Working Abroad Career Guide for Finland

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Country Profile
Finland, a country of lush forests and vast woodlands, is finding itself on an upswing after an unexpected recession in 1990-1992. Membership in the European Union (Finland was the first Nordic nation to join the Euro monetary system), a booming timber industry, and success in the information technology industry have helped the nation's economy grow faster than the European average for the past five years.

But Finland is taking its success cautiously. The recession, coupled with a faster-than-average rate of inflation, has left Finns feeling a little hesitant about getting too comfortable with prosperity.

Finland's 800-mile border with Russia, the European Union's only such border, gives it a unique position as a gateway to the east. The country's excellent infrastructure and transportation system (the Finnish rail gauge is the same as Russia's), its geographical location, and its understanding of how to do business in Russia and the Baltic states mean that many foreign companies, including those based in the U.S., use Finland as a base for opening transportation and marketing activities to the former Soviet Union.

Led by Nokia, Finland's telecommunications industry is also looking toward a bright future. The country is at the forefront of the movement to liberalize telecommunications in Europe and around the world.

Professional Resources
There are many business organizations, unions, and trade councils in Finland that could prove to be useful resources to the foreign job seeker. Many Finnish cities have their own chambers of commerce; the Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland is an umbrella organization comprised of 21 local chamber groups.

Several global online telephone directories like CallNow.com serve Finland. Useful books include Talouseláma 500, a free annual publication covering Finland's largest companies. Foreigners should also check out many other resources when searching for a career, including networking organizations geared toward expatriates living and working in Finland.

The Invest in Finland Bureau (IFB) is a national development organization promoting direct investment in Finland. In addition to providing assistance with contacting Finnish companies, the IFB website provides general information on various issues impacting the business climate of the country.

Job Resources
An international job seeker has an advantage in Finland's job market: knowledge of a culture other than the Finnish one. Finnish companies expanding abroad need cultural ambassadors. Another possibility is a job as a teacher of your native language. Business associations offer international trainee programs, which could be useful entrees into the Finnish job market.

There are nine major career websites in Finland, and many large Finnish companies have their own recruiting web pages. Finland's national network of government-sponsored employment offices is another important job-search resource. The network, maintained by the Finnish Ministry of Labor, can be found at mol.fl. Be patient - the
pages in English are currently under construction. In addition, career fairs, staffing agencies, executive recruiters, and newspaper job listings are all useful tools in the career search.

Finns take long summer holidays--four weeks or more--and Finnish companies often fill summer vacancies with students and up-and-coming young professionals. Applying for a summer job, which should be done as early as January or February, is a good way to get your foot in the door in Finland.

Financial Considerations
Finland is not a particularly expensive country in which to live, although big cities in the Nordic nations tend to be on the pricey side. Housing availability varies greatly from one part of the country to another, with the larger cities seeing a tighter housing market. Your employer or the local housing authority can help you find a place to live, or you can use newspaper listings or a housing agent.

Citizens of the EU and some other European countries are eligible for the Finnish national medical insurance while they're working in the country. They can also earn childcare allowances, unemployment, pension, and other benefits.

Finland's regular work week is 40 hours long; the work day averages 8 hours. Workers in Finland cannot be required to work overtime without their consent, and they make double their usual rate of pay for working on a Sunday. Finns earn four to five weeks of vacation each year.

Income taxes for foreigners working in Finland can get complicated and differ according to the length of the job; for more information visit www.vero.fi. Foreigners who intend to live in the nation permanently and who hold residence permits for at least a year are eligible for social security benefits, which can include childcare allowances, housing allowances, and financial aid benefits, among other benefits. Foreign workers are eligible for a pension in Finland after residing in the country for at least five years immediately prior to earning the pension.

Employment Trends
Finland is facing its seventh straight year of economic growth after recovering from the worst recession in its history in the early 1990s. Unemployment is now 10 percent (much better than 20 percent, its high during the recession) and steadily decreasing. According to forecasts, industries expecting high rates of growth in the near future include private services, electronics, telecommunications, real estate management, and the electro-technical industry, among others. A survey by the Finnish Ministry of Labor found that well-trained people with skills useful to the information society are in particularly high demand.

Finland is experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in the electronics and building industries and particularly needs engineers and ADP workers. In fact, a severe labor shortage is expected to be one of Finland's most serious problems in the near future. Some commentators have suggested hiring foreign workers as a solution to the problem, and in September 2000, Finland's leading newspaper estimated that 2.1million foreign workers would be needed by the year 2020. The Finnish government is crafting a more active immigration policy to help address this issue.

Resume/CV's
Language can be a major obstacle to getting a job in Finland. Unless you speak Finnish fluently, your choices are limited to international companies, and special areas such as engineering, IT, or independent work. If your resume is in Finnish, have a native-speaker check it for correctness.

Begin with your name, address, contact information, date of birth, nationality, and civil status, and the position for which you are applying. Then, in reverse-chronological order, list the schools you attended (including secondary or high school). For each, give the focus of your studies, dates of attendance, and diplomas or degrees you received. Add special courses, internships, study abroad, and any other relevant information.

Under "Work Experience," list your jobs in reverse-chronological order. If you are a recent graduate, list temporary and/or part-time jobs. If you are a seasoned professional, include a complete listing of all of your fulltime jobs. In both cases, state: job title, name of the employer, your dates of employment, and your responsibilities.

Finally, mention relevant awards, and special skills, such as expertise with various languages and computer programs. Include information on your military service (obligatory for males in Finland), and your duties. Add your personal interests and a few references (preferably supervisors), who are familiar with your work.

Information Technology
Finland may not be a large country, but its citizens are surprisingly sophisticated when it comes to technology. In fact, around 60 percent of Finns use the Internet. One reason for this wired society may be the Finnish government's active role in investing in information-technology training and education.

The IT industry in Finland is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, despite the hundreds of foreign computer engineers already employed in the country. IT workers do not need any special licenses to work in Finland, but they are usually expected to have four to five years of full-time study under their belts.

Information technology organizations and trade associations include the Finnish Information Processing Association, which has around 28,000 members, and the Finnish Information Security Association, whose website offers job listings. There are several Finnish periodicals that may be useful to the hopeful IT worker, such as Tietoviikko.

Interviewing Advice
In preparation for your interview, dress neatly and appropriately. In the business world, Finns dress conservatively, usually dark business suits in the winter and light suits in the summer for both men and women. You should also familiarize yourself with the place of the meeting so that you will be on time. Organization and punctuality are expected.

Usually an interview starts with introductions, handshakes with everyone present, and the exchange of business cards. You should address executives and professionals by their titles and surnames, and those without titles as Mr., Mrs., or Ms., with the surname.

The meeting moves quickly to the business discussion, with little preliminary conversation. During the discussion, let the interviewer set the direction, and do not interrupt or attempt to fill long silences. When questioned, it is to your benefit to explain you achievements thoroughly, but not to boast or appear over-confident; the Finns are a hard-working and modest people and prefer straightforward and honest communication. You should feel free during the conversation to ask questions about the job, the lines of authority, your colleagues, and your responsibilities, but avoid raising the issue of salary or benefits early in the process.

Engineering
Young engineers in Finland are having no problem finding jobs; almost all of them are employed immediately after graduating, and many have contracts even before they get out of school. Mechanical, telecommunications, and data engineers are in particularly high demand, and many of the companies in these fields are facing severe labor shortages. While the unemployment rate for the country as a whole is 10 percent, engineers enjoy a mere 3.7 percent unemployment rate.

Engineers do not need special licenses to practice in Finland, but almost all of them hold either a bachelor's or a master's degree in engineering. Engineers with at least an MSc, the equivalent to five to six years of full-time study, are considered graduate engineers. While private-sector employers may hire based on their own criteria, and are even permitted to hire engineers who have not yet graduated, stricter rules apply to public-sector vacancies.

If you're interested in working as an engineer in Finland, you may enjoy one of the countries leading industry newspapers Teknika & Talous. Engineers can also benefit from reading books published by Rakennustieto Oy, producers of literature about buildings, construction, and architecture.

Work Permits
Everyone coming to work in Finland, other than citizens of the EU and Norway and the spouses and children of Finnish citizens, is required to hold a work permit. The future employer begins the process of obtaining a permit for the foreign worker who is residing abroad when hired. The first step is for the employer to contract a local employment agency and apply for a statement of need to use foreign labor. The employer sends this statement to the applicant, who then applies for the actual permit.

If the foreigner doesn't find a job until after arrival, he or she must apply for a permit at the local police station, but permits applied for in this way are granted only in exceptional circumstances. A permit costs about $120 U.S., and is usually granted for one year at a time.

Accounting & Finance
A January 2001 study by Finland's Central Chamber of Commerce found that accountants are enjoying a good employment situation. Both statutory audits and consulting have increased. In the finance business, international MBAs and master's degrees in economics are particularly valued qualifications. In order to work in these industries, you must speak either Finnish or Swedish. Depending on your particular field, you may also be required to hold special certificates and pass professional examinations.

Organizations and trade associations in the accounting and finance fields include the Registered Association of Certified HTM-Auditors, an interest group of more than 1,000 recognized auditors that promotes its members' professional development and business opportunities. There are also major finance and accounting labor unions.There are several publications that will be useful to a job seeker wishing to work in accounting or finance in Finland, such as Ekonomi-lehti.

Cultural Advice
The Finns are generally quite patient with and tolerant of newcomers to their country. They are private people who tend to avoid public displays of emotion. When talking to a Finn, remember not to group Finns together with citizens of other Nordic countries or refer to Finland as a Scandinavian nation--it isn't. Many foreigners find the Finns' tolerance of silence strange. Remember that the Finns avoid small talk, try not to interrupt each other, and tend to distrust those who talk too much.

If you're invited to a Finnish home, dress conservatively and take a gift for your host. Gifts are generally not exchanged by business associates, but ornamental objects or items featuring your organization's logo are acceptable. Punctuality is very important in Finland, and smoking is not allowed in public buildings.

Most young people in Finland speak fluent English or Swedish; some also know German, French, or Russian. Finns use titles and last names when not among close friends or family members.

Women and men in Finland enjoy very near to equal standing; women have served as President of the Republic and Chairman of the Parliament, and most work outside the home.

Finland's winter can last as many as six months in some areas, and in the far north, the sun barely even rises from November to February. In the summer, of course, daytime lasts 24 hours in many parts of the country.

Sales & Marketing
Finland's economy and productivity are on an upswing, which means excellent opportunities for sales and marketing professionals, and real talent is always valuable on the job market. Franchising, electronic components, computer hardware and software, and telecommunications services are particularly strong areas.

To obtain a managerial position in sales or marketing, you'll need an MSc, MBA, or equivalent degree. For non-managerial positions, degrees may not be as important, depending on the employer.

The Finnish Association of Marketing Communication Agencies is a network for agencies that design and produce advertising. SML ry, which has 5,000 individual members, is another professional association for the sales and marketing fields. There is also a labor union for the sales, marketing, purchasing, and representation trades. The SMKJ labor union maintains a web site which features a recruiting service

General Business
The best areas for management consultants in Finland are strategy and information technology. The Finnish Management Consultants' Association estimates that the field has grown by 20% each year since 1994, which the fastest growth occurring in IT. Consultants themselves say that demand is high for workers with abilities in teamwork, personal communication, language, and analysis, among other skills.

While there are no official education requirements for management consultants in Finland, a master's degree is usually necessary. Many consultants even hold doctorates.

The Association of the Finnish Management Consultants' membership rolls boast 180 full-time, independent consultants and 60 companies. Its website includes an online database of its members.

Business-related publications in Finland include Kauppalehti, the country's largest daily business and financial newspaper. Kauppalehti's website offers free online business and financial services to registered members, including news, share prices, and currency exchange rates.

This is only a small part what's available in the 75+ information packed pages of the Going Global Career Guide for Finland:

About Going Global Career Guides:

All you need to know to grab a global career in the country of your choice and work abroad. 75+ pages packed with detailed information from job sites to intensive interview advice, 500+ resources per guide researched and prepared by local experts. Each Country Career Guide is in PDF format that can be purchased, downloaded and printed for your personal use. An exceptional value for only $14.95

For more information and to order, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/

Country Career Guides Table of Contents

I. COUNTRY PROFILE

II. JOB-SEARCH RESOURCES
1.Online Job Sites
2.Government-Sponsored Employment Offices
3.Job Fairs/Career Events
4.Staffing Agencies/Temporary Help Firms
5.Newspapers that Publish Job Advertisements
6.Other Resources

III. EMPLOYMENT TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

General Trends
Information Technology
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
Engineering
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
Accounting and Finance
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
Sales and Marketing
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
General Business
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources

IV. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES
1.Business Organizations/Trade Councils
2.Chambers of Commerce
3.Telephone Directories
4.Publications
5.Other Resources

VI. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS ( Cost of living, salaries, health insurance, taxes, vacation/leave, benefits, etc)

VII. WORK PERMITS/VISAS

VIII. JOB APPLICATION GUIDELINES
1.Cover Letter Guidelines and Sample
2.Resume/CV Guidelines and Samples

IX. INTERVIEWING ADVICE

X. CULTURAL ADVICE

XI. COUNTRY RESOURCE BOOKS