Working in Finland

If you are a Nordic or EU/EEA national, you do not need any special permits for working in Finland during your studies. There are no restrictions on how many hours per week you are allowed to work, but you should make sure that the work does not get in the way of your study progress.

If you are a Non-EU/non-EEA national, there are restrictions to how much you can work as a student. Generally, you can work without restrictions when the work is related to your degree, such as practical training or thesis work. In other cases, paid employment is limited to a maximum of 30 hours per week on average. Please check the detailed regulations from the Finnish Immigration Service.

Finnish working life is still operates predominantly in the Finnish language, although English has gained more ground in some fields and professions. Swedish is also sometimes used in work, but much less often than Finnish. Most Finns, especially in workplaces that require a higher education degree, have good English skills and many are accustomed to using English in various work tasks. However, learning some Finnish opens up more opportunities for foreigners both in their work and their personal life. Therefore, it is recommended to start learning Finnish during your study time at Aalto. The university offers free language studies for students through the Language Centre.

In Finland, you can find job openings and vacancies through online job portals, but there are also many roles that are filled through networks and contacts. This is called the hidden job market, and it is one characteristic of Finland's job market. A hidden job means that the employer is not advertising a job opening publicly, but instead tries to find suitable candidates through their networks, social media or with the help of a head-hunter. This type of recruitment emphasises the importance of personal and professional networks, as the candidate is more likely to find out about hidden job opportunities by having an extensive network.

As a student you should start creating personal and professional connections during the time of your studies: participate in career events and job fairs at the university, join student organization activities, start a new hobby or do some volunteer work, etc. In social media, LinkedIn is the main platform for making professional connections and for recruiters to find potential candidates, so keep your LinkedIn profile updated and learn how to use it for creating new connections.

If you have never worked before or if you are a bachelor's degree student in the beginning of your studies, all work experience is beneficial. In the Helsinki capital region, you can find different kinds of part-time jobs that don’t necessarily require you to speak Finnish. You can start gathering experience in restaurants or retail, for example, before you land your first professional role.

As a university student, one of the best ways to get work experience is through summer jobs. Many companies recruit students to assist in various roles during the summer months when most permanent employees take their summer holidays. The busiest months for the summer job search are between December and February, and the work itself is commonly done between May and August. Many summer jobs are full-time (40 hours/week, Monday-Friday), but part-time opportunities also exist. In some industries (for example restaurant and retail), working hours are often irregular and might include evening and/or weekend shifts.

You can also find internships and trainee positions from companies and other organisations throughout the year. The purpose of an internship is to learn how to apply the skills gained during your studies and to help you to assimilate your theoretical knowledge. Interns are usually not expected to have extensive work experience in the field, but you might need to have a specific study background and be more advanced in your studies or close to graduation to be considered for an internship or trainee role.

The thesis is a mandatory part of your degree, and especially at the master’s degree level, thesis work is often a good opportunity to connect with an employer in your field. If you find a company to commission your thesis, you have good chances of finding a permanent position in that company after graduation. However, finding a this is not always easy and it requires an active effort by the student. You can start by asking about your professors about suitable companies, and by connecting with companies in your field at career fairs such as Aalto Talent Expo. In technology fields, students may also have the possibility to do their master’s thesis work for the department of their studies.

At Aalto University, students may work as teaching assistants, exam monitors or research assistants. In general, study progress is expected before it’s possible to apply for these positions. Most commonly students apply to work as research assistants during the summer break after their first year of studies, or as part-time research assistants during the academic year. Course assistantship requires that you have completed the course in question yourself. On campus jobs are often announced in JobTeaser, Aalto’s Open Positions page, or student newsletters. Sometimes, professors might look for and recruit suitable students directly from their own study courses.

Networking is crucial when looking for a job, since not all jobs are advertised publicly and many jobs are filled through personal connections. Even for public job openings, it is easier to get an interview if you have met and talked with the recruiter before. You can start networking and meeting recruiters at job fairs: Aalto Talent Expo is held annually in November, and Aalto Summer Job Day in January. In addition, employers organise smaller meetups and company visits throughout the year, and many such career events are published in the Aalto JobTeaser Events section.

If you are an international Master’s student, you can also connect with employers through the Aalto International Talent Programme which runs annually between January and March. Application to the programme usually starts around November. In addition, you can expand your network by connecting with Aalto alumni. The Career Design Lab organises the annual Mentoring Programme for Aalto’s master’s students and alumni, in which you can get a personal mentor to advise you on career-related matters.