When you are an unemployed job seeker, unemployment security financially ensures your ability to apply for work and improves your chances of entering or returning to the labour market.
Start of job search
Register as a job seeker no later than your first day of unemployment to receive unemployment benefits.
Certificate of the validity of job search
If you need to prove that your job search is valid and that you have registered as a job seeker, you can print the front page of the E-services section or show it on a mobile device, where the validity and start date of your job search are displayed. If this does not meet your needs, the service provider does not accept the evidence, or for some reason it is not possible to obtain or print it, the employment authority can sign a separate certificate confirming the validity of your job search and unemployment.
You can register as a job seeker in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. If you become unemployed or are laid off, register as a job seeker as soon as possible.
You can find employment services, like registering as a job seeker, in the 'E-services' section.
You can register as a job seeker before your unemployment or lay-off begins, but do so no later than on your first day of unemployment, because you can only receive unemployment benefits from the registration date.
You can identify yourself at Job Market Finland with online banking credentials, a mobile certificate, or a chip-based ID card. If you cannot identify yourself in these ways or you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA member state, you can register as a job seeker in your regional employment service office.
On Job Market Finland's regional pages you can read more about the transfer of employment services to municipalities and how you should handle matters in the future. The regional pages also contain contact information provided by employment officials.
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If you are applying for unemployment security, after starting your job search, you will receive a labour policy statement on your right to unemployment security. You can see the statements given to you in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. Unemployment benefits are only paid for the time you are an unemployed job seeker. Your entitlement to unemployment security is influenced by many factors. Read more about them in the 'Unemployment security' section.
If you have participated in labour market training or been employed on a pay subsidy and become unemployed again, register as a job seeker.
Read more
- Unemployment security
- The rights and responsibilities of unemployed job seekers
- Services and integration plan for immigrants
Agree on further services with your assigned service specialist
When you start your job search, you will agree with your assigned employment service specialist on how your customer relationship will progress with employment services.
You can contact your service specialist via the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. There you can also view all your open tasks.
In the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland you can
- view your employment plan that entails your agreed job search obligations, i.e. tasks that promote your employment, and mark them as completed by the due dates,
- view your own information related to your unemployment security, such as statements and open requests for clarification,
- update the changes in your job search situation or inform of employment,
- maintain your contact information, and
- submit a contact request to your service specialist.
Read more
- Initial interview and job search discussions
- Employment plan
- Handling matters in the employment services
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Registering as a job seeker involves several stages. Go through all the stages carefully to keep your job search valid. Based on your registration, the employment official will issue a labour policy statement on your entitlement to unemployment security. If your job search is interrupted, your entitlement to unemployment security ends.
If you become unemployed or are laid off, register as a job seeker as soon as possible. The registration can be made in advance before the unemployment or lay-off begins. However, do so no later than on your first day of unemployment, because you can only receive an unemployment benefit from the registration date.
Browse regional services
Read more
You can find employment services, like registering as a job seeker, in the 'E-services' section.
You can register as unemployed in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. If you do not have online banking codes, a mobile certificate or a smart ID card, you can register as a job seeker at your regional employment service office.
On Job Market Finland's regional pages you can read more about the transfer of employment services to municipalities and how you should handle matters in the future. The regional pages also contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Registration in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland
If you are a Finnish citizen and you have online banking codes, a mobile certificate, or a smart ID card, it is recommended that you activate your job search in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland.
Log into the service
Log into the service using your online banking codes, a mobile certificate, or a smart ID card.
Fill in the requested information carefully
- Verify that your contact information is correct. It is important that the employment official can contact you.
- Report any changes that you are aware of, such as your employment relationships or studies beginning in the following three months. Report only changes that are fully confirmed.
- Describe your employment history. Please complete the employment end dates and reasons. Also mention your possible previous or current entrepreneurial activities in your work history. Any incomplete information may need to be checked by means of a request for clarification or by telephone, so the processing of your matter may be delayed if you have not provided the information carefully.
- Report your education history and study completion dates. You must also report incomplete studies for which you do not have a diploma or a notice of discontinuation of studies.
- Answer the questions about the service needs assessment. Based on your answers, the most suitable services will be evaluated for you.
- Remember to also report working as a family caregiver or being self-employed, such as doing freelance work. If necessary, use the ‘Additional information’ field.
Please note that after registration, you will no longer be able to change the work history or education information you have provided.
You must also indicate where you are applying for unemployment security. If you are a member of an unemployment fund and the employment condition is met, you apply for unemployment security from your fund. Otherwise, Kela will pay you an unemployment benefit. The employment official issues a labour policy statement to the payer regarding your entitlement to unemployment security.
More information
Once you have submitted the registration, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt that will include the information you submitted, the period for which your job search is valid and instructions on how to proceed. It states that you will be contacted without delay. Read it carefully.
Your job search will be valid until further notice after you have received the notification of receipt.
Service specialists will offer guidance if necessary in the chat of Job Market Finland's 'E-services' section. Currently, the chat service is only available in Finnish.
Registration if you cannot use the E-services at Job Market Finland
If you do not have an online banking ID, a mobile certificate, or a smart ID card, or you cannot log in to Job Market Finland for some other reason, register as a job seeker at your regional employment service office.
On Job Market Finland's regional pages you can read more about the transfer of employment services to municipalities and how you should handle matters in the future. The regional pages also contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Note the following matters
- You do not need to send attachments. The employment official will request appendices, such as diplomas and employment certificates, if necessary.
- If your employment relationship has ended during a trial period or at your own request, or if you have been dismissed, the employment official will submit a clarification request to you. You will be notified of this in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland, by mail, or by text message.
- If necessary, the employment official will request additional information on your studies or business activities by means of a clarification request. You will be notified of this in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland, by mail, or by text message.
- Processing is faster if you respond to any clarification requests in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. The response time is 14 days. The clarification request will be processed within 30 days of your response.
- You can monitor the progress of your situation in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. You will also find your statement there when it is ready.
- If necessary, submit a contact request through the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. Registrations will be processed in the order of arrival, so a request to contact you will not speed up your processing.
Always actively seek work yourself. When you are a job seeker, be prepared to accept the work or training that your employment service specialist offers you.
This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)
You can improve as a job seeker when you master the basics of job search.
On this page, we have gathered tips to help you improve your chances of employment. We provide guidance on, for example, how to get started with your job application documents and how to prepare for a job interview.
At Job Market Finland, you can automate your job search by creating a job applicant profile. In it, you can introduce yourself, highlight your skills, and list your education and work experience. Based on the provided information, you will recieve job recommendations that suit you, and employers interested in your skills can contact you.
Before sending a job application
The job seeking process consists of several stages, and it is advisable to start by acquiring information. Once you have found an interesting job, try to obtain the best possible understanding of the employer and everything that is involved with the open position. When you have acquired information in advance, it will be easier for you to apply for the position.
When you find an interesting position, read the job posting carefully. It is a good idea to find answers to at least the following questions related to the open position.
- What are the main responsibilities and special requirements of the position?
- Do you need a specific degree or certain type of work experience?
- Do the tasks correspond to your competence?
- What can you learn from the job requirements?
- What kind of person are they looking for to fill the position?
Before submitting a job application, you should also familiarise yourself with the employer. Visit the organisation’s website and find out at least the sector, size, and structure of the organisation, as well as its vision, values, and objectives.
Once you have familiarised yourself with both the position and the employer, and you still want to apply for the position, you should consider your next step. Will you contact the employer before sending your job application? Will calling or visiting the workplace, or sending an email help you write your application? Sometimes the job posting contains the contact details of the person participating in the recruitment process and the times when you can approach the employer. If you really have questions about the position and feel that it is useful to contact the employer, you can do so before submitting your job application. However, you should carefully consider the most suitable choice for your situation and proceed accordingly.
Job application documents
Although it may seem old-fashioned to draw up traditional job application documents, almost every job application process still requires an application letter and a CV. A one-page application letter and a resume of maximum two pages is usually a good combination.
It may be challenging to formulate your own competence in a comprehensive yet interesting manner. The following instructions will help you create a successful application letter and an interesting CV.
It is a good idea to invest some time and effort in writing your application letter, as what you write can help you get a job interview. The aim of the application letter is to attract the recruiter’s attention so that you will be invited to a job interview.
In the application letter, you will describe
- why you are applying for the job,
- how you meet the selection criteria for the position, and
- why you should be selected for the job in question.
The application letter should give a positive impression of you. It should be concise and targeted specifically at the employer whose position you are applying for. You describe your background and work history in your CV, but in the application letter, the focus is on the future.
Avoid making lists. In the application letter, you can describe yourself and your competence more informally. In addition to subject-related competence, you should also highlight your other strengths that are useful for the position you are applying for. In addition to describing them, it is essential to explain in the application letter what you can offer the organisation.
If you are applying for a position for which you do not have any previous experience, explain how your competence fits the position, and emphasise your motivation, good attitude, and ability to learn.
Finally, you should run a spell check on your text. The application letter is an opportunity to demonstrate your competence, and even small details matter. Therefore, make sure that there are no spelling mistakes in the text.
When working on a CV, try to make it comprehensive yet also clear. You can use creativity when making your CV, but you should not divert too far from the commonly used structure. Express yourself concisely. It is, after all, very important that the recruiter finds the relevant information easily and quickly, as not much time is necessarily given to each individual CV.
A good CV is visually interesting, clear and easy to understand. It quickly indicates whether you meet the requirements of the position.
It is a good idea to describe your work experience and educational information in chronological order, with the most recent experience first. Briefly describe each of your work experiences. Describe what your tasks have included and what you have learned from the work. In addition to work experience, you can also describe your language and IT skills, and provide a list of references.
Check that your resume includes your contact information.
LinkedIn profiles have not superseded traditional CVs, but the service can support your CV in the job application process.
You can also write an application letter in the email message field. Consider the text in your email message as carefully as if you were writing a traditional application letter.
- In the subject field, write “Application” and the title of the position you are applying for.
- Upload your CV as an attachment to the message.
- Begin with a friendly greeting.
- Type your application letter in the text field. You do not need to follow the layout of a traditional application letter.
- Explain that your CV is attached to the email message.
- End your letter with a closing phrase and your contact information.
Employers’ own electronic job search services have their own specific characteristics. Recruiters may, for example, perform word searches on them. In other words, search the job posting for keywords describing the nature of the task and the applicant’s characteristics, and use them in your application. Remember to also describe your personal expertise.
When submitting an application in the employer’s online service, read the instructions carefully. It is a good idea to first write your text using a text editing programme and copy it to the form afterwards.
In the case of an open application, update it regularly.
It is increasingly common for employers to request video applications from job seekers. Video material makes it easier for the employer to pre-select applicants. You can use a video to give a more authentic image of yourself than with a traditional job application.
Make a short, 1–3 minute video and upload it to a video service. Send the link to the employer.
You should practice beforehand so that you can express yourself naturally instead of reading from a piece of paper. For example, you can use the video to
- describe your special talents,
- talk about your personality and strengths, or
- provide an example of your language skills.
A portfolio is a collection of your best and most important work or achievements. You can assemble a portfolio in different ways. It can be a folder, portfolio, demo, plan, drawing, or a photo collection.
Portfolios are most commonly used in the creative sector, but they work well in many other fields, too. For example, a chef’s portfolio may include their personal recipes, photos of dishes and customer feedback.
You should assemble a new portfolio for every new application. However, do not make your portfolio too broad in scope.
A portfolio can include
- certificates, recommendations and evaluations,
- samples of various work tasks in the form of brochures, posters, programmes, magazine articles or similar, or
- anything that will help you land the job.
You can send your portfolio to the employer or take it with you to your job interview and present it there. If your portfolio can be found online, remember to include a link in your job application.
Job interview
You should not think of a job interview as a one-sided interrogation, but as an opportunity for people to get to know each other. For employers, an interview is a way to test the suitability of a job seeker for an open position and the work community. The applicant will also familiarise themselves with the employer and reflect on their suitability for the position and their interest in becoming part of the organisation. Keep this in mind when you attend the job interview.
When you challenge the interviewer and ask questions about the employer or position, you will give the impression that you are motivated and indicate that you are genuinely interested in the position. At the same time, you will gain information on whether the position is right for you.
Next, we will give you tips on how to succeed in a job interview.
When you are well-prepared for the interview, you can relax and be yourself. It is alright to feel a little nervous.
You should do the following before the interview.
- Find out more about the employer.
- Remind yourself of the job description and what is stated in the job posting.
- Go over your competencies and be prepared to describe them concisely.
- Think about the questions that you would like to ask about the job and your potential employer.
A positive first impression goes a long way when people meet for the first time. Dress in a way that suits the position and employer. Remember to take your application letter, CV, work and educational certificates, and possible portfolio with you. Be on time.
In the interview, the recruiter will evaluate whether you are genuinely interested in the position and whether your skills and competence are suited for the position. Above all, the interview will reveal your interaction skills and attitude. If there are more than one interviewers present, give each one of them an equal amount of attention.
Remember that your body language, expressions, and the way that you speak tell a lot about yourself. Listen to what they are asking you, and take your time to think before answering. When answering, be honest, but remember to also consider what should possibly be left out.
There are usually three stages to an interview.
- General issues are often discussed in the beginning. The aim is to create an overview of the interviewee.
- In the middle of the interview, the interviewers ask questions with the aim to find out how motivated you are and how you would fit the position. The questions will also involve your career and changes therein. In addition, the interviewers will want to know what kind of a person you are, your values, and your attitude.
- The final stage of the interview focuses on the more practical matters related to the position, such as your salary, working time and start date. The interviewer also often describes how the application process will continue. If necessary, you can also ask questions about the next stages of the process.
After the interview is over, think about how it went. Assess what went well and what you could improve on.
If you are not chosen for the position, ask the employer or interviewer what factors were emphasised in the selection, and what were the reasons why you were not chosen for the job.
Practice answering the questions and consider appropriate answers in advance. The better you prepare, the more confident you will feel during the interview.
- Tell us briefly about yourself.
- Describe your current or most recent employment relationship.
- Why are you applying for this job?
- Why do you want to switch jobs?
- What are your goals for the future?
- What are you like as a colleague or supervisor?
- What are the most important things that you have learned in your previous jobs?
- Describe your dream job or workplace.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- How will your strengths help you succeed in your task? What have you done or will you do to fix your weaknesses?
- What motivates you as an employee?
- Describe the type of work community that you thrive in.
- Describe your idea of a good place to work.
- Do you prefer working alone or in a group?
- Why are you applying for a position that is not related to your previous work experience and educational background?
- How do you work under pressure? Give a concrete example.
- Are you ready to travel for work?
- Are you prepared to be flexible with your working hours?
- How much salary do you want?
- What have you learned in your previous jobs?
- What achievement are you particularly proud of?
- Why should we choose you?
- What would you like to know about us?
- Who could recommend you for the position?
- If we called the person giving you a reference, what would they tell us about you?
You may be asked several similar questions, and the order of the questions may seem completely random. This way, the interviewer may simply be testing how you cope under pressure.
Other matters related to the job seeking process
It is worth remembering that you do not need to answer all questions asked by the employer. It is also good to be aware that, in addition to the job interview, the employer can examine your suitability for the position by means of personal assessments and aptitude tests.
There are certain topics that should not affect the recruitment process. During a job interview or similar encounter, you do not need to answer questions related to your
- age,
- health,
- family relationships or plans,
- sexual orientation,
- ethnic background,
- religion, or
- political orientation.
The employer is not allowed to place job seekers in an unequal position on the basis of the aforementioned characteristics.
Exceptions to this may include some situations where the listed features have a material impact on the performance of the work tasks.
In addition to a job interview, your competence and aptitude for the task may be evaluated in other ways.
Your professional competence may be tested in different ways. For example, you may be asked to do a demo in a situation that resembles work, participate in group work, or give a small-scale presentation.
A psychological evaluation can be used to assess and predict how you will perform in a task by studying your thinking, expertise, skills, characteristics, or operating models.
Through psychological assessment, the employer may wish to find out, for example,
- how you solve problems,
- how well you withstand pressure, and
- what kind of interaction style and personality you have.
It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the tests are based on reliable methods and that the information gained during the testing process is accurate. The people who perform these tests must have sufficient expertise.
The best way to prepare for these types of tests is to be yourself and go in with an open mind. You are always entitled to receive a copy of your test report or oral feedback on it.
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Job seeking requires personal intiative, but you don't have to do everything on your own. Various services help you in your job search in different life situations.
If you need help with considering education and career options or clarifying your future plans, you should participate in career and career choice guidance, education and training guidance, or career coaching. At the beginning of your job search, you may need to develop your job search skills, in which case you can participate in group job search training or individual job search training. Through a work try-out, you can get to know a new field, or it can support your return to working life after a long absence. If you need to update your skills or are planning to train in a new field, labour market training or RekryKoulutus Recruitment Training can be a good option.
Vocational guidance and career planning help you assess your vocational, education or work options.
Citizens
In vocational guidance and career planning, you discuss the choice of profession, professional development, placement in the world of work and lifelong learning confidentially with a counsellor.
A licensed psychologist may also, with your consent, use psychological assessment methods to examine professional and career options, competence, suitability and work and functional capacity.
To whom and on what terms
In order to receive vocational guidance and career planning, you do not need to be registered as a jobseeker.
Do the following
Contact the employment authority in your area and ask if you can get vocational guidance and career planning.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
Career coaching guides and supports you in studying different career options.
Citizens
Career coaching might suit you if you have no vocational training, consider changing fields, are returning to employment or consider entrepreneurship.
Career coaching provides you with information, counselling and support that help you get a clearer idea of your choice of profession and career alternatives, applying for education and developing transferable skills. Coaching helps you find your strengths and a new direction for your career.
To whom and on what terms
You can participate in career coaching if
- you have registered as a jobseeker
- the employment authority estimates that career coaching is the best way to support your employment
- coaching is agreed upon in your employment plan.
Do the following
Contact the employment authority in your area and ask if you can get career coaching.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
In job search coaching, you can learn job-seeking skills.
Citizens
Job seeking is a skill that can be learned. Job search coaching provides you with support and guidance for independent job search.
In job search coaching, you will learn to use different job-search channels and assess different job options from the perspective of your job-seeking and competence.
To whom and on what terms
You can apply for in job search coaching if
- you have registered as a jobseeker
- the employment authority estimates that you need job search coaching
- training is agreed upon in your employment plan.
The employment authority decides who is selected for job search coaching.
Do the following
Contact the employment authority in your area and ask if you can get job search coaching.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
Work coaching will guide and support you personally in searching for a job and finding employment.
Citizens
Work coaching is a suitable service for you if you need personal support for applying for work or starting work or if you have been unemployed for a long time.
Work coaching is tailored to your needs. A coach will help you find a job or apprenticeship, conclude an employment contract and establish an employment relationship.
To whom and on what terms
You can participate in work coaching if
- you have registered as a jobseeker
- the employment authority estimates that job coaching is the best way to support your employment
- coaching is agreed upon in your employment plan.
Do the following
Contact the employment authority in your area and ask if you can get work coaching.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
You can use a work try-out to find out about career choices and career options in practical tasks. You can also use it to support your return to work.
Citizens
A work try-out may be suitable for you if you are considering your own field or want to find out whether a field is suitable for you. A work try-out is also an option if you have been outside of employment for a long period. During the work try-out, you will participate in general work at the workplace. A work try-out is not an employment relationship, and it does not create expenses for the employer.
Agree on the duration and working hours of the work try-out together with the employment authority in your area and the employer. The maximum duration of a work try-out is six months.
During the work try-out, you will receive the same unemployment security as if you were unemployed.
If the costs of participating in the work try-out are incurred, you can receive expense allowance for the days of participation. If you do not receive expense allowance from the payer of the unemployment benefit, that is, an unemployment fund or Kela, the employment authority can pay a discretionary expense allowance.
To whom and on what terms
You can participate in a work try-out if
- you have registered as a jobseeker
- the work try-out has been agreed upon in your employment plan
- the employment authority estimates that a work try-out is the best way to support your employment.
In your employment plan, you agree with the employment authority on whether you will find a work try-out place yourself or whether you need help finding a place.
A work try-out may be organised by a company, entrepreneur, municipality, joint municipal authority, other corporation, foundation or government agency or institution. A private individual may not act as the organiser of a work try-out. You cannot go to a work try-out at a workplace for which you are already employed.
Do the following
Contact the employment authority in your area and ask if you can participate in a work try-out.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
Labour market training helps you develop your professional skills and promote your employment.
Citizens
Labour market training develops your professional skills and promotes your employment. Labour market training is training organised by the employment authority. The employment authority and the training provider plan the training together. Employers can also participate in the organisation of labour market training.
Labour market training may be:
- training that increases professional competence and capabilities
- training to increase entrepreneurial skills
- integration training.
Labour market training is free of charge, so you won’t need to pay participation or examination fees. However, card and licence training may be subject to a fee.
If you are unemployed, you are entitled to the same unemployment security during labour market training that you get when you are unemployed.
If you incur costs from participating in the training, you can receive an expense allowance for the days of participation. If you do not receive the allowance from the provider of your unemployment benefit, that is, the unemployment fund or Kela, you can apply for a discretionary expense allowance from the employment authority in your area.
To whom and on what terms
In order to receive vocational guidance and career planning, you do not need to be registered as a jobseeker.
Do the following
You can find which labour market training is currently available in the Trainings and services online service.
How do I apply for training?
Apply for labour market training in the Job Market Finland’s e-service
If you are unable to apply online, you apply by filling in the form “Application for labour market training”.
Before submitting your application, carefully read the admission criteria of the training programme you are interested in.
If you are an unemployed jobseeker, you can apply for reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses from the employment authority when you travel for an admission event or aptitude test for labour market training, or visit the educational institution before starting labour market training if your disability or illness requires familiarisation with the accessibility and suitability of the educational institution.
You can get support for using the E-service from the Job Market Finland's E-services advice.
- E-services
- Job Market Finland's E-services advice
- Application for labour market training form, in Finnish (suomi.fi)
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You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
Jointly acquired training is labour market training organised jointly by the employment authority and a company.
Businesses and non-government organizations
Jointly acquired training is labour market training that the employment authority can organise together with the employer, the commissioner of the person intending to become an entrepreneur or the company transferring its business rights so that they participate in the funding of the training.
As an employer, you can organise labour market training to increase the professional competence and capabilities of current or future personnel. You can arrange jointly acquired training when the training is targeted at employees in your service or temporary agency workers, persons hired for your service or persons laid off or dismissed from your service.
Jointly acquired training may also be aimed at you as an entrepreneur when you are starting a business.
To whom and on what terms
The employment authority will investigate whether the prerequisites for the training are met and whether there is a need for training.
If the training is targeted at persons to be employed by the employer, the employer’s contribution to the total price of the training without value added tax is 30 per cent and the employment authority’s contribution 70 per cent.
If the training is targeted at persons laid off or dismissed from the employer’s service, the employer’s contribution to the total price of the training without value added tax is 20 per cent and the employment authority’s contribution 80 per cent.
If the jointly acquired training is intended for employees or temporary agency workers employed by the employer or temporary agency workers whose purpose is to continue working for the employer, the employer’s contribution to the total price of the training without value added tax is 30–50 per cent. The contributions from the total price of the training, excluding VAT, are determined on the basis of the number of employees employed by the employer and the employer’s annual turnover or balance sheet.
Jointly acquired training is not to be used for the financing of regular orientation and personnel training for which the employer is the cost bearer or of training that employers must organise in order to comply with the national training standards.
If you intend to become an entrepreneur, you can organise jointly acquired training to increase your entrepreneurial capabilities if you have few commissioners as an entrepreneur or if you intend to acquire entrepreneurship rights from another company.
Do the following
Contact the employment authority of your area and submit a proposal for jointly acquired training.
The handler of your proposal will contact you to assess training needs and draw up a preliminary training plan.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
- Employment services locally
- Business E-services
- Enterprise Finland Advisory Service and help with E-services
- Employer’s proposal on joint procurement training (suomi.fi)
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You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
If you are aged under 30, a visit to a One-Stop Guidance Center can help you get started. The One-Stop Guidance Center provides information and guidance according to your needs, for example on matters related to studying, finding employment, and the smoothness of everyday life.
The Abilitator is a free self-assessment method of work ability and functioning for all people of working age. With the Abilitator quiz you can find out about your situation, strengths, and development needs.
Financial assistance for job search and employment
If you are an unemployed job seeker, the employer can be granted a pay subsidy for your hiring costs. If you are over 55 years old and unemployed as a job seeker, the employer can be granted employment subsidy for job seekers aged 55 or over. When you apply for a job or accept a job as an unemployed person in a location that is far from where you live, you can receive compensation or assistance for travel and accommodation costs or commuting and moving costs.
A pay subsidy is an economic benefit for employers to cover the pay of an unemployed jobseeker.
Businesses and non-government organizations
A pay subsidy is a benefit intended to promote the employment of unemployed jobseekers that an employment authority can grant to an employer to cover pay costs. The purpose of work supported by pay subsidy is to promote the employment of unemployed job seekers in the open labour market and to improve their professional competence. Pay subsidy also helps people with reduced work ability and those aged 60 or over who have been unemployed for an extended period to find work and participate in the world of work. The subsidy is granted and paid to the employer, but its granting is always based on the unemployed jobseeker’s service need.
A pay subsidy may be granted for
- open-ended full-time employment
- fixed-term full-time employment
- apprenticeship training
- part-time employment if the granter of the subsidy feels that it is appropriate and that it promotes the jobseeker’s possibilities to find employment.
The employment authority assesses whether the subsidy is the most appropriate means of promoting the employment of the unemployed jobseeker and decides separately the duration and amount of each support period. The unemployed jobseeker’s employment plan or pay subsidy card includes a mention of the pay subsidy.
The length of the pay subsidy period depends on the duration of the person’s unemployment and the impact a possibly reduced work ability might have on their work performance. Depending on the duration of the unemployment preceding the pay subsidy, the subsidy would be granted for five or ten months. The subsidy is granted for the duration of the employment relationship at most. The subsidy may be granted for hiring a long-term unemployed person aged 60 or over for a maximum of 24 months at a time.
In most cases, the amount of the pay subsidy is 50% of the salary costs incurred by the person hired with the subsidy. The amount of support granted for hiring a person with reduced work ability is 70% of their pay. The amount of support for an association, foundation or registered religious community may be 100% of the pay. The amount of subsidy granted is between 1,260 and 2,020 euros per month, depending on the grounds for granting. The pay covered with the subsidy is the pay subject to withholding tax that is paid to the employee on the basis of working hours or the performance of a contract.
To whom and on what terms
A company, municipality, joint municipal authority or wellbeing services county or other entity, such as an association, foundation, registered religious community or parish can apply for pay subsidies.
The subsidy cannot be granted for an employment relationship that started before the decision to grant the subsidy was made. An exception to this is the granting of a new pay subsidy period when the new period begins immediately after the previous one ends.
As an employer, you undertake to pay the employee who has been hired with the subsidy at least the salary specified in the collective agreement applicable to the employment relationship or the normal and reasonable salary if there is no applicable collective agreement. Pay subsidy shall not be granted if the pay of the person to be hired with the subsidy would be determined solely on the basis of their work performance.
The subsidy cannot be granted if:
- the subsidy distorts competition vis-à-vis others offering the same products or services
- the employer has essentially neglected their obligation to pay wages or obligations to pay taxes or statutory payments
- the organisation you represent is a company in trouble as referred to in the General Block Exemption Regulation of EU State Aid or if the European Commission has issued a negative Recovery Order against it, which declares the subsidy as illegal or unsuitable for the internal market.
It is possible to receive support regardless of dismissals or lay-offs when the number of employees in an employment relationship at the time of applying for the pay subsidy is at least equal to the number of employees at the time of dismissal or lay-off. The subsidy may not impair the position of your other employees.
If the person hired with the subsidy is transferred to another employer during the pay subsidy period due to the transfer of a business, merger or division of an entity or the merger of entities, pay subsidy may be granted to the employer receiving the employee for the remaining period of the pay subsidy period granted to the transferring employer. The receiving employer must submit an application for pay subsidy to the employment authority within one month since person hired with pay subsidy has transferred to the employment of the recipient or the receiving organisation.
Do the following
Apply for subsidy well in advance before the start of employment. The employment relationship can only start after a decision on the subsidy has been made.
If you are applying for a pay subsidy extension, submit the extension application before the start of the new subsidy period. The employment relationship must continue immediately after the previous subsidy period ends.
The granted subsidy is paid retrospectively so that the pay periods ended during one calendar month are included in the pay period. You can apply for a payment of the subsidy for several payment periods. However, the subsidy is paid by each payment period.
Submit a payment application to the employment authority within three months of the end of the calendar month during which the last payment period of the subsidy period ends. The subsidy period is the period defined in the decision as the duration of the subsidy.
Apply for subsidy and its payment in the e-service
Apply for subsidy and its payment using an electronic form in the e-service. Log into the e-service with your personal banking IDs, a mobile certificate or a certificate card.
Complete the application in the service and attach the required documents. The service’s internal instructions will help you fill in the application. In the e-service, you can submit an application, respond to requests for supplementary information concerning the application, supplement your application and receive decisions concerning your case.
In the e-service, the application can be submitted by an authorised person. Persons without separate authorisation can act on behalf of an organisation if they have an existing mandate for transactions or a right based on register data. The e-service checks the person’s right to use e-services when logging in.
The mandate theme used for the subsidy is called Applying for pay subsidy.
In addition to the mandate, organisations need a business ID to use the e-services.
You can get advice on using the E-service and how to authorise from the Enterprise Finland Advisory Service.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
- Employment services locally
- Business E-services
- Enterprise Finland Advisory Service and help with E-services
- Local government e-service, in Finnish (suomi.fi)
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
The employment subsidy is a financial subsidy for employers for the salary costs of an unemployed jobseeker aged 55 or over.
Businesses and non-government organizations
The employment subsidy is a benefit intended to promote the employment of unemployed jobseekers aged 55 or over that an employment authority can grant to an employer to cover pay costs. The purpose of the subsidy is to promote the employment of those aged 55 or over by improving their professional skills or entrepreneurial skills. The subsidy is granted and paid to the employer, but its granting is always based on the unemployed jobseeker’s service need.
The employment subsidy requires that the unemployed jobseeker hired for the employment relationship has reached the age of 55 and has been unemployed for at least 24 months in the 28 months immediately preceding the granting of the subsidy.
An employment subsidy may be granted for a employment contract valid until further notice or a fixed-term employment contract. The person hired with the subsidy must work for the recipient for at least 25 hours a week. If the regular working hours in the sector are less than 37.5 hours per week, the working hours must be at least 65 per cent of the regular working hours in the sector.
The unemployed jobseeker’s employment plan or pay subsidy card includes a mention of the subsidy.
The amount of employment subsidy is 70 per cent of the wage costs. The aid may be granted for a period of 10 months but not longer than the duration of the employment relationship. The maximum amount of employment subsidy paid is €1,770 per month. The pay covered with the subsidy is the pay subject to withholding tax that is paid to the employee on the basis of working hours or the performance of a contract.
To whom and on what terms
A company, municipality, joint municipal authority or wellbeing services county or other entity, such as an association, foundation, registered religious community or parish can apply for employment subsidies.
The subsidy cannot be granted for an employment relationship that started before the decision to grant the subsidy was made.
As an employer, you undertake to pay the employee who has been hired with the subsidy at least the salary specified in the collective agreement applicable to the employment relationship or the normal and reasonable salary if there is no applicable collective agreement. The subsidy shall not be granted if the pay of the person to be hired with the subsidy would be determined solely on the basis of their work performance.
The subsidy cannot be granted if:
- the subsidy distorts competition vis-à-vis others offering the same products or services
- the employer has essentially neglected their obligation to pay wages or obligations to pay taxes or statutory payments
- the organisation you represent is a company in trouble as referred to in the General Block Exemption Regulation of EU State Aid or if the European Commission has issued a negative Recovery Order against it, which declares the subsidy as illegal or unsuitable for the internal market.
It is possible to receive support regardless of dismissals or lay-offs when the number of employees in an employment relationship at the time of applying for the subsidy is at least equal to the number of employees at the time of dismissal or lay-off. The subsidy may not impair the position of your other employees.
Do the following
Apply for subsidy well in advance before the start of employment. The employment relationship can only start after a decision on the subsidy has been made.
The granted subsidy is paid retrospectively so that the pay periods ended during one calendar month are included in the pay period. You can apply for a payment of the subsidy for several payment periods. However, the subsidy is paid by each payment period.
Submit a payment application to the employment authority within three months of the end of the calendar month during which the last payment period of the subsidy period ends. The subsidy period is the period defined in the decision as the duration of the subsidy.
Apply for subsidy and its payment in the e-service
Apply for subsidy and its payment using an electronic form in the e-service. Log into the e-service with your personal banking IDs, a mobile certificate or a certificate card.
Complete the application in the service and attach the required documents. The service’s internal instructions will help you fill in the application. In the e-service, you can submit an application, respond to requests for supplementary information concerning the application, supplement your application and receive decisions concerning your case.
In the e-service, the application can be submitted by an authorised person. Persons without separate authorisation can act on behalf of an organisation if they have an existing mandate for transactions or a right based on register data. The e-service checks the person’s right to use e-services when logging in.
The mandate theme used for the subsidy is called Applying for pay subsidy.
You can get advice on using the E-service and how to authorise from the Enterprise Finland Advisory Service.
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
You can get compensation for travel and accommodation costs when you are applying for a job or participating in a service that promotes employment.
Citizens
You can apply for compensation for travel and accommodation costs if you are an unemployed jobseeker and
- you applying for a job
- you apply for labour market training, coaching or trial
- you participate in an expert evaluation organised by the employment authority.
You can apply for compensation for return trips made in Finland for a job interview if the work lasts at least two weeks and the average working hours are at least 18 hours. Compensation may also be granted for a job interview trip to another Member State of the European Union or to a country belonging to the European Economic Area.
To receive compensation, you must be an unemployed jobseeker. Costs may be reimbursed if:
- you participate in an admission event or aptitude test for labour market training
- you will familiarise yourself with the educational institution providing labour market training before the training begins so that you can check the accessibility and other suitability of the institution for your studies due to a disability or illness
- you visit the employment authority so that your visit is considered necessary and you need transport services due to a disability or illness
- you participate in an expert evaluation organised by the employment authority.
The basis for reimbursement of travel expenses is the distance in kilometres multiplied by €0.21. The part of the travel expenses exceeding €12 shall be reimbursed up to a maximum of €200.
Compensation is granted for accommodation expenses based on the costs incurred, up to a maximum of €80 per day.
To whom and on what terms
You can be reimbursed for travel costs if the employment authority considers the reimbursement of costs appropriate for the availability of labour and the employment of the unemployed.
Compensation for travel expenses incurred from visiting the employment authority may be granted to an unemployed individual client who, due to a disability or illness, needs transport service in order to be able to visit the employment authority. A precondition for compensating travel costs is that a personal visit to the employment authority is necessary.
Travel and accommodation expenses for attending a job interview or a service can be reimbursed only if you are unemployed and registered as a jobseeker with the employment services in your area.
The length of the trip is calculated so that the journey begins from your actual place of residence.
You can be reimbursed for overnight stays if, due to traffic conditions, staying overnight has been necessary and costs have been incurred.
Do the following
Apply for reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs from the employment authority within one month of the end of the trip. The employment authority may pay the compensation in full or in part in advance.
If you are applying for the reimbursement of travel expenses, you do not need to attach receipts to your application. If you were staying overnight on the way, attach a receipt for the overnight stay costs to your application.
Apply for the allowance primarily using an electronic form in the e-service. Log into the service with your personal banking IDs, a mobile certificate or a certificate card. Complete the application in the service and attach the required documents. The service’s internal instructions will help you fill in the application. In the e-service, you can submit an application, respond to requests for supplementary information concerning the application, supplement your application and receive decisions concerning your case.
If you cannot use the e-service, apply for compensation using the printable form. Submit the form to the employment authority.
If you have been granted compensation for travel or accommodation expenses in full or in part in advance, submit the supporting documents for the costs incurred to the authority that made the decision within one month of the end of the trip.
If you have applied for compensation in the e-service, you can supplement the information needed for payment in the e-service if necessary.
The Job Market Finland's regional pages contain contact information provided by employment officials.
- Employment services locally
- Local government e-service, in Finnish (suomi.fi)
- Application for Reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs, in Finnish (suomi.fi)
Browse regional services
You can find more detailed information and instructions in the service description published by the employment authority in your area.
This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)
Finding a job may seem difficult if you do not have any previous work experience yet. Many start their careers with short employment relationships, such as summer jobs, substitute work, or traineeships.
Be bold when looking for work
These days, people typically look for jobs on websites listing job vacancies. Companies and organisations often also describe their open positions on their own websites and social media channels.
When you find an interesting open job, apply for it. Writing a job application or getting a job interview gives you important experience, even if you do not get the job.
However, not all open positions are advertised. You can directly contact an employer that interests you and submit an open job application.
At Job Market Finland you can find tips on writing a job application and preparing for a job interview. Have you already looked at open jobs at Job Market Finland or created a job applicant profile?
Read more
A good attitude and networks can be more important than experience
If you do not have work experience yet, emphasise your attitude and enthusiasm. As many employers want to find a person who will fit into their work community and who is willing to learn new things, extensive work experience is not always the most important selection criterion. Your employer is usually prepared to familiarise you with your work tasks and may offer more extensive training.
Networks are also important in working life. You can ask or hear about interesting vacancies from your friends and acquaintances. Many boost their networks during their studies and in employment relationships, voluntary work, and hobbies. You can also grow your networks in various social media services.
Be active during employment
Take any employment relationships including short-term work such as summer jobs or substitute work seriously. When you do your job well, your supervisor will remember you and you might be able to keep getting hired in the future.
Your CV will show your employer if you have worked in the same workplace for several summers in a row, for example. This usually indicates that you have been well-liked and have done your job properly. On the other hand, it is worth remembering that employers can also appreciate diverse experiences gathered from different workplaces.
The following tips help you to ensure that your employer will remember you during your employment relationship:
- Support your co-workers – listening can also help.
- Learn new things and don’t be afraid of change.
- If you notice any shortcomings, you can tell your colleague or supervisor about them.
- Focus on solutions.
- Practise giving and receiving good and constructive feedback.
People aged under 30 receive help from the Youth Guarantee and the One-Stop Guidance Center
If you are aged under 30, you can get help with starting your career from the Youth Guarantee and the One-Stop Guidance Center.
The purpose of the Youth Guarantee is to promote young people's placement in education and the labour market, and to prevent prolonged unemployment and social exclusion.
The One-Stop Guidance Center provides you with help and support in matters related to studying, employment, housing, and well-being. There are approximately 70 One-Stop Guidance Centers located all over Finland, and the operation covers every single region.
The best way is to visit a One-Stop Guidance Center personally, either during the Center’s opening hours or based on agreement. For more information, visit the One-Stop Guidance Center website. Additionally, many One-Stop Guidance Centers are on Facebook and Instagram, and some of them also on YouTube, Snapchat, and Discord.
The One-Stop Guidance Centers employ career guidance officers and case managers as well as social welfare and health care professionals. The services provided by the One-Stop Guidance Centers and the professionals who work in the centres vary slightly between localities. The professionals at the One-Stop Guidance Centers will listen to you and provide you with support for finding a suitable solution.
More information
- Three tips for young people (elamassa.fi, in Finnish)
- Information about the Guidance center (elamassa.fi, in Finnish)
- Junior Achievement (JA) Finland (nuortennyt.fi)
- Information about the working life of graduates from the Universities and the Universities of Applied Sciences (töissä.fi)
This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)
Are you returning to employment after taking, for example, parental leave or time for providing informal care?
If you are returning to work after a break from employment, you should make use of the various services that promote employment.
If you need help in applying for a job, effective help can be found through job seeking training, job coaching and the job search advice and guidance provided by employment services.
Are you interested in a whole new profession or sector? The psychological service for career selection and career guidance, career coaching, labour market training, and work try-outs are all options that can help you start a new career. It is also worth exploring apprenticeship training, which is one way of training for a new profession.
If you are returning to working life after a longer period of sick leave, it is worth exploring options for rehabilitative work activities
Nationwide services
Browse regional services
- Vocational guidance and career planning
- Career coaching
- Advice and guidance to jobseekers
- Work try-out
- Job-search training
- Job coaching
- Labour market training
- Pay subsidies
More information
The purpose of unemployment security is to compensate you for the financial losses caused by unemployment.
Register as an unemployed job seeker in order to receive unemployment security. You can register a job seeker in the E-services at Job Market Finland. The different forms of unemployment security include earnings-related unemployment allowance, basic unemployment allowance, and labour market subsidy.
You can find employment services, like registering as a job seeker, in the 'E-services' section.
- Clarification requests and processing times related to unemployment security statements
- Handling matters in the employment services
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When you register as a job seeker, you will be asked about matters that affect your eligibility for unemployment security. When you receive unemployment benefits, you must notify us if your situation changes.
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Are you wondering whether you need to notify the employment official or the party paying your unemployment benefit of the start or end of your employment? The deciding factor is whether the work lasts over or under two weeks.
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When you work in an employment or public-service relationship, you are an employee. If your employment relationship ends and you become unemployed, you may be eligible for unemployment security.
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If you are an entrepreneur or employ yourself in another way, the provisions on unemployment security are different for you than for a wage earner.
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Are you under 25 years of age without a professional degree and have finished comprehensive school or upper secondary school? Conditions for unemployment security that apply to you partially differ from those of other job seekers. Your situation will change when you receive vocational training or take part in a service that promotes employment.
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As a full-time student, you usually receive your income from financial aid for students. In some cases, you may be entitled to unemployment security during your studies.
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If you have been laid off, you may be entitled to unemployment security during the lay-off.
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If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, their family member, or you have a residence permit and become unemployed or are laid off, you may be entitled to unemployment security.
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Formal or informal voluntary work does not affect your unemployment security if it is unpaid and ordinary work of general interest, and if you are ready to accept full-time work.
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If your employer has been declared bankrupt or, for some other reason, cannot pay your salary, you can apply for unpaid pay or other payments as pay security.
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In a mandatory waiting period (karenssi), a job seeker temporarily loses the right to unemployment security because they have acted in an improper manner in terms of labour policy. In legislation, the waiting period is referred to as an unpaid time period. On this page you will find information on the most common causes of a mandatory waiting period.
This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)
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