Looking for a Job in Vaasa and in Finland

Persistence, determination, and motivation are the key words when it comes to applying for a job in Finland. The Finnish labour market is highly competitive and looking for a job is challenging. It is not unusual for a person to send dozens of applications and get one or two invitations to an interview. An important skill needed in the Finnish labour market is to know Finnish (and/or Swedish) language. Read more about the Finnish labour market at the Aarresaari website and at the Employment and Economy Development Office (Employment Office).

Most job announcements, whether in a newspaper or on the Internet, are in Finnish. Unless you know Finnish and/or Swedish well enough, it might be a good idea to apply only for jobs where the job announcement is written in English.  

Part-time jobs and summer jobs

Many students want to get work experience, especially during summer holidays and some even while they are studying. Common lines of part-time and summer work among foreign students are: mail delivery, substitute teaching, assisting in research, working in a grocery store or in a shop, cleaning, catering, maintenance, personal assistance, telemarketing, working in call centre, etc.

Internet is probably the best source of information. Visit the web pages of the company or organisation that interests you – they usually have a section advertising new jobs. A database of companies in the Vaasa region is available on the website of the Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK. In many cases you will have to apply for (summer) jobs via Internet. Remember that you have to act before deadlines! It is common that the application deadline for summer jobs in Finland is as early as January or February, especially for the bigger companies. However, you might still find a summer job much later also, since not all companies have had time or resources to announce their job openings. 

Work permit

Work permit is not necessary if you are a citizen of a Scandinavian country, an EU/EEA country, or have a permanent residence permit in Finland.

You are allowed work in Finland with certain restrictions.

The residence permit for studies enables you to work without restrictions if your work is related to your degree. This means practical training and thesis work. In addition, you may work in paid employment for a maximum of 30 hours per week. The number of working hours can be exceeded some weeks, as long as the average working hours are no more than 30 hours per week at the end of the year.

Students can no longer work without restrictions during holidays or at the times when the educational institution offers no instruction. The right to work changed when the amendments to legislation on students and researchers entered into force on 15 April 2022.

 For more information, refer to the Finnish Immigration Service.