search in Finland, job portals, and recruiting agencies. Here is also guidance on crafting a CV, job application, preparing for interviews, and understanding employment contracts and salary expectations. Whether you’re starting your job hunt or looking to advance your career, our resources are designed to support you and make it easier.

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Job

Finding a job in Finland requires proactive effort from the jobseeker. While TE-offices offer various services to assist jobseekers, the main responsibility lies with the individual to actively search for employment opportunities.

Searching for a job in Finland involves actively browsing job advertisements on job and employment sites. Many companies also post job openings directly on their websites under sections labeled “vacancies” or “jobs” (työpaikat). However, a significant portion of job opportunities, are hidden jobs and filled through personal networks. Networking with friends, acquaintances, and attending recruitment fairs are effective ways to uncover these hidden jobs. Directly contacting company recruitment teams and using social media platforms like LinkedIn can also boost chances of connecting with potential employers.

Job portals

Job portals in Finland provide a convenient way to find job openings based on location, duration, job title, and specific keywords. Public sector-operated portals like the Jobs in Finland websites specialize in listing job opportunities. Additionally, there are private portals maintained by companies and educational institutions, such as:

Job market Finland
Kuntarekry
Work in Finland
Duunitori
Jobly
Indeed

Here you can find instructions for registrations for some of these resources:

Registration instructions

Recruiting agencies

HR companies in Finland offer temporary work where employees work at a client company, the HR company manages the employment details, pay, and sometimes extra training. This type of work is common for industries like factory work, administration, IT, commerce, and construction.

Here you can some recruiting agencies in Satakunta region:

Recruiting agencies

Job hunting

CV

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a summary of your skills and experiences. A good CV should be easy to read, with clear headings and bullet points to organize information. Typically, it includes your qualifications, education, work history, and any special skills you have. You can also add a summary of your core competencies at the beginning. In Finland, a CV usually should be no longer than two pages and also can include hobbies, good-quality photo and links to social media profiles. Make sure to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for and include clear contact information and references. Simple, structured, and minimalist resumes are much better received by recruiters and employers.

You can get help for writing a CV from International House Pori.

  • You can create your resume using online resources.

    You can use Indeed Resume Builder, which does not require registration for creating a resume and has a straightforward system for entering information into your CV:

    • Note down the information you want to include. List education in reverse order (the highest in the list should be your most recent education), work experience in reverse order, skills (both soft and hard skills), your certificates and references from previous employersy.
    • Choose a template and under the Sections tab, select the necessary categories to include in your resume. The main ones are Work Experience, Skills, Education, and Certifications/Licensesy.
    • After entering all the prepared information, save your resume by clicking “Download resume.

    You can use Resume builder, which does not require registration for creating a resume and has a straightforward system for entering information into your CV:

    • Select a ready made template, and after entering the basic information, you can customize all the parameters. You can also change the template language at any time, and you can modify the template’s style at any moment.

Job Application

A cover letter, also known as a job application, is a key document when applying for a job. It should be clear, concise, and no longer than one page. The purpose of a cover letter is to explain why you are applying for the job and how your skills match the job requirements. It should also highlight what makes you a unique candidate and capture the recruiter’s interest. If the job is not currently available, an open job application can show your long term interest and motivation, potentially leading to future opportunities.
You can find more information about writing a cover letter here.

Interview

The employer invites some applicants to a job interview based on their application and CV. It is important to prepare carefully by rehearsing possible interview questions and researching the company. During the interview, clearly describe yourself, your skills, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations for applying. In Finland, interviews are typically casual, so dress neatly but not too formally, and always bring your educational certificates and work testimonials.

You are not required to answer questions about your age, health, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs. Employers cannot discriminate against job seekers based on these characteristics.

Before the interview, make a list of your strengths that match the job requirements or the company’s goals. You can also review common interview questions and tips to help you prepare and succeed on the Indeed Interviewing.

Employment contract

Before starting a job, an employee must sign an employment contract with the employer. The contract should cover key details such as the start date, place of work, type and duration of employment, working hours, duties, pay, and applicable collective agreement. It must also specify any probationary period, annual holiday terms, and notice period. Both the employee and employer must sign two identical copies of the contract, ensuring clarity and compliance with the law and collective agreements.

You can find more information and a sample contract on Tyosuojelu.fi – Employment relationship

Salary

In Finland, there is no universal minimum wage for all professions. Instead, minimum salaries are set for specificindustries through negotiations between unions and employers.

To find the minimum salary for your chosen profession, you can look up the collective agreement for your industry. For average salary information, you can visit websites like Palkkavertailu or Oikotie.