jobs in finland
Despite not even being the biggest nation in the world, there’s plenty it has to offer that others don’t. Putting aside the cold weather conditions, the UN’s report standout factor was how safe people felt because of low crime levels. Source: Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP

With an increase of 141% of international students, it’s no wonder search engines are busy searching for jobs in Finland. According to the UN, this country ranked number one on their World Happiness Report for 2020 and this year. 

Despite not even being the biggest nation in the world, there’s plenty it has to offer that others don’t. Despite its frigid cold weather, Finns are still smiling — widely — because they feel safe thanks to their low crime levels. 

Plus, citizens appreciate the way their government is handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re looking for jobs in Finland, you’re on the right track. Not only will you reap all these benefits, but you’ll also be part of the country’s universal healthcare system. 

 

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What sets Finland apart the most is equality. No matter which socio-economic background you come from,  you’ll have opportunities to thrive. Without further ado, we’ll guide you through the process of looking for jobs in Finland as an international student below:

Visas

Working while studying is a great way to be a part of the local community and network off-campus.

On a student visa, you can work up to 25 hours a week while studying. In the summer months, there’s no limit on how many hours you work.

What’s the catch? If you’re a non-EU citizen, you need a residence permit after three months which will cost you 360 euros along with renewal fees. If you are from the EU, registering your right of residence in the happiest country in the world will cost 54 euros. 

To get a Finnish residence permit, the first step is to fill in your application along with the required documents. Then, you’ll need to book an appointment with the Finnish embassy or consulate and wait.

We’ve saved the best part for last. International students with a residence permit can work as many hours as they want if the job is related to their programme of study. Here’s how you can get started.

Jobs in Finland

The two peak seasons in a year when you should look for jobs in Finland is just before winter and during summer breaks. Your options are boundless — you could wait tables, clean houses or deliver food, for example. 

If you want to work in a restaurant or cafeteria, you’ll need a hygiene passport which is a type of certificate that proves you know how to handle unpacked and easily perishable foods. 

 

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Where to look for jobs in Finland

Your first stop to look for jobs in Finland should be your uni — they usually have  career services for international students. They can help you find an internship or a course-related job (especially for master’s students).

Unis also have research programmes where you can get hired as a research assistant or work part-time as a proofreader. Local newspapers are a good source to look for off-campus employment as well. 

The government’s job search portal is TE Service. For more options, head to Monster, Barona, and The Hub. For well-known cleaning companies in Finland,  look at pages like Sol and Freska. For food delivery services, check out  Foodora and Wolt.