Job Discussion Forums

[JohnSearle]

Hello,

Before I start, I do see the other thread talking of getting work in Scandinavia... but this is a little more specific. I'm a Canadian citizen and I have a Finnish girlfriend. If we can't find an ESL position for her in Asia somewhere, then we're hoping that I might be able to find work in her home while she continues school.

A little about myself: I'm a Canadian; I have university degrees in Computer Studies and Philosophy; I have a ESL certificate from Oxford Seminars (which probably doesn't amount to much); and I do NOT have an EU passport.

I was wondering if anyone has any information about the ESL job market in Helsinki? I know Berlitz is there, but I don't know of any others. Is there work to be found without a passport?

Help is appreciated,

- John

[chiquitita]

Canada and Finland have a working holiday agreement if you are young enough? Check out the Finnish embassy in Canada.

You might also want to have a look at http://www.finlandforum.org/bb/index.php if you haven't already.

Good luck. It's a great country!

[poro]

Try here, John: http://www.mol.fi/mol/en/index.jsp

... or here: http://www.mol.fi/mol/fi/index.jsp for your girlfriend.

With your qualifications, I'd be optimistic you could find a job.

Getting a work permit might be harder than finding a job.

Good luck from me too!

[naturegirl321]

What's the cost of living like there? I'm assuming it's expensive, but how much would you need to make a month to live decently?

[poro]

[Theriel]

It's difficult to get a work visa here in Finland. Generally speaking, they can get most teachers from within the EU and do not need to go outside. One possibility is to apply for a visa for family reasons, if you get married or have been living together for 2 years. Once you get here though, there are plenty of schools in Helsinki. The pay isn't high, but it's not really high for anyone else in Finland either Rent is between 350-700 or so for a normal single flat, a travel card for inside the city is 80e per month, and food is so expensive you will cringe. You basically can't get a meal other than kebab or pizza for less than about 8e. At about 1200 you'll function but not well, 2000 is enough to do ok. I'm still trying to write my thesis so I'm far below that

Don

[poro]

"a travel card for inside the city is 80e per month, and food is so expensive you will cringe"

C'mon Theriel, it's not that bad - most people don't spend anything like �80 per month for city travel, and food prices are very comparable with most places in western Europe.

But you're quite right that we don't overpay ourselves.

Hey, why not write a thesis on why Finns don't demand much?

[Theriel]

No oikeesti mielest�ni t��ll� on ihan kallista.

Well, the travel card is actually 80e for Vantaa/Espoo, you're right. It's 40e for just Helsinki, so that's a bit better. Food prices.. hrmm actually this one I don't agree with you on. In Germany you can get a good kebab for 2€; in Finland, you can get bad kebab for 4,50 Beer at a bar is usually 4€. In a grocery store most things are comparable except for vegetables and fruits, which are often hideously priced, but that's understandable considering they're coming from abroad.

And as for other restaurants than kebab, well.. Finland doesn't really honestly have an eating-out culture.

And wages.. it's all going towards taxes and overhead. Where are you working?

Ther

[poro]

[hollysuel]

[KingEric]

How much is alcohol?

[bartokrok]

[poro]

[hollysuel]

[poro]