Various Variables

Aiming at recognising competences and guiding educated immigrants

Vuosi: 2023

Five Effective Ways to Learn Finnish
7.12.2023
Jenni Savolainen

Have you recently moved to Finland or are you currently trying to learn Finnish? Good, then you are at the right place! Language courses and classes are unquestionably the best ways to learn a new language, but there are also many other ways to enhance your learning along the way and implement the new language into your life. And to be fair, learning Finnish can be a bit intimidating at times, so here are five ways to boost your learning journey! Try to Speak Finnish with Finns First, let’s state the obvious. Even Finns themselves think that Finnish is a bit of a complicated language to learn and speak, so don’t worry. You don’t have to speak it perfectly to be understood. Speaking a foreign language for the first time can be daunting! However, you’ll learn the language faster when you use it on a daily basis (1). So, when you are at the grocery store, for example, bravely say “kiitos” and “hyvää päivänjatkoa!” to the cashier. In general, we Finns are really friendly and kind, contrary to all stereotypes, so don’t be afraid and just go for it! If you can use Finnish every day, even in these little moments, you’ll become more confident using it, and in the long run, you’ll end up learning it faster. It’s also worth mentioning that in Finland, everyone speaks English quite well, so sometimes when we want to be friendly, we switch the language to English quite easily. But if you want to talk in Finnish, just do it! Watch Finnish TV Shows and Movies This may seem obvious, but I still want to mention it. To learn a new language, you need to read it, write it, speak it, and hear it (2). That being said, it is a great idea to watch TV shows and movies in the language you want to acquire. It doesn’t matter if you have the subtitles on; you just need to hear Finnish. Even though you don’t understand everything they say in the shows and movies, you’ll still hear the language, and it will help you learn. Another way to do this is to watch a movie or a show you have already seen, dubbed in Finnish. This way you already know the plot and it’s much easier to follow along! Listen to Finnish Podcasts This is also an excellent way to hear Finnish and learn to comprehend it little by little. The same goes for podcasts as with TV shows and movies; you don’t have to understand everything, you just have to listen! There are plenty of good options when it comes to podcasts. If you want to listen to a learning podcast, then there are, for example, Opi Suomea -podcast and Random Finnish Lesson -podcast, which can help you learn Finnish faster. In these podcasts, the language used is simple and easy to understand. Then, of course, there are multiple other Finnish podcasts on different topics.  You can find them on Yle Areena or Spotify. If you are interested in history or true crime, you can listen to a Finnish podcast about these topics and learn a lot. Watch Finnish Children’s TV Shows This may seem really silly at first, but it is actually a helpful way to boost your language learning. The reason is that the language in children’s TV shows is way simpler and easier to understand. Therefore, it’s a great way to improve your language learning, plus it’s really fun! For example, the Moomins (Muumit in Finnish) are a great option for this. The Moomin characters speak very simple and basic Finnish, making it easy to follow along. You can watch The Moomin series on Yle Areena for free, so check it out! In addition, you get to know the Finnish culture since the Moomins are a big part of the Finnish cultural identity. Use Post-it notes to Learn the Finnish Vocabulary When you need to learn Finnish vocabulary, post-it notes can useful. For example, write the Finnish words for different furniture items and stick them to the furniture. You can start with five words for instance and then change the post-it notes when you already know them. You can also try saying the words out loud to practice the pronunciation of the words. You can apply this method to other things, too. If you want to learn food vocabulary, stick post-it notes to the items in your fridge. This can really speed up your learning as you see the Finnish words every day in your home! Let’s Get to Learning Finnish There are many ways to learn a new language, and different things work for different people. You can use one of the ways mentioned in this blog post to boost your Finnish, or you can even try them all if you’d like. The key to learning Finnish is to immerse yourself in it! And in no time, you’ll notice yourself getting better and better in Finnish and soon enough you’ll be a fluent speaker. And in case you are looking for Finnish language courses, please take a look at  Metropolia’s Finnish language courses for immigrants. We’d love to have you here in Metropolia! Author Jenni Savolainen is a communications intern at the Learning Networks and Services team at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and a master’s student at the University of Turku majoring in the Finnish language. Sources: Tandem 2017. Want to Learn a Language Quickly? Get Speaking! Web page. Viewed on 18th of October 2023. UNC Learning Center 2015. Learning Languages. Web page. Viewed on 25th of October 2023.

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Unlocking Employment Opportunities – Best Tips from Successful Job Seekers in Finland
10.11.2023
Riia Hoppania

Looking for a job in Finland as an international job seeker can be challenging. Especially if you are highly educated and wish to find a position that matches your education and expertise. To succeed, you need to overcome many obstacles, such as learning the language, building new professional networks and understanding the local work culture. It’s also possible that your foreign qualifications don’t align with the employer’s expectations, and you’ll need to update your skills or, at the very least, learn how to showcase them better. Metropolia offers personal SIMHE guidance discussions aimed at helping highly educated immigrants to map their competences and identify suitable study and career paths in Finland. As a SIMHE career coach, I get to see only a small part of my coaching clients’ job-seeking process, and rarely hear about their success stories. To uncover the primary factors contributing to successful employment in Finland, I contacted professionals I had a privilege of meeting in my role as a Career Coach. Five professionals, all of whom have secured jobs aligned with their education and expertise, were kindly willing to give their insights and top tips for those currently seeking employment. Katja works as a Project Coordinator in Finland with a Master's in cultural services and tourism. She has over 10 years of experience in organizing events of different scales, from small workshops to large cultural festivals and international trade shows and a working proficiency in 4 languages, including Finnish. Mazen works as Product Engineer in a large Finnish international manufacturing company. He came to Finland to study a Master’s degree after years of various engineering roles in Sana´a, Yemen. Nadiia works as Researcher and Recruitment Consultant in a Finnish recruiting company. She holds a Master's in organizational management and has a decade of HR/Admin/Operations experience in international and national organizations. Clara works as Associate UX (User experience) product designer remotely from Finland. She first came to Finland to work as a business developer at a spin-off start-up in Aalto University but has now changed her career to UX product design. Clara has a background in business and marketing, specializing in consumer psychology and behavioural decision theories. Carol works as a senior HR Manager at a Finnish MNC, with a Bachelor's in Journalism, an MBA in Project Management, and over 20 years of expertise spanning media, management consulting, public relations, capability building, and commercial excellence.   Factors that lead to employment Networking, participation, activity, learning and development In Finland, many job opportunities are hidden (1,2) and networks play a crucial role in the job search (3). A study by Rolle Alho found that especially contacts with people from the majority population provided valuable information that helped job seekers find work. The information about job opportunities in the ‘hidden’ job market also increased the number of potential job options for job-seekers. (4).  Marjo-Riitta Poutiainen, in her thesis, noted that useful information often spreads through networks of acquaintances and less-frequently-seen connections, rather than with close family and friends (5). Keeping this in mind, getting to know new people is important for professional development and acquiring information about the job openings. The professionals interviewed also emphasized the importance of taking an active approach to networking and connecting with other professionals in the field. Particularly, learning and professional development were identified as essential components of networking. Mazen: “Staying up-to-date with the latest industry changes was essential for my success. I achieved this by participating in various university programs and events, collaborating with the TE office, engaging in self-study, and focusing on personal development. I believe that every program and voluntary effort played a role in my success. These initiatives helped me stay informed, keep pace with industry trends, enhance my communication skills, and I gain a better understanding of Finnish work culture and norms.” Nadiia: “To succeed, attending special events, workshops, and staying updated on industry trends and the local job market was crucial. Networking, meeting new people, and building valuable connections were also vital. Being proactive, communicative, and open-minded, and sharing knowledge and experiences with others, were important aspects of my journey.” Katja: “The most significant moment in my job search was when I participated in a Talent Match recruitment event organized by Espoo Talent Hub. It completely transformed my journey. During this event, I had the opportunity to deliver a quick 2-minute pitch, and, thanks to the connections I made that day, I secured an interview and ultimately landed an 8-month full-time job contract. If I could do it all over again, I would prioritize connecting with professionals on LinkedIn and participating in live events, which are more accessible once again.” Clara: “My second job in Finland was a project coordinator position at a recruiting consultancy company. I wasn't actively seeking a new role at that time, but I became aware of this opportunity through a friend I had met at a previous company. She recommended me for the position, and after the recruitment process, I secured the job. Working in various fields in Finland has taught me a great deal about Finnish working culture, about the ecosystem of the Finnish startup scene and about managing large global projects. It has also given me a wide network of international professionals in IT and business management sectors.”   Investing in the right kind of job search strategy There is no one-size-fits-all job search strategy. The most effective approach depends on various factors, including the skills, experience, and the specific position you're seeking. However, it's crucial to communicate your skills effectively in a way that captures the employer's interest (6) and to tailor each application to the particular job you're interested in. Here are two contrasting approaches to job search strategies, both of which led to success. Carol “I found that the career advice I received at various talks and programs didn't quite align my situation as a highly experienced professional with over 20 years in the field. Suggestions like seeking internships or applying for any available position didn't make sense for me. Instead, I chose to focus on my true passion: exploring the field of HR. I became more selective in my applications, conducting thorough research on each company's financials and corporate mission. I ensured that each CV and cover letter were tailored to match the specific job requirements by using tools like Jobscan.co. I listed my work experience based on relevance to the role rather than chronologically, to avoid highlighting gaps in my work history. Even when work samples were not requested, I included them. These strategic steps yielded results. Out of nine applications, I received callbacks for interviews from four companies. I also diligently prepared for tests and interviews, which paid off.” Clara: “When transitioning to a career in UX design and applying for entry-level positions, I received advice to focus solely on the most interesting opportunities and not play a numbers game. But I was a junior designer with zero years of experience, a full-time job seeker and kept getting rejection emails. I ended up applying for around 120 job openings. In retrospect, it turned out to be a significant learning process. Each application provided an opportunity to practice articulating what I could bring to the prospective company. The more I applied and researched companies, their missions, products, and values, the clearer my vision of my dream job became. As a result, out of the 120 places I applied, I had interviews with 16 companies, reached the second round with 7, the third round with 4, and received offers from 2. After this journey, I ended up at the company I wanted to work for the most, and I continue to learn and grow every day in my dream job.”   Overcoming the language barrier Numerous studies have highlighted the significant role of language skills as a key factor in the employment challenges faced by migrants. For instance, Arajärvi (2009) found that in Finland, the strict language requirements for jobs and the cost of on-the-job training may influence employers' willingness to hire immigrants (7).  Kangasniemi (2022) also pointed out that highly skilled immigrants face challenges due to the demand for excellent Finnish language skills in jobs and the lack of services tailored for them. (8). Among the interviewees, all encountered difficulties in their job searches because of language requirements. Notably, despite intensive Finnish language studies, four out of five interviewees secured positions in companies where English is the working language. Mazen: “The greatest challenge I faced was the Finnish language barrier. I dedicated a year to studying the Finnish language. At the same time, I took on some temporary jobs while continuing to search for a permanent position in my field. Ultimately, I was hired by a company where the working language is English.” Carol: “I have always worked in people-oriented roles, but it was really rare to find a job opening in my field that that didn't require native-level Finnish proficiency. I invested my time in intensive Finnish classes and online courses at Aalto University in my first year in Finland. However, after adjusting my job search strategy, I focused exclusively on roles and companies where English was the working language. I also targeted companies with a sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) agenda to minimize the risk of discrimination.” Katja: “I relocated to Finland in 2020 amid the pandemic. Events were restricted, and job opportunities in my industry were non-existent. After 3 months of fruitless job searching, I made the decision to use this crisis period to learn the Finnish language. It took me two years to reach B2 level. During my language studies, I diligently applied for all suitable job and internship openings I could find. From my experience I strongly encourage investing time in learning the Finnish language, as it significantly improves your chances of finding a job in Finland.”   Taking care of mental well-being and building support networks Unemployment, especially when prolonged, can lead to significant emotional stress. Good relationships are particularly important for coping with this stress. Other protective factors include good health, a strong social and economic status, effective life management skills, and nurturing relationships. (9). Several interviewees emphasized the importance of maintaining a sense of hope, confidence, and perseverance in their job search. Giving up was not an option, and good support networks played a crucial role during challenging moments. Clara: “Job seeking requires you to be resilient and mentally strong. And yet, sometimes rejection emails hit you hard. I managed to establish a support group of friends who were also job searching in the same field. We supported each other, provided feedback on practice interviews and portfolio sites, and shared information about the latest design trends and techniques. I also had a mentor who gave me constructive feedback on interviews and design in general. All of this was immensely helpful during my job search process.” Carol: “Job searching can be daunting, especially if you're new to Finland. Begin by networking and becoming part of a community with people who share common interests. This is crucial for your psychological well-being and emotional health. These networks can also offer valuable advice on navigating the job search successfully in this context.” Mazen: “In essence, I kept applying and never gave up. Not even during the most discouraging times. I maintained my belief that the right opportunity would eventually come my way.”   Best advice for someone who is looking for a job right now I asked interviewees what advice they would want to share with people who are currently looking for a job in Finland. Here are their answers. Mazen: “My advice is to start your job search actively. Focus on where to look for jobs and understand the strengths that are most sought after by employers in specific areas. Identifying your weaknesses and actively working to improve them is equally important. Stay informed about the latest developments in your industry. Never underestimate any effort; it can either lead directly to employment or add to your knowledge, open up other opportunities, or expand your network. If you are a student, seek opportunities already while studying! It's clear to me now that it's much easier to secure opportunities as a summer employee, thesis worker, or intern while you are still a student.” Carol: “Find out what you really want to do based on your passion, skills and experience. Then make a detailed but pragmatic plan of how to achieve it. Put in extra effort to make sure you shine above other applicants!” Clara: “Have the right support system. Develop a cycle of applying, practicing, attending job interviews and getting feedback and you will keep on learning new things through the whole process. For me the momentum of learning something new throughout the job search experience kept me going. What I regret a lot is that during the journey, I forgot to also have fun. If I could go back, I would respect myself more and enjoy my free time more.” Katja: “Never give up! Utilize all available opportunities, stay proactive, and expand your network. Check the services provided for job seekers by your city, the TE office, and various employment-related organizations. I got lot of help from KOSKE (Competence Center for Highly Educated Immigrants in Espoo). Make a list of recruitment events in your region and actively participate and approach employers with a concise pitch highlighting your professional strengths. Attend networking events organized by your professional communities to make valuable connections. Explore Further Education with Companies (FEC) programs, as they often lead to employment opportunities. Whenever you apply for a job, meticulously tailor your CV and cover letter according to the job description and the company profile. Nadiia: “Remember it’s worth aiming for a job at your level or even higher. Your attitude is one of the most important things - do not let it kill your dreams. Set up a clear goal and be confident and honest, and accept that you can´t know everything.”   Sources: Sitra (2017). Työelämätutkimus 2017: Somen kautta voi löytää töitä tai tulla löydetyksi https://www.sitra.fi/uutiset/tyoelamatutkimus-2017-yli-puolet-suomalaisista-vahtanut-ammattia-tai-alaa/ Luoma, T. & Vaittinen, J. (2023). Playing hide and seek with hidden job markets. Blog post. Various variable, Metropolia. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2023/01/25/playing-hide-and-seek-with-hidden-job-markets/ Finnwards (2020) Job hunting In Finland: the importance of networks in job hunting in Finland. Blog post. https://www.finnwards.com/working-in-finland/job-hunting-in-finland-the-importance-of-networks/ Alho, R. (2020). ‘You Need to Know Someone Who Knows Someone’: International Students’ Job Search Experiences: Array. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.v10i2.120817 Poutiainen M-R, 2011. Verkostot väylänä työelämään. Pro Gradu. University on Helsinki. https://helda.helsinki.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/f6bd60e1-a159-4abe-b7ad-9e497a947a73/content Hoppania, R. (2021) Knowing your skills is crucial for your career ‒ how to get started? Blog post. Various Variables, Metropolia. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2021/11/15/knowing-your-skills-is-crucial-for-your-career-%e2%80%92-how-to-get-started/ Arajärvi, P. (2009). Maahanmuuttajien työllistyminen ja kannustinloukut. Sisäministeriö. Kangasniemi, R. (2022). Maahanmuuttajien työllistymisen haasteet ja tuki Suomessa – Ohjaajien ja korkeasti koulutettujen maahanmuuttajien kokemuksia. Master’s thesis. Jyväskylä University. https://jyx.jyu.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/81664/1/URN%3ANBN%3Afi%3Ajyu-202206133273.pdf Kannisto-Karonen, T. 2015. Urana työllistyminen. Väitöskirja. Turun yliopisto, kasvatustieteen laitos. Pysyvä verkko-osoite: https://www.utupub.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/117697/AnnalesC414Kannisto-Karonen-diss.pdf;jsessionid=BA229B323F43F88E00CA0573B2AB63E8?sequence=2   Blogger: Riia Hoppania works as a Career Coach in Metropolia supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. She has years of experience working in a collaboration project with the employment services supporting job seekers with different backgrounds.    

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Why Finnish is Easier to Learn than You Think
27.4.2023
Jenni Savolainen

When talking about languages, Finnish always comes up as being a hard language to learn. There are 15 grammatical cases and other grammatical things that can make you feel horrified. Sure, Finnish may be a bit hard language to grasp but it is not as hard as Japanese, Korean or Arabic, according to the US State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, FSI (1). Does this make you feel any better? Good! There are actually a few different reasons why I think Finnish is easier to learn than you think. Let’s get into it! Gender-neutrality, Loanwords and Suffixes Firstly, Finnish is a somewhat gender-neutral language since there is no grammatical gender (2). We only have one pronoun hän, which includes every gender. So, you only need to know one pronoun. On top of that, Finns also like to use pronoun se (which translates to it) to refer to a person. Therefore, when speaking Finnish, you will be fine just using the pronoun hän and/or se. Nouns are neutral in Finnish too. If you speak for example Italian or Spanish, you are probably used to nouns being either feminine or masculine. In Finnish, there are no feminine or masculine nouns. Also, the vocabulary is something worth mentioning. There are many loanwords from different languages in Finnish (3). English being the lingua franca, the English loanwords ease learning Finnish for a lot of people because the words are already familiar. For example, a banana is simply banaani, a paper is paperi, a hotel is hotelli and a camera is kamera. In addition, there are no articles in the Finnish grammar. You don’t have to worry about whether a, an or the is necessary. In Finnish, there are other ways to define and clarify things and situations. The aforesaid 15 grammatical cases come in handy with this one. Finnish is also, like all the Uralic languages, an agglutinative language which means affixes are attached to the word stems to form a word (4). I will give you an example of how this works. If you want to say my dog, in Finnish you say koirani. So, to break it down, the word for a dog is koira, and the possessive suffix is -ni which means my. In short, this is how conjugation works in Finnish: you add affixes to the end of the word. Finnish is a Phonetic Language If you have ever tried to learn, for example, French, you probably know that in some languages the words are written in one way but the pronunciation sounds like a completely different word. Well, luckily Finnish isn’t like this! Finnish is a phonetic language which basically means words are pronounced exactly as they are written (5). If you can master ääkköset (meaning the letters ä, ö and å), you’ll be on your way to being a fluent Finnish speaker! Also, there is something called vowel harmony which can make the pronunciation of Finnish words a bit easier. Vowel harmony means that front (ä, ö, y) and back (a, o, u) vowels can’t exist in the same word. Then there are two neutral vowels (i, e) that can exist with both front and back vowels. So, if you are wondering how to conjugate a certain word, this knowledge will come in handy. Plain Language Helps You Learn the Language To finish this off, I have an extra tip for you that you can use when you are on your journey to learn Finnish and already understand the language a bit. In Finland there’s plain language (selkokieli) versions available on many things (6). For example, we have plain language news on the television, and most government’s institutions have web pages written in plain language as well. These are useful for someone learning the language, because the sentences and grammar in general are simpler and easier to understand. If you are feeling down about learning Finnish, I hope this blog post can bring you some comfort. Finnish is definitely a unique language, but it is very possible to learn and be good at it. It just takes some practice. Author Jenni Savolainen is a communications intern at the Learning Networks and Services team at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and a master's student at the University of Turku majoring in the Finnish language. Sources: Yle News 2013. Finnish among most difficult languages for English speakers. News article. Viewed on 21st of March 2023. Pirie, J. 2017. Finnish Grammar. Web site. Viewed on 23rd of March 2023. Tamminen-Parre, S. 2009. Collocations, attitudes, and English loan words in Finnish. Language Variation - European Perspectives III (2011), pages 215-225. Karlsson, F. 2006. Finnish as an agglunative language. Academic article. Viewed on 17th of March 2023. A taste of Finnish 2014. Finnish language. Course material. Viewed on 21st of March 2023. fi 2021. Plain language is easy to use. Web page. Viewed on 21st of March 2023.      

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Career Boost Programme: Helping Foreign Nurses Reach Their Goals
6.4.2023
Anu-Helena Pitkänen

Hundreds of highly educated foreign nurses are working in Finland in positions unrelated to their education, for example as a care assistant or as a practical nurse (1).” I worked as a care assistant one year and then I studied to become a practical nurse through an apprenticeship contract in Finland”, says Ronalyn, who completed the Career Boost Programme at Metropolia UAS in 2022 (2). Before moving to Finland, she studied four years getting a Bachelor´s level nursing degree in the Philippines. Career Boost for Foreign Nurses Over the years, universities of applied sciences have organised various qualification projects for foreign nurses (3). One such project, The Career Boost Programme started at Metropolia UAS in spring 2021 and it was organised by Oske project (4). The programme included: Theoretical studies (approx. 30 ECTS) implemented mostly online. The studies are mandated by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, Valvira, Clinical nursing training held in a simulation hospital at Metropolia. Finnish language teaching integrated into the professional subject studies. Supervised internship in healthcare facilities mandated by Valvira for approximately 10-12 weeks depending on the student's education and previous working experience. Longing to Be a Nurse Ronalyn just happened to bump into information about the Career Boost Programme on social media and she decided to have a career change after working as a practical nurse for a few years. Working as a practical nurse helped her learn Finnish language and gave her a good understanding of the Finnish care culture. “I missed working as a nurse and being at the hospital. As a care assistant or a practical nurse, you can only give basic care. I felt like my nursing skills and education were wasted. I even missed the smell of antibiotics”, Ronalyn chuckles. Adult Learning requires Creativity Adult learning can be challenging. One ECTS credit point equals 27 actual study hours. In the Career Boost programme, the students studied both Finnish language skills and the nursing practice at the same time. Most adult learners have a full-time job (practical nurses might have a three-shift rotation) and some might have a family with small children. The biggest challenge in adult learning seems to be coordinating different aspects of everyday life (5). “I asked from my boss to get night shifts. When there was a peaceful moment during the night shift, I studied” Ronalyn says. Students who are working full-time and taking care of everyday life responsibilities may need to find creative ways to fit studying into their schedules. Flexible Learning Solutions Adult learners need flexible ways to study. By offering flexible learning solutions, students can have more choices to reach their educational goals. The Career Boost Programme was open to participants from all over Finland. With the help of online learning, the students can develop their skills while continuing to work full-time. This can be crucial if the residence permit is work-based or studying full-time is not otherwise possible. However, online studies require a lot of self-management and adult students have to balance their personal life and uncompleted study tasks weighing on their mind (6.). “I was always stressed out”, Ronalyn remembers. Time management and good study strategies are therefore essential skills for successful learning (7). Sharing Experiences When teaching online, the challenge for teachers is to develop different ways of ensuring interaction with and between the students. Distance learning can be quite lonely, so it is important to create spaces where social relationships can be supported and where students can share experiences with their peers. This can give learners a sense of belonging to an online group, which can help them engage, participate and actively complete learning tasks (8). In the Career Boost Programme, the students had the opportunity to interact with the teachers in weekly online learning sessions on Zoom, where, in addition to studying a pre-determined topic, they had a chance to ask for advice and discuss the assignments. “The teachers were very supportive”, Ronalyn reflects, “We had a Whatsapp group where you could get a quick answer to any matter.” In addition to distance learning, the students practiced nursing skills at Metropolia’s simulation hospital in Myllypuro, Helsinki. Ronalyn had to travel all the way from Northern Finland to the Myllypuro campus for the simulation days. Fortunately, she found an internship at a University Hospital closer to home and the supervised internship was paid for. “It's easier to get an internship during the summer”, Ronalyn advises new students. Looking Forward The Career Boost programme ended in December 2022. Overall 36 participants completed their qualification studies during the project. In the beginning of 2023, Metropolia UAS started a new programme for healthcare professionals, where nurses, biomedical laboratory scientists, midwives, physiotherapists and radiographers with a foreign bachelor's degree can complete qualification studies. Registration for the programme is ongoing. (9,10). The project, called “Terveysalan ammattilaisten pätevöitymispolku 2023-2024”, wants to support underemployed healthcare professionals to qualify their foreign degrees to get a job equivalent to their education. Although adult learning is sometimes demanding, it is a good opportunity to reach your professional goals. “At the moment I still have a permanent position as a practical nurse because of my working permit issue, but I do gigs occasionally at the hospital. When I work as a licensed nurse, I feel free”, Ronalyn explains. “In the future, I hope I can get a permanent job as an anesthetic nurse or I could work at the OR. There you can see a whole new world in a small room.”   Sources: 1) Yle news 2022. https://yle.fi/a/3-12630299 Viewed on 16 March 2023. 2) Ronalyn. Participant in the Career Boost Programme at Metropolia UAS 2023. Interview. 3) Pitkänen, A-H, 2021. Pätevöitymiskoulutuksella Boostia sairaanhoitajapulaan. Blog post. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/montamuuttujaa/2021/11/29/patevoitymiskoulutuksella-boostia-sairaanhoitajapulaan/ 4) Developing competence center functions for highly educated immigrants in the Helsinki region (Oske project). Webpage.  https://www.metropolia.fi/en/rdi/rdi-projects/competence-center-of-helsinki-region Viewed on 16 March 2023. 5)  Repo, S. 2010. Yhteisöllisyys voimavarana yliopisto-opetuksen ja -opiskelun kehittämisessä. Helsingin yliopisto. Käyttäytymistieteiden laitos. Kasvatustieteellisiä tutkimuksia 228. https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/19875/yhteisol.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y 6) Peltola M., Suorsa T. & Silvola J. 2022. ”Opinnot ikään kuin leijuvat olohuoneessamme” Etäopiskelijan arki oppimisen ja kehityksen ympäristönä ja neuvottelun paikkana. Aikuiskasvatus 3/2022. http://jultika.oulu.fi/files/nbnfi-fe202301306499.pdf 7) Repo S, Vuoksenranta S-T & Ruokolainen, O. 2014. Kuinka avoimen yliopiston opiskelija yhdistää opiskelun, työn ja perheen. Aikuiskasvatus 4/2014. https://journal.fi/aikuiskasvatus/article/view/94106/52784 8) Gillett-Swan, J. 2017. The challenges of online learning: Supporting and engaging the isolated learner. Journal of Learning Design. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1127718.pdf 9) Additional studies for obtaining the practice at the nurse. Studies for nursing graduates from abroad. Webpage. https://www.metropolia.fi/en/academics/study-opportunities-for-immigrants/additional-studies-nurse  Viewed on 16 March 2023. 10) Study opportunities and competence development for immigrants. Webpage. https://www.metropolia.fi/fi/opiskelu-metropoliassa/maahanmuuttajille  Viewed on 16 March 2023.   Blogger: Anu-Helena Pitkänen works as a Career Coach in Metropolia SIMHE services supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. She is working in a collaboration project with the employment services of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa-Kerava to increase employment among international professionals in the Helsinki region. She is responsible for guiding the healthcare professionals in Metropolia’s new project “Terveysalan ammattilaisten pätevöitymispolku 2023-2024.”    

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Entering the labor market in Finland as immigrant – a story of Sufi
7.3.2023
Maria Osamitsu

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences has offered to immigrants with a higher educational background since 2021. This programme aims to strengthen immigrants’ employment in their own field in Finland. As Business Coordinator in the Career Boostme, I have noticed that polishing job application papers and sparring job search skills are of primary importance in terms of employment. The job seeker’s own activity also plays a very crucial role. During the meetings with people studying through Career Boost programme, I've heard many stories of despair when job applications go unanswered or when more than a hundred applications have already been sent, but there are no invitations to interviews. One sentence becomes all too familiar to many: "Unfortunately, this time the choice was not directed at you." Looking at the statistics, it is clear, that the employment situation of people with an immigrant background has improved significantly over the past couple of decades. In 2000, the unemployment rate of immigrants was up to 31%, while in 2019 it was 18% (1.). The number is still too high, but the trend is going in the right direction. At SIMHE-Metropolia, we have been extremely happy every time a person with an immigrant background has been employed or found an internship. We know how difficult it can be to find a job. Learning from success is important, and maintaining hope is at least as important. That is why I want to share Sufi’s, one of our Career Boost participant’s, experiences of job hunting in Finland. I hope this story encourages other job seekers to continue pursuing their dreams in Finland.   Let’s talk about Finnish language Sufi moved to Finland two years ago. He started supplementary training at Metropolia UAS programme’s Business Accounting line and started active job search while participating in the programme. When asked what kind of difficulties he faced in his job search in Finland, Sufi immediately mentions language skills: "The main obstacle to me, which was the main cause for several No answers, was the language barrier." (2a) Riina Kangasniemi's Master's thesis Challenges and support of immigrants' employment in Finland - Experiences of counselors and highly educated immigrants (3a), published in autumn 2022, sums it up clearly: the language skills are the most important factors in the employment of immigrants. Highly educated immigrants faced requirements of excellent Finnish language skills in the workplace which formed an obstacle for employment. This finding is supported by the observation that the Swedish-speaking recruitment professional, Sofia Pohls made in 2022 when examining 400 job advertisements: 366 of them required fluent Finnish language skills. (4.) At SIMHE, we hear a lot about the importance of language skills. Language issues are also on the list of standard topics when I meet company representatives and employers. To summarize the discussions: as long as Finnish working life is dominated by Finnish, the importance of language skills will be emphasized. Especially if the working language in one’s field is Finnish, then knowing some Finnish is an essential skill. There are various language courses offered on different levels which you can practice on your own, if there are no Finns in one’s own networks. For example, for parents who are at home with their children, meeting new people can be very difficult in practice. The Finnishcourses.fi website (5.) has gathered all Finnish courses in one place, where you can easily find the right courses by selecting the level and city. And if you need tips for networking, please check our Career Coach’s blog The Art of Networking - Where to start if you don’t know anyone in Finland (6.).   The crucial points in job search Sufi has gone through the process and knows what worked for him. He listed the most important tips (2b): Put an effort to improving your Finnish language skills, it will pay off. Create a professional CV. Be open to new(For how to find hidden jobs, read our blog: Playing hide and seek with hidden job markets )(7) Even though your intentions and attempts are the most important part, The just-published Kangasniemi’s Master's thesis (3b) also confirms Sufi's observations to be correct. The items listed below were seen to contribute to getting a job: The job seeker's job searching skills; i.e. CV and own activity capital; i.e. knowledge and language skills integration into society personality In addition to the job seeker’s skills, the thesis (3c) distinguished two other main categories of factors in promoting employment: The labor market and the employers. Among other things, the attitudes of employers and the opportunities they offer were mentioned regarding the labor market. Societal factors. The various services offered to immigrants, on the other hand, were raised as important in societal factors. When society is changing too slowly, one can influence one’s own opportunities in the job search, for example, in the ways Sufi mentioned.   Finding the support available It is difficult to influence employers' attitudes and societal development quickly, but there are plenty of different services aimed at immigrants. And since the challenges of employment of immigrants have been identified at the Ministerial level in Finland, there will be new projects and openings in the future as well. For example, the me is running at Metropolia UAS until June , and new programmes are constantly being developed. It is therefore worth actively monitoring the services and participating in them as much as possible. Services supporting employment such as (10.) are real opportunities for the unemployed. The job seeker can inform recruiters about these possibilities, since according to my experience, not every recruiter is aware of them. Active use of the services available can provide just the right amount of support. Sufi felt that he got support from Career Boost: "Clearly, I got a lot of help. Thanks to my Career Coach, I made a professional CV, and feeling supported meant a lot and prevented me from feeling lonely.” (2c) Difficulties in job search might build up negative feelings which is challenge many job seeker face. In addition to this many face the same feelings and hardships alone. Getting to know other people in the same situation while attending services can provide support when one can no longer believe in the process. "Honestly, I was frustrated and disappointed, but these days, I feel more comfortable. I know it's just the beginning, and I must keep developing myself with an emphasis on Finnish language to get my targeted job as a Specialist.”(2d) After a couple of months active job searching Sufi's hard work finally paid off and he found a job. "I finally got a contract for an English position. But I will never give up on improving my Finnish skill, at least for the next ten years.”(2e)   Be the change you want to see A lot still needs to be done in Finnish society, working life and organizational cultures in order to improve the employment of immigrants. The process requires as diligent and multi-level work as improving the equality of women in working life, which is also still in progress. WNow many women are in leading positions, just look at our Prime Minister Sanna Marin. As the Finnish work culture becomes more diverse, immigrants and their offspring will also get into important positions and perhaps new solutions will be found for language skills requirements, for example. Change requires political will, the awakening and opening up of the state, municipalities and employers, as well as the resilience of individuals. Fortunately, the change has already been awakened in many places and more research information is also available. “Keep calm and search for job while practicing Finnish”, as one famous quote could say. Sources EK (2021). Tilastoja maahanmuuttajien työllisyydestä. https://ek.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/20211017-tilastoja-maahanmuuttajien-tyollisyydesta.pdf (2022). Participant in the Career Boost programme at Metropolia UAS. Interview. Kangasniemi, R. (2022). Maahanmuuttajien työllistymisen haasteet ja tuki Suomessa - Ohjaajien ja korkeasti koulutettujen maahanmuuttajien kokemuksia. Master’s thesis. Jyväskylä University. https://jyx.jyu.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/81664/1/URN%3ANBN%3Afi%3Ajyu-202206133273.pdf Sören, J. (2022) Svårt få job med knaglig finska. Hufvudstadsbladet 23.12.2022. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/61aabe47-3514-422c-b668-6a512b381fd1 Finnish courses (2023). https://finnishcourses.fi/ Hoppania, R. (2022). The Art of Networking – where to start if you don´t know anyone in Finland? Blog post. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2022/08/25/the-art-of-networking-where-to-start-if-you-dont-know-anyone-in-finland/ Luoma, T. & Vaittinen, J. (2023). Playing hide and seek with hidden job markets. Blog post. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2023/01/25/playing-hide-and-seek-with-hidden-job-markets/ Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in Finland 2022 Pay subsidy is granted for employing unemployed persons. Webpage. https://tem.fi/en/pay-subsidy Oppisopimus. Webpage. https://oppisopimus.fi/en/student/apprenticeship-training/ TE-palvelut 2022. Work try-out practices and provisions. Webpage. https://toimistot.te-palvelut.fi/en/work-try-out-practices-and-provisions   Blogger: Maria Osamitsu works as a Business Coordinator at SIMHE (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education in Finland) services and Project Manager at AMKosaaja project. Her aim is to smooth the path for international talents to Finnish labor markets by creating relevant networks and strengthening customers’ job searching skills.                                                                                                            

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Playing hide and seek with hidden job markets
25.1.2023
Timo Luoma and Jaana Vaittinen

A hidden job means an open position that has not been made public. Instead, potential candidates are found for example via headhunters or networks. Sometimes the employer is not even actively looking for a professional to join his/her team but a new position is created when a capable person offers his or her expertise at a suitable time. As many as 70-80% of employment opportunities in Finland are not advertised publicly but remain “hidden”. (1) According to Sitra’s survey 2016, less than a quarter (23%) of Finns found their current job by applying for a vacancy, while around 70% found work through other channels. (2) But where to find these hidden job markets? This blog will give you practical tips on where to start looking. Why Finland has hidden job markets? From the employer's point of view, the recruiting process via open job markets often is lengthy and expensive. It requires a lot of resources: advertisement, going through the applications organizing the interviews, and communicating the process status for the applicants. From the company's point of view the new hire is also always a risk. It’s easier to hire personnel internally. If the right person for the job can be found inside the company, it minimizes the risk of making a bad hire. Some companies prefer that their open positions and periods of hiring aren’t public knowledge. Perhaps the company is opening a new branch, for example, but does not want to share this information with the public and the competitors just yet. In these cases the company uses silent recruitment by looking for the suitable canditates through their networks, social media or with the help of a head-hunter. Where to look for a hidden job? Hints and tips for the jobseekers 1. Media and news Follow the media. Decide which media you wish to monitor. What are the most important regional newspapers, what are the most notable publications in your profession, which websites you should follow online and which social media networks are worthwhile to participate in? 2. List of fastest-growing Companies in Finland Look for growth companies. Growth companies often want and need to recruit new employees but they have very little time or money for the lengthy recruitment processes. Follow the news and check out startup companies (3). 3. Company expansions, reforms and news about designation Relocating to new premises, establishing new functions, winning bids or outsourcing projects often result in a need for new employees. Appointment news is always a source of opportunities. If a company is replacing its management it often results in changes at other levels of the company as well. On the other hand, many people who start in a new job leave behind a vacancy that probably has not been made public yet. 4. Social media Be present on social media. Many recruiters use channels such as LinkedIn when scouting for professionals. Be bold in your networking and be active in various groups. If a job seeking campaign on social media seems like a natural thing for you, give it a go. By sharing your home page or video-cv you gain visibility that may lead you to the right employer. 5. Networks Networking (4) is not just for social people but in today's world, everyone can find a suitable way to network. Networking takes on very diverse forms and it can be done even from your couch at home. Use the channels of networking that suit you: LinkedIn and other social media, exhibitions and conferences. Expand your network boldly and be active in different kinds of professional discussions, either in person or online. Remember to use your own professional networks and circle of acquaintances. Let your network know what you can do and what you are looking for. 6. Direct contact You should directly and boldly contact employers that interest you and send them an open application (5) and CV. Choose the targets you approach carefully before making contact. Think about why you want to work for that particular company. Think of yourself with the company, find a contact person to approach and think about what additional value your expertise could give them. Always tailor your application and CV to match the company or position you are applying for. 7. Headhunters, recruiting and HR companies and their recruitment platforms You should regularly update your information on the pages of different recruitment and headhunting companies and maintain active open applications in the electronic systems of the target companies. 8. Recruitment fairs and events Events and fairs (6) are a good and easy way of meeting interesting employers. 9. Universities' and UAS’s Career Services Career services at different universities/UAS offer support for job seeking and career planning. The services can vary slightly depending on the university/UAS. Check the possible career services of your home uni/UAS. 10. Open-minded attitude Don’t give up. A hidden job is always an open opportunity. Keep on trying with an open mind. Feeling embarrassed to ask for a job. Why? Psychologist and career coach Päivi Montgomery highlights in her latest book “ Työnhaun psykologia” that your jobseach and contact message is an advantage for the company. (7) You are offering your professional expertise to the employer. Be proud of yourself and your expertise. And remember to show it to the employer! Sources: 1. TEK (2020) Hidden jobs - what are they. https://www.tek.fi/en/news-blogs/hidden-jobs-what-are-they 2. Sitra (2016). Only one in four Finns finds employment by applying for a vacancy https://www.sitra.fi/en/news/only-one-four-finns-finds-employment-applying-vacancy/ 3. Startups in Finland Open Data Storehouse https://tietopankki.businessfinland.fi/anonymous/extensions/Startups/Startups.html 4. Riia Hoppania, Metropolia (2022) The Art of Networking – where to start if you don´t know anyone in Finland? Blog post. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2022/08/25/the-art-of-networking-where-to-s 23.tart-if-you-dont-know-anyone-in-finland/ 5. TEK työkirja (2022) Tools for job-search. Top tips: Application letter. https://www.tek.fi/sites/default/files/attachments/tek_tyokirja_2022_online_spreads-1.pdf 6. Events by Helsinki Employment Services: https://tyollisyyspalvelut.hel.fi/en/current-matters/events 7. P. Montgomery (2022) Työnhaun psykologia. Helsinki. Readme.fi Bloggers: Timo Luoma works as a Career Coach in Metropolia SIMHE services supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. They are working in a collaboration project with the employment services of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa-Kerava to increase employment among international professionals in the Helsinki region. In addition to career coaching, Timo’s responsibilities include coaching of students in Metropolia’s ICT Career Boost programme. Jaana Vaittinen works as a Career Coach in Metropolia SIMHE services supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. They are working in a collaboration project with the employment services of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa-Kerava to increase employment among international professionals in the Helsinki region. Her responsibility is to guide business accounting professionals in Metropolia’s Career Boost programme.

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