Length and tone
Aim for half a page to one page, roughly 200 to 350 words. A calm, factual tone usually works better in Finland than strong self-promotion. Replace adjectives with examples: instead of "I am an excellent team player", describe a situation where you worked with others and what came out of it.
A simple structure
1. Greeting and the role: name the job title and where you saw the ad. If the ad names a contact person, address them by name.
2. Your strongest match: two or three facts from your experience that match the must-haves in the ad.
3. What you would bring and why this employer: only what you can back up, plus something specific from the ad that interests you.
4. Practical details: availability, your real language level, and your salary expectation if the ad asks for it.
5. A short close: thank them and say you would be glad to tell more in an interview.
English or Finnish?
Write in the language of the ad unless the ad says otherwise. If the ad is in Finnish but you are not fluent, an honest English letter is better than a machine-translated Finnish letter you cannot back up in an interview. If you are learning Finnish, you can mention it with your real level.
If the ad is in Finnish and lists fluent Finnish as a requirement, consider whether the role is realistic before investing time in it. The free Finnish job ad explainer on JobFitCV shows the language requirement in plain English.
Salary expectation (palkkatoive)
Many Finnish ads ask you to state your salary expectation in the application. Give a monthly figure or a range based on the collective agreement (TES) for the sector and published salary information for similar roles. If the ad does not ask for it, you do not need to mention salary.
Contacting the employer before applying
Ads often name a contact person and a time to call, for example "lisätietoja antaa ... klo 10-12". A short call or email with a real question about the role is normal in Finland and can help you write a more specific letter. Avoid calling only to repeat your CV.
Common mistakes
Sending the same generic letter to every job, repeating the CV line by line, overstating language skills, writing more than a page, and forgetting what the ad asked for, such as a salary expectation, start date, or references.
Let JobFitCV draft it
Every full tailoring on JobFitCV includes a cover letter written from the facts in your CV, in English or Finnish for jobs in Finland. You edit it before sending, and notes remind you of details the ad asks for that the CV does not contain, such as a salary expectation.
FAQ
Do Finnish employers read cover letters?
Many do, especially when the ad asks for an application (hakemus). Some application systems use a free-text field instead of a separate letter; the same content works there.
How long should a cover letter be in Finland?
Usually under one page, roughly 200 to 350 words.
Should I mention my salary expectation?
Only if the ad asks for it (palkkatoive). Then give a realistic monthly figure or range based on the sector's collective agreement and salary data.
Can I send the same cover letter to every job?
It is better not to. Recruiters notice generic letters. Name the role, use the ad's must-haves, and back them with your real experience.
Get a CV and cover letter for your next Finnish job ad
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