Moving an IT specialist to Finland: low competition, not much snow and total introversion

Average salaries by industry

Migrants in Finland: numbers, growth

According to the latest statistics, the number of immigrants who have entered for permanent residence is 4% of the country’s population, which is about 240,000 people. In addition, approximately 160,000 foreign residents are present in the country temporarily or hold dual citizenship.

...More often than others, requests for a residence permit are sent by citizens of Russia. The most common reasons for the request are: family connections (43%), employment (32%), education (22%)…

https://yle.fi/uutiset/vid_na_zhitelstvo_v_finlyandii_chashche_vsego_zaprashivayut_grazhdane_rossii/6736183

Migration growth in Finland has been increasing in recent years. The average figure for this indicator is fixed at 500–600 immigrants for each year. A significant part of this figure is due to labor migration. Spaniards, Italians, Greeks, Portuguese and, of course, Russians come to work for the Finns. However, at the same time, the number of emigrants is increasing rapidly.

Minimum wage

There are no minimum wages approved at the state level. The state does not interfere with its own regulation in this area. But here, in each industry, collective labor agreements (TES) have been developed, which protect the interests of employees and determine the minimum wages for each individual industry.

For an individual employment contract, its synchronization with collective labor agreements is thus ensured. As an individual, you cannot be paid less than what is accepted in the industry. If you are still paid less than what is fixed by TES, you have the right to sue the company. In such disputes, you are guaranteed free legal assistance.

If there is no collective TES in some industry, then they are guided by the established minimum subsistence level - 1160 euros.

The dependence of income on the employee’s age is presented in the table below.

The dependence of income on an employee’s education is shown in the table below.

Seasonal work in Finland: new requirements

Seasonal work in Finland, primarily in the agricultural sector, forestry, and festivals, has recently been most in demand. During the season, picking strawberries and wild berries attracts thousands of citizens from the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Belarus.

From January 1, 2021, new rules came into force in Finland, according to which anyone wishing to come for seasonal work (for a period of no more than 9 months) must contact a specific farmer, apply for a certificate for seasonal work on this farm and receive work visa at the Finnish Embassy.

In addition, you must apply to obtain a certificate of receipt of medical care in Finland.

Seasonal earnings can range from 30 to 100 euros per day.

It should be remembered that all seasonal work is subject to tax (except for the collection of wild berries, mushrooms and cones) in the amount of 35% on the source of income and 7% on the social and insurance funds.

Average salaries by profession

The income level in the capital is 15-20% higher than in other regions of Finland. 70% of the population work in the service sector.

Professions in demand

Highly qualified workers are in great demand among employers. Requirements include good knowledge of English and Finnish. As well as experience in the field of specialization.

Jobs in Finland for Russians in Finland will be found in many places. Favorite ones are doctors, computer scientists, social workers, teachers, educators, teachers, financiers.

Unqualified personnel are always required: salespeople, waiters, cleaners, nurses, nannies. In order for Russian citizens to occupy these positions, it is enough to attend a training course and receive the appropriate certificate.

Average salaries by city

I would like to become a cook, let them teach me... in Finland

Finland is a wonderful country, if only because here an adult can learn a new profession for free and regardless of age. This happened to me too. Just recently I finished studying to become a cook - a completely new profession for me, an unfamiliar area.

Why chef?

I am a teacher by education and an administrator by work experience. To be a good administrative worker, you need to be fluent in Finnish, and this is not my option. After studying the job market, I came to the conclusion: what is needed here are workers caring for the elderly or children, cleaners, and cooks. The only thing I can do with my hands and it doesn’t make me sick is cook. So it wasn’t so much that I chose a new profession as it chose me.

Where and for how long?

You can study at ammattikoulu (our version of vocational school or, as it is fashionable to call them now, college), the training lasts approx. 2 years old. Of these, about a year will be spent on practice. Perho https://perho.fi/ is considered the best culinary school in the capital region. From personal observations: all the chefs I have met or just very good cooks are from there. For comparison: you can study at Moscow State University, or you can study at Mukhodrischensky State University. A university is a matter of level of education and prestige. And this is a big advantage when applying for a job.

About admission

To apply, you need to fill out a form here https://opintopolku.fi/wp/fi/ or directly on the website of the desired ammattikolu. Enrollment happens 2 times a year: in the spring (February-March, studies start in August) or in the fall (September-October, starts in January). The dates change every year. It happens that they announce an additional set. Then they test you in Finnish, if it is not your native language (if you have YKI with 3 points in all parts, then you do not need to take the test), you are invited to an interview, where they simply communicate and identify motivation. Regarding Omnia: there you are immediately invited to an interview for a test shift in the kitchen, you can watch, participate, and decide some points for yourself.

Tip: If you receive a refusal, be sure to contact the school at the beginning of the school year. Many people drop out of school (in our group, for example, there were initially 18 people, but in August there were only 15 left), you may be accepted into the vacant place.

In general, everything was very funny for me. Well, that came later, at first I was sad. I applied to Omnia to become a cook in November 2015 and was not accepted. No one ever explains why they didn’t hire him; the standard answer is that there are too many applicants for the position. Then I came to them again for an interview in January to start studying in August. I also sent questionnaires to Stadin and Varia. Then I'm in April!!! I saw an advertisement in the Metro newspaper for an additional one!!!! Recruiting chefs for TTS school. In general, the general profile of this school is gardeners and bus and taxi drivers. In general, I filled out a form there and came for an interview. The future teacher spoke to me and I realized that they wouldn’t take me, because they have an additional set for graduates of Finnish school. And a week later they sent an official letter that “congratulations, you have been accepted, studies begin in 2 weeks.” And a month later they announced that due to the financial crisis they were closing training for chefs. The idiocy is incredible :)) There were options to go to practice for 9 months (this is free work in a restaurant or canteen) or continue studying at another school. And bam, in mid-May I received a letter from all the schools where I sent applications that I was accepted. The irony of fate: they didn’t take it anywhere, but here they took it everywhere. I chose Omnia.

How to study?

Omnia is a fairly large school: many different directions, several academic buildings. There is a separate group for cooks for immigrants: they also teach Finnish specifically. My advice: try to enroll in the Finnish group. The teachers there are better, and you will also learn Finnish much faster when communicating with friends. And don’t be afraid that you won’t understand: all the terms are remembered very quickly, this is a matter of practice. The training lasted 1 year 10 months, of which about a year was devoted to various practices. Classes 3 times a week: Mon and Tue – kitchen, Wed – theory and Finnish. Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for independent study. During the training process there are 3 compulsory courses and 3 optional ones. All of them must be confirmed by practice.

Our teacher constantly said that we need to go to work in the canteen, a restaurant is bad, it means evening shifts, work on weekends, etc. It seems that she has an attitude to hammer this into the heads of students. The student population is varied: most of my group really wanted to work in the canteen.

I'll start with our theory: everything was sad. Our granny (teacher) spent 3 hours telling all sorts of garbage in a monotonous voice and could not clearly explain the recipes that we cook on Mon and Tue. Then we had Finnish: the teacher was not particularly keen to teach something, and the students were not particularly keen to learn. So Wednesdays were just a time out of life.

We cooked at a local canteen for teachers, approx. 150 clients. There were 15 of us. Due to the large, simply huge difference in the level of Finnish proficiency (from not at all to very good), the majority did not understand what to do. More than once I wondered: “How, how did these people pass the Finnish test, which was mandatory before admission?!” The test, by the way, was quite difficult; even the YKI (state exam in the Finnish language) seemed easier to me. Half of the group never read recipes at home and they frankly didn’t care about anything just to finish school. Everyone receives the same diplomas.

Practice, practice, practice….

This is a very important, I would say, defining stage of training. In total, you need to complete 6 practices - 3 of them are mandatory and 3 are optional to choose from. Mandatory: “introduction” to the profession (6-7 weeks), lunch (6-8 weeks), a la carte meals (6-8 weeks). I had a choice: a “large” kitchen (a place with a number of people from 150, as a rule, these are school canteens, factories, etc., lasted 5 weeks), catering (3-6 weeks) and a la carte (fine restaurant cuisine) (3-12 weeks).

It is through practice that you will understand whether you can work as a cook or not. I want to share a few tips that will make life much easier for a student chef. It is a pity that the school does not provide such information.

1. You are looking for a place of practice yourself. As a rule, no one will respond to your emails in most cases. Therefore, you take the contract from the school and go with it to the nearest restaurant/canteen/cafe. If it is close to home, you do not waste time and money on travel, secondly, it is very convenient if you need to drop off/pick up your child from kindergarten , For example. Some places will provide you with a uniform and knives, while others will require you to bring your own. The food is always free. Yes, the school does not provide an internship. But, as a rule, the teacher can advise, they always have a lot of contacts

2. In about 1.5-2 weeks you will understand whether you like this place or not. If your goal is just to spend 6 weeks stupidly, then it’s good. If you want to learn something, and not just wash dishes and cut carrots, be active. Feel free to tell the chef that you want to participate in preparing dishes for clients. If after three weeks you are still just chopping vegetables, etc., contact the teacher, explain the situation and look for a new place. I was very lucky with my first internship. It was there that I was taught how to hold a knife correctly, different ways of cutting vegetables, and kitchen slang.

3. The devil is in the details! Believe me, the environment in the workplace is very important. Note all the little things: everyone went for coffee, and you were called? They asked how you were doing, how was your weekend? Did you treat yourself to some candy? No, no one should kiss feet, but it’s terribly offensive when everyone gets coffee, but you don’t. I was lucky 99% of the time; the teams were very friendly. But there were also those who didn’t even say hello. Literally 1 person In turn, you be active and positive. And don’t forget: you are a student, your mistakes are not fatal. Even very good and experienced chefs make mistakes. Breathe faster

4. In practice, the working day is 7.5-8 hours. What to do if you are asked to stay late? It depends on you: if you want to do a good deed, this is always a plus for karma. If you don’t want to, no one will say anything. And don’t think that this will be a big plus or minus, it doesn’t affect anything. You don't get money for this, you only get experience.

5. Do you want to finish school faster? Look for a place where you can combine practices. For example, go to a large catering shop, where you can immediately do lunch, catering and a la carte. Our teacher always objected and dissuaded us, but that is your right! Thus, in 8 weeks you will do 2-3 practices. During the summer holidays you can also do an internship. For example, I went to Spain for 2 months from school. It was great. So you can reduce training from 1 year 10 months to a year, or even less.

6. Get a job. There are plenty of recruiting firms (StaffPoint, Opteam, Toimitori) that will be happy to hire you as a kitchen assistant. In your free 2 days, you will also work part-time and gain experience. Each practice is evaluated. Now the evaluation criteria are changing, and new ones will be introduced starting in August. In general, it happens like this: you, your teacher and boss talk, discuss what was good, what was not so good. And you get a grade, which will then go into your diploma. The teacher can ask questions about how to cook for people with allergies (what to replace foods with), at what temperatures foods and prepared meals are stored, etc.

Take your choice of practice location very seriously; in most cases, this will be your first job. Don’t go after “Savoy” or “Green”, these are gourmet restaurants, they won’t teach you. A restaurant in a shopping center near you is a very good place! Or if someone doesn’t want stress and tension – the school canteen. Well, remember that already in February restaurants begin to actively look for people for the summer; this is a good opportunity for a person with no experience to find something to start with.

And in conclusion, briefly about myself: my name is Olesya Davydova, I graduated from studying to become a cook at the beginning of March 2021, and in April I already started working in a restaurant as a cook! Good luck to everyone in their studies and may Gordon Ramsay and others like him help us all!

Taxes in Finland

The salary tax level ranges from 35 to 45%. There is also a municipal tax of 16% to 23%. Yes, these are high numbers, but largely thanks to them, the highest standard of living has been created in Finland.

Income tax

People earning less than 1,700 euros are exempt from paying income tax. For others, the final rate will be from 16.5% to 22.5%. There are many factors that determine the final rate. The calculation takes into account your single or family life, the presence of children, etc.

Social contributions

In addition to the tax itself, there is a contribution to the Unemployment Fund in the amount of 0.6%, a mandatory contribution to the Pension Fund of 5.8% and a special church tax of 1-2%.

You can calculate the exact amount of taxes using the online calculator on the official website.

Where and how to look for work in Finland

The main option now, of course, is the Internet. Therefore, having defined your search area with one or more vacancies, compiled a competent resume and cover letter, you can begin your search.

Have you been invited for an interview? Prepare for it in advance. Often the first interview is conducted over the phone or Skype, and only based on its results can you be invited for a face-to-face interview.

Take your time to sign contracts and agreements, find out all the issues, take time to think. In Finland this is normal. In a serious company you will not be required to urgently give an answer and sign an agreement: everyone understands that moving is a serious step for any person (single or married).

Work visa to Finland for Russians

No one has the right to work on a tourist visa. All interested workers are required to obtain a work visa. To issue it, you need to find a specific Finnish employer with whom you will sign a contract. The employment contract must stipulate:

• Job responsibilities
• Salary
• Contract time

You can look for an employer on local websites, on the Linkedin search network, or you can hire a recruitment agency, which for a fee of 150 to 450 euros will help you find an employer with a guarantee.

When you have a contract, you need to collect the following package of documents:

1. A completed application form, which can be downloaded from the EnterFinland website.
2. A valid passport with a validity period that covers your entire trip.
3. Photo 35x45 mm, no more than 6 months old.
4. Copy of Russian passport.
5. Health insurance covering your entire stay in Finland.
6. Sign the form “Consent to the processing of your personal data.”

After which, you need to sign up for an interview at the consulate or embassy in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk. The visa fee is 35 euros. For expedited processing of documents – 70 euros. A work permit is issued within 2 to 4 weeks.

Work for migrants

Visitors to Finland are offered a lot of lucrative vacancies. The country always needs experienced teachers, engineers, doctors, and accountants. The salary of a doctor in Finland is so high that many of our specialists are eager to work in this country. However, it is quite difficult for foreigners to get a job in government agencies, since they have neither registration nor citizenship. In addition, there is a problem with the tax office and customs control service.

Alas, such organizations place higher demands on visitors. These institutions are interested in hiring the best who are not in their country, that is, the newcomer needs not only to fit all the parameters, but also to stand out from the rest.

In addition, it is very important to have a Finnish education certificate and to know the state language well. Only under such conditions can you officially work and earn big money.

Popular professions

Let's go through the most accessible professions for foreigners and describe the income and working conditions at enterprises.

Chef salary

Finland is very popular among tourists, which means that there are many cafes and restaurants here. There is often a shortage of local personnel, so foreigners who can cook are readily recruited here. Many employers agree to further train their employees. A trainee chef will receive 650-950 euros per month. After the probationary period, depending on your skill, you will receive 1500 - 3000 euros. Here it is worth mastering the basics of the Finnish language.

Engineer salary

The engineering profession is very respected, so they receive very good salaries, up to 4,000 euros. They are happy to hire people from Russia, since our country has a strong engineering school and training. The desired candidate must have at least 3 years of experience in his specialty, and also have completed a short Finnish course on the technical standards of construction in this country.

Salaries of drivers and truckers

The Finns are happy to hire Russian drivers and truckers. You will have to travel both between EU countries and Russia. In the latter case, it is more profitable to have Russian parents on staff. It is easier in terms of visa issues and work permits.

It is best to go to well-known companies and register completely officially, with all the documents. Otherwise, you can run into unscrupulous companies where they may underpay their employees or leave them to their fate if any difficulties arise. And it will be almost impossible to sue them in Finland.

Driver rates start at 18 euros per hour. Monthly income will depend on your workload and the number of flights and will be about 2,000 euros. Drivers of city and international buses earn a little more, receiving 2000-2400 euros. Rail transport drivers receive 2,900 euros.

Doctors' salaries

There is a shortage of doctors and nurses in the country. Therefore, procedures have been developed for searching and testing the competencies of foreign doctors. Everyone will have to take an exam in medicine, as well as in the Finnish language. The results will be sent to your email. If you successfully complete this stage, you will be issued a work visa.

Next, you will need to go to the office from Finnish cities to negotiate with one of the hospitals for a 6-month internship. After successfully completing the internship, you enter into a full-fledged employment contract.

The salary range depends on length of service and qualifications. How much do specific specialists receive:

• General surgeon – 64,000-90,000 euros.
• Nurse with secondary vocational education – 36,000 euros.
• Dentist – 35,000-75,000 euros.
• Radiologist 32,000 euros.
• Laboratory assistant – 27,600 euros.

Teachers' salaries

Finland has one of the best school education systems. In 2018, Finnish schoolchildren were recognized as the most reading, in comparison with their comrades from other countries. A different training scheme has been adopted here than in the CIS countries. Firstly, in elementary school, each lesson is taught by two teachers at once. This develops attention very well. Secondly, in primary and secondary schools, grades are not given for each of the works. In addition to Finnish, English and Swedish are actively studied in schools. Teachers' salaries are 2500-3500 euros per month.

To be employed, you must either have a Finnish pedagogical education or be a certified teacher of Russian or English. There are also Russian classes in Finnish schools.

Programmer salary

Due to the way information technologies penetrate into all spheres of life, all developed countries require programmers, testers, system administrators, database and Big Data specialists. Moreover, here you can find both remote work and vacancies with relocation to Finland.

At a minimum, you need to have 3 to 5 years of experience and know English at at least Intermediate level. Leading specialists earn 3500-4500 euros per month. For employees with senior qualifications – from 6,000 to 15,000 euros per month.

Policeman salary

Finland is a safe country. This is where both law-abiding local citizens and good police work develop. An ordinary officer receives 2,000 euros, while superiors receive around 3,000 euros. The only thing is that people who have already received citizenship are hired for this position.

Firefighter Salary

Being a firefighter is even more profitable here than being a policeman. True, there will be more requirements for applicants for firefighting vacancies. Let's start with the fact that the candidate must serve in the Finnish army and undergo special training. And, definitely, you will need good health, endurance and good physical data. The profession is in demand and respected. The average salary in hand is 3,700 euros.

Salaries in construction

Finland is actively building. Old houses are slowly being removed and new high-rise buildings are rising in their place. Builders' salaries grow by 5-9% annually. Most often, this niche is occupied by people from neighboring Estonia, but residents of Russia and the CIS can also be found there.

You should absolutely not come here as an illegal immigrant. They are quickly exposed by local inspection authorities, after which they are fined and deported from the country. Plus, you will not be allowed to enter Finland for the next 10 years. The most scarce specialty here is a welder. She is the easiest one to move from Russia with.

Accountant salary

An interesting fact: while in Russia it is mostly women who go to work as accountants, in Finland you can often see men in these jobs.

The amount of remuneration depends heavily on the professionalism and role performed by the employee. Thus, employees processing primary documents will receive 2,800 euros. Chief accountant or director of finance – 6,000 euros.

If you have international CAP or CIPA certificates, this will greatly help you with employment, as they are recognized throughout the world.

Salesperson salary

If you have mastered the Finnish language, at least at an intermediate level, then you can go to work as a salesperson, cashier or administrator in a store or gas station. In large and well-known stores there are more requirements, in small ones they treat everything more simply. As for money, the salary range here is from 1800 to 2200 euros.

Security guard salary

As a rule, security guards are hired at tourist bases and from among those who are already legally in the country. You must have good physical fitness and basic knowledge of the Finnish language. The average salary is 1800 euros.

Video My salary in Finland Working in construction

Minimum wage

From a formal point of view, there is no lower threshold for the monthly income of an employee. The minimum wage in Finland is a conditional category, the size of which depends 80% on the field of activity in which the subordinate is involved. Currently, the lower threshold of remuneration for labor approximately reaches 1.9 thousand euros.

The question of how much an employee receives at a particular enterprise is decided within the framework of a collective agreement signed between the employer and his employees.

If local regulations do not contain recommendations on what nominal amount should be paid to a subordinate for work, the head of the company adheres to general indicators, but not lower than the average salary level for the industry. The financial interests of workers are protected by trade unions, so manipulation of wages at enterprises is strictly suppressed.

Maximum

The first positions in the ranking of the highest paid professions are held by top managers working in the public administration system. They receive a substantial remuneration for their work - about 7.5-8 thousand euros per month. But the Finns are trying to prevent foreigners from running the country. It is also difficult for applicants who come from another state to count on vacancies in supervisory structures (customs, tax inspection), since they are subject to increased requirements.

For foreigners in 2021, the priority of highly paid specialties has shifted towards medicine and engineering. But specialists in the field of jurisprudence and banking began to receive less, although their work still brings in a solid income.

Salary by city and region

Those applicants who are looking for work in the capital of Finland can apply for maximum salaries. The average salary in Helsinki is 3.8 thousand euros. High salaries for foreign specialists are provided in large settlements - Turku, Kuopio, Jyväskylä.

In small provinces there is a lack of variety of job opportunities, and the remuneration offered by local employers is not respectable.

Salaries of nurses in Finland by institution

The rate of payment for a medical worker of a certain skill level does not vary significantly from institution to institution in the municipal sector.