{"id":86,"date":"2023-03-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogit.metropolia.fi\/variousvariables\/2023\/03\/07\/entering-the-labor-market-in-finland-as-immigrant-a-story-of-sufi\/"},"modified":"2024-10-01T12:39:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T09:39:20","slug":"entering-the-labor-market-in-finland-as-immigrant-a-story-of-sufi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogit.metropolia.fi\/variousvariables\/2023\/03\/07\/entering-the-labor-market-in-finland-as-immigrant-a-story-of-sufi\/","title":{"rendered":"Entering the labor market in Finland as immigrant – a story of Sufi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences has offered to immigrants with a higher educational background since 2021. This programme aims to strengthen immigrants\u2019 employment in their own field in Finland.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s own activity also plays a very crucial role.<\/p>\n

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.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s, one of our Career Boost participant\u2019s, experiences of job hunting in Finland. I hope this story encourages other job seekers to continue pursuing their dreams in Finland.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s talk about Finnish language<\/h2>\n

Sufi moved to Finland two years ago. He started supplementary training at Metropolia UAS programme\u2019s 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.”<\/strong> (2a)<\/p>\n

Riina Kangasniemi’s Master’s thesis Challenges and support of immigrants’ employment in Finland – Experiences of counselors and highly educated immigrants<\/em> (3a), published in autumn 2022, sums it up clearly: the<\/strong> language skills are the most important factors in the employment of immigrants.<\/strong> 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.)<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong> Especially if the working language in one\u2019s field is Finnish, then knowing some Finnish is an essential skill.<\/p>\n

There are various language courses offered on different levels which you can practice on your own, if there are no Finns in one\u2019s 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<\/a> 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\u2019s blog The Art of Networking – Where to start if you don\u2019t know anyone in Finland<\/em><\/a> (6.).<\/p>\n

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The crucial points in job search<\/h2>\n

Sufi has gone through the process and knows what worked for him. He listed the most important tips (2b):<\/p>\n