Job Opportunities for Students and Graduates in Finland

Finland is popularly known for being one of the best and innovative countries in the world. In addition to that, it is known to also have one of the best education systems for both citizens and international students alike. You may be wondering if there are opportunities for you to work while studying in Finland, or even after graduation, which brings us to the reason this article exists.

In this article, I will share useful information on the job opportunities that lay in wait for students and graduates, and how to get them.

Job Opportunities for Students in Finland

You do not need to worry if you are a foreigner or a Non-EU citizen, there are a plethora of job opportunities for you, as a student in Finland, to benefit from. However, certain criteria must be met and some restrictions follow. In this section, I will share tips on how to get a job as a student in Finland, and the restrictions you should be aware of.

Working while studying in Finland is one of the fastest and easiest ways to make money to cover some of your expenses and also save. As an international student, you are not allowed to work for more than 25 hours a week during the academic session, and full time during the holidays.

You can adjust your weekly working hours to suit the time you have in a semester but you can not exceed 25 hours per week. This implies that according to your routine or school workload, you can adjust your work-time to suit your schedule.

It is advised that you consider jobs that are connected to your degree program, this way, you may be able to gain the necessary work experience to assist you to find better work following graduation.

Part-time employment in Finland pays around €2,500 per month on average, and work opportunities are plentiful, especially for foreigners and international students.

The best part is, the jobs available for students simply demand basic abilities and a basic understanding of Finnish and/or English, with no requirement for further qualifications or expertise. Students who want to supplement their income while studying can also take up delivery and cleaning tasks.

Tips on How to get a job as a student in Finland

Ask in your department or faculty: It is very normal to find vacancies in your department or faculty. Inquire at your local school and department if there are vacancies for teaching assistants or research assistants. It is also a great opportunity for students to learn and grow in their area while still studying. These jobs are compensated, and some even pay tuition and provide stipends.

Local Students Association: Finnish Universities have students associations or organizations that pair students with organizations that may be needing their services. Job opportunities that are open to them.

Apply at startups: If you are into IT or tech, there are several startups you can offer your services to on a part-time basis. All you need to do is look out for them and the kind of services they need. You also stand a chance to learn on the job and garner experience for when you have graduated and are ready to work full-time.

Make Connections and ask questions: It will be of great value to connect with people and ask them relevant questions concerning job openings for students. You can inquire from your teachers and students you are familiar with, and ask them to keep you posted if they find an opportunity for international students.

Apply in Person: You can also walk into any restaurant or bar and ask if they have vacancies for students who are looking to work. You may just be in luck.

The truth is, there are opportunities, a lot actually, for international students in Finland to work and make money but you have to play an active role in finding it. You will not find what you are not looking for even if it is right in front of you.

Available jobs for students in Finland

• Personal Assistant: You can help a business executive organize their calendar and schedule. This is a fantastic method to make money while also honing your organizational abilities.
• Personal Trainer: If you have the necessary skills, you can work part-time in a gym near your college or your neighborhood.
• Internship as a software developer: If you want to improve your software development abilities, you may apply to be an intern and earn money while learning useful skills and gaining valuable experience.
• Research Assistant: If you are skilled at research or have an interest in it, you might wish to look for a position as a paid research assistant at your institution.
• Social Media Manager: You can handle the social media business page of any organization if you are great at answering questions and creating content.
• Baby Sitting: You can make some money looking after children when their parent or guardian is busy.

Others include bartenders, waiters, delivery drivers, cleaners, tour guides, etc. If you notice, the jobs available for students do not require any technical skill or certification but they will allow you to make money and get experience.

It is important to mention that you follow the rules laid out by your institution concerning working while studying. You are also not allowed to start up a business or take on any professional services.

Job Opportunities for Graduates in Finland

Upon graduation, you can stay back and work in Finland but you must be start planning and make up your mind before you graduate. If you are still contemplating, I would like to share that Finland has a great working conditions and offers competitive salaries. You can become eligible to work anywhere in the world if you have experience working in Finland because many of the organizations in Finland are international organizations.

It is advised that you apply for an extended residence permit before the one you have expires. You are allowed to extend your residence permit for a year after graduation. You may use this window to get a job. Once you get a job, you can go ahead to apply for a new residence permit which will allow you to stay in Finland for longer, based on your job contract.

Tips to increase your chance of getting a job in Finland as a Graduate

• To increase your possibility of finding a job after graduation in Finland, you need to start making connections before you graduate.
• Take up jobs during your study period as it will boost your work experience and let your future employers know you are familiar with the work culture.
• You may also need to learn Finnish because, to work there, you should be able to communicate with people in their local language.
• Prepare a great CV
• Apply and apply! The more you apply, the more chance you stand to get a job.

I can not possibly spell out all the jobs available for graduates in Finland because that would be counterproductive. However, there are a lot of jobs available and all you have to do is tailor your search to your field of study. This would even assist you to build a career in your field.

Apart from making personal connections and asking people, the easiest way to get a job in Finland these days is by searching online. Below are the best sites you can check to find a job suitable for you, in Finland.

• Monster Finland
• Career Jet Finland
• Te-Palvelut
• Duunitori
• Jobs in Helsinki
• Tiptopjob
• The Hub

Note that after graduation, you can also start-up a business. This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. All you need to do is apply for the one-year extended residence permit, get the required documents needed to start a business, and start-up the business in the one-year period before your extended residence permit expires.

Finland has great policies that allow international students and graduates to work and earn a living. There are numerous job opportunities which this article alone has not covered because there are too numerous to mention. However, the important points to note are you have to adhere to all the rules and regulations concerning working in Finland to get the optimal result and build a career.

You can start here to learn more about after-graduate opportunities in Finland.