The Best Approaches to Manage Work and Study in Finland

8 min read

Most students worldwide work part-time while studying. Simultaneous work and study in Finland will help you integrate into the Finnish community and increase your network. This will give you extra cash to spend and provide valuable experience before you enter the job market.

Part-time student jobs in Finland is a great opportunity to acquire valuable work experience by your future employers and will help you gain particular domain expertise. As a student, you can work part-time during your semesters and full-time during the break. The hours of work during your semester depends on your nationality. 

Nationals of EU/EEA/Switzerland/Nordic Countries: 

If you are a student from any of the mentioned countries, there is no restriction on the work-hour limit. Moreover, you don’t need to have any special work permits for working in Finland during your studies. But, please be careful of the way your study progresses during your part-time work. 

Non-EU/EEA/Switzerland/Nordic Countries: 

There are certain restrictions on the working hours during your studies. International students in Finland can work 25 hours per week during academic semesters and work full time during breaks (semester and Christmas breaks). 

There is no minimum wage in Finland for international students. The lowest salaries range between 7 to 8 euros per hour, but the student generally earns 9-13 euros per hour.  So, an international student can earn 900-1300 euros per month depending on the sector and can efficiently manage work and study in Finland.

Note:  You can earn double if you work on Sunday in Finland. Generally, if you make 10 euros/hour on other days, you will earn 20 euros/hour.  Per hour minimum wage in Finland is around 10 Euros. Evening shifts also pay better. So, working during holidays can help you to earn enough living cost in Finland. 

Student jobs in Finland are available throughout the whole year. But, during winter and summer break, employers look to recruit new staff, and at this time, you can easily find a job. So, you better apply early before the holiday starts to secure a job beforehand.  

Common Jobs to Balance Your Work and Study in Finland

Students do a wide variety of jobs in Finland. The most common jobs are:

• Bartender 

• Delivery Person

• Waiter 

• Teaching Assistant/ Research Assistant 

• Library Attendant 

• Administrative Assistant 

• Freelancing jobs

• Working in the garden to pick fruits and flowers and pack them during spring and summer. 

If you plan to work in a restaurant or cafeteria, you are required to have a certificate called “Hygiene Passport.” This certificate shows that you can handle unpacked and easily perishable foods such as milk, meat, and fish. The hygiene passport of Finland test includes 40 true/false questions and takes 45 minutes to complete. Employers highly prefer students who have a “Hygiene passport.”  Hygiene passports in Finland will cost you 40 euros [https://hygienepassport.fi/].

If you plan to work as a responsible manager, you will be required to have a certificate called “Alcohol Passport.” Alcohol Passport in Finland certificate indicates your knowledge of the Alcohol Act and how it is supervised. The alcohol Passport test consists of 40 questions and takes 40 minutes to complete. This test costs between 52-65 euros. [https://alcoholpassport.fi/en]

Applying for any Finnish Jobs for students:

In most cases, your networks will help you secure a job in Finland. Ask your friends and acquaintances around if their department/teacher or employer is hiring at the moment. Most universities in Finland have a platform called “Demola,” which pairs an organization looking to create a project with interested students.

Securing an opportunity will not only reward you financially but also help you settle there permanently. You must also look for startup hubs in your city and offer them your services in return for payment. 

Moreover, don’t be afraid to walk into the potential employer’s office with a resume/CV in hand. In this way, you will be able to create an excellent first impression.

Platforms to search for JOBS: 

• http://www.te-palvelut.fi/te/en/index.html

• Linkedin

• https://tyopaikat.oikotie.fi/haku?sort_by=publication_time

• https://www.foodora.com/careers/ (delivery job)

• https://wolt.com/jobs (delivery job)

• European Commission offers job mobility portal EURES (https://ec.europa.eu/eures/eures-searchengine/page/main?lang=en&app=0.16.1p7-build-1#/search) for EU citizens 

• Eurojobs (https://www.eurojobs.com/)

• Posti.fi (https://www.posti.fi/)

• Monster.fi (https://www.monster.fi/en/search?fq=countryabbrev_s:FI&fq=monsjobstatusidlist:(5))

• Oikotie.fi (https://tyopaikat.oikotie.fi/en/haku?page=0&sort_by=publication_time&tlaatu%5B2%5D=2)

• You can also search more for FB pages/groups or other information on reddit.

• You will also find vacancies in the local and national press. Keep an eye on it. 

Work and Study in Finland: Demanding Jobs

Finland, despite having a skilled workforce, has an aging population. The current generation of workers within Finland’s only 5.5 million people isn’t qualified to fill the soon-to-be-retiring baby boomers generation’s shoes. Traditionally Finland’s job market is dominated by manufacturing as it exports machinery, paper and wood products, electrical equipment, optical equipment, and vehicles.

Led by Nokia, Finland, is slowly becoming a Tech and IT hub in Europe.  So, after graduation, it is very likely to secure a job quickly.  The most Popular jobs industries are:

• Chemicals

• Clothing

• Electronics

• Machinery and Scientific instruments

• Textiles

• Software development

• Data analysis and Data science

• Artificial Intelligence

• Medical Practitioner, dentist, speech therapist, and nurses

• Teaching

• Social work 

• Business Administration

The new working hours act allows employees to choose when and where they work for at least half of their contracted working hours. Typical Finnish workers work 40 hours per week (8-5 am) from Monday to Friday. Employees enjoy 13 bank holidays as well as 25 minimum annual leave. 

Few tips: If you are a student working part-time or full time in Finland, keep in mind that if your company or employer doesn’t sign a contract with you, then it can lay you off within four months without any explanation. You won’t be considered as a permanent worker in these four months.

However, after four months, you will be regarded as a permanent worker and enjoy benefits according to your company policy. An important point to note down is if your company needs to lay you off after providing you with a burning letter.

Important Tips About Work and Study in Finland

If you are a permanent employee, then you will be entitled to the following benefits:

• Your company must have to provide you work for your working hours (based on your contract)/week.  If your company doesn’t give you contract hour work, they still will be entitled to pay you according to your contract hours/week. 

• If your end of the month salary statement doesn’t provide you with accurate details of your working hours, your company must adjust within the next month salary statements. 

• If your company gives you a warning letter due to your poor work performance or others and if you think the warning letter was incorrect/ unjustifiable or wrong, you can refute their points. If you did, then the warning letter would not take action. 

• If your company relocates, your company would still be entitled to pay wages according to the contracted working hours.

• If your company lays off without proper reason, you can take your company to the Finnish court.

• If you get injured while working in Finland, your company must pay for all your expenses.

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