Guide for Starting Your Career in Kainuu Dear students, Contents Are you searching for a practical training placement or Employment Market Kainuu 4 a part-time job in Kainuu? Do you want to know how Finnish Culture 6 to start job hunting and from where to find a work placement near your place of study? Finnish Language 8 This guide gives you a general idea for starting your Finnish Work Culture 10 career in Kainuu by introducing the region and useful Work Rules and Legislations 12 tools for job hunting. It provides a brief overview about the Finnish working culture as well as the rules Legal Information about Workplaces in Finland 13 and legislation of Finnish working life. It also offers Taxation 14 application tips including examples of an application letter and a CV. If you are interested in starting your Labour Unions 14 own business in Kainuu, this guide also has practical advice for you. Working as an International Student 15 Knowing your Strengths 16 This guide aims at facilitating the international students’ entrance to the employment market in Kainuu. It is a How to Find Work 17 publication for the project “Talents for Kainuu”. The The Application Process 20 project aims to find employment, i.e. practical training places, project work, part-time and full-time jobs as well The Cover Letter 21 as thesis commissioning for the international students of the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Kainuu. The CV 22 The Job Interview 26 The guide is available also in https://careerinkainuu.kamk.fi/ Residence Permits 28 The region of Kainuu is located in the centre of Finland There are about 2800 companies in Kainuu. One in and close to Lake Oulujärvi, which is known as the six SMEs in Kainuu have business activities abroad “sea of Kainuu”. Kainuu is almost the size of Belgium (Newspaper article: yritysbarometri from Suomen with 20 197 m2 and its population is just over 73 000 Yrittäjät, Finnvera and työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö, 2019) inhabitants, which means only 3,6 inhabitants per and 60 % of the workforce is employed by SMEs and square kilometer (2019, Kainuun liitto). There are eight Microenterprises. municipalities in Kainuu: Kajaani, the province’s capital, Sotkamo, Suomussalmi, Paltamo, Puolanka, Hyrynsalmi The biggest business clusters in Kainuu are mining, and Ristijärvi. The municipalities are especially known metal industry, tourism and technology. Mining is an for their tourism resorts, activities and events. Sotkamo important employer in Kainuu with Terrafame Oy being is well-known for Vuokatti, a winter and summer resort. the biggest company with about 1.300 employees. In Hyrynsalmi is known for the Swamp Soccer World the metal industry Transtech Oy is the most important Championships held in July, and the downhill skiing company for the area, but there are other companies facilities of Ukkohalla. The virgin forests and clear waters like Katera Steel in Renforsin Ranta, Kajaani. In Renforsin of Kuhmo and Suomussalmi form the beautiful Wild Ranta there are several companies from different Taiga are well known in Central Europe. Kuhmo is also industries. popular for the world-famous Chamber Music Festival held annually during the last two weeks of July. (kainuu.fi) The tourism sector is growing steadily. The tourist centers are the ski resorts with Vuokatti being the The unemployment in Kainuu has been increasing biggest as well as Paljakka and Ukkohalla. The resorts Employment within the last 5 years constantly. The increase of aim at being an all-year round destination. In the east, unemployment leads to a lack of skilled staff. The in Kuhmo, there is Wild Taiga as a tourism main actor. biggest shortage is in the following sectors: health staff The technology sector has companies developing (doctors, dentists, veterinarians, nurses), customer industry solutions. Known companies are Herman IT, service, cleaners and kitchen workers. You can follow the CSC, Critical Force Ltd, Valmet, CSE and Prometec. occupational barometer yourself in ammattibarometri. Market fi, that is an estimate of the employment offices for short-term outlook for key occupations and workforce availability. (KAINUU Työllisyyskatsaus Joulukuu 2019). The development priorities in Kainuu as in the plan until 2035 are: know-how (tourism, technological industry, bioeconomy, sustainable mining), accessibility, wellness, image of the region, and internationality (Kainuun liitto). 4 5 There are values in the Finnish culture that are especially Nature is essential in Finnish culture. Many have summer treasured and create the essence of Finnish being. You cottages (Mökki) that often do not even have electricity should know about these in order to be able to integrate or running water, located in the middle of the nature, in the society, which is a crucial part when looking for preferably near a lake. Due to the everyman’s right employment. However, Finnish customs and manners Finnish people can enjoy engaging in activities such as are rather European, attitudes are liberal and codes of mushroom and berry picking. Also disposing garbage behavior relaxed. in order to protect the nature is regarded as important. More about everyman’s right: https://www.visitfinland. One big value is equality, meaning that men and women are com/article/everymans-rights/#7c442e07 on equal terms regarding their career, as well as home and family care. This can be seen for example in the relatively And of course, Sauna is a big part of the Finnish culture. Finnish high number of women holding advanced positions not It is a ritual of relaxing and quietness. Most Finnish only in politics but also in other areas of society. people go to Sauna at least once a week. It is common to go to the Sauna without any clothes and the time is Culture Trust is another value, not only trusting other people, often divided between genders. Only in families, men but trusting in democracy and the freedom of speech and women go together to Sauna. In Sauna you sit on as well. This relates also to the value of honesty. Finns a small towel. take promises seriously and believe in what you say. Discussions are straight forward to the point and there Finnish food is European and consists of typical items is little small talk. Silence is not regarded as awkward and as fish, meat, pasta, potatoes, and rice. There are local speaking loudly in public is considered rude. variations, as reindeer meat is eaten in Lapland and more fish at the coastal area. Finnish people tend to The Finnish society is oriented on individualism, the eat earlier than in most European countries. The two freedom of being who you want to be. They also have a warm meals, lunch and dinner, are eaten between strong perception of one’s personal space. Finns value 11:00–12:00 and 17:00–18:00. Finnish people drink a their privacy and young adults are encouraged to live on lot of coffee and it is common also for adults to drink their own and be independent. milk. Eating and drinking out is more costly than in most European countries. Only light alcoholic beverages can Punctuality is a must in Finland for any appointment. It be purchased at the supermarket. Others can only be is better to arrive a little early than late. When you have purchased at the government regulated Alko store. an appointment at 10:00 but arrive 10:05, you are late. Buying alcoholic beverages is limited by age. Between Modesty is also highly regarded: Finns do not want 18 and 21 years you are permitted to buy alcoholic to stand out and they do not talk loudly, and they are beverages under 22 %, above 21 any kind of alcohol. considerate about their surroundings. 6 7 As a guest in a Finnish home you should take your use the practical training, the Finnish Friend Family shoes off at the entrance. The most important holidays Programme and other social activities as an opportunity Small in Finland are Christmas (Joulu) and Midsummer to use and improve your Finnish language skills. Do A Vocabulary (Juhannus). Most Finnish public holidays are Christian: use it as often as possible in everyday situations, e.g. supermarkets. It gets easier each time. ammattiliitto trade union » New Year, 1 January ansioluettelo curriculum vitae » Twelfth Day, 6 January Free Finnish language courses online avoimet työpaikat vacancies » Easter: the date varies, in March or April hakulomake application form May Day, 1 May The UUNO language learning material was created by » harjoittelija trainee » Ascension Day: in May, the date varies Tampere University of Applied Sciences to teach foreign harjoittelupaikka trainee position/practical training position » Midsummer Eve: in June, always on a Friday students something about Finnish language and culture: » Independence Day, 6 December http://www.uuno.tamk.fi koeaika trial period » Christmas Day, 25 December osapäivätyö part-time work » Boxing Day, 26 December The Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE offers free palkka salary online courses for independent studying of Finnish. The palkkatoivomus desired salary Easyfinnish course starts from the very basics and uses työ- ja elinkeinotoimisto employment office English as a tutorial language: Finnish Language työaika working hours http://www.yle.fi/easyfinnish työhakemus covering letter It is important to use the duration of your studies to learn as much Finnish as possible. As in any other country, If you already know a bit of Finnish, you can practise with työkokemus work experience knowledge of the Finnish language is required in practice the Supisuomea-course. The course is in Finnish and is työlupa work permit in all workplaces. Some employers require a certain level a little bit more challenging than the Easyfinnish-course: työnantaja employer of Finnish language skills, especially in tourism and the https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/12/15/supisuomea työnhakija jobseeker service sector, where employees are supposed to work työntekijä employee with Finnish customers.