How a typical Finnish job ad is structured
Most ads start with the job title and location, followed by a description of the role (for example "tehtävässä" or "tehtäviisi kuuluu", meaning "in this job" or "your tasks include"). Then come the requirements, often introduced with "edellytämme" (we require) or "sinulla on" (you have), followed by nice-to-haves.
The offer section usually starts with "tarjoamme" (we offer) and covers the contract type, pay, and benefits. The ad ends with the deadline, how to apply, and a contact person for questions.
Must-have or nice-to-have?
"Edellytämme" and "vaatimuksena" signal real requirements. "Eduksi katsotaan", "arvostamme", and "plussaa" signal advantages; applying without them is normal. "Toivomme" (we hope) sits in between: it is usually a preference rather than a strict requirement.
Read the language line with the same care. "Suomen kielen taito katsotaan eduksi" means Finnish is a plus, while "sujuva suomen kielen taito" in the requirements means you are expected to work in Finnish.
Reading the pay information
Many Finnish ads do not state a salary. "Palkkaus TES:n mukaan" means pay follows the collective agreement for the sector. Finland has no general statutory minimum wage; collective agreements set the minimum pay for many sectors.
Some ads ask for your salary expectation (palkkatoive). Look up the collective agreement and published salary information for the role, and give a realistic monthly figure or range.
Contract type and probation
"Vakituinen" or "toistaiseksi voimassa oleva" means a permanent contract. "Määräaikainen" means fixed-term, and the ad often says why, for example a substitute position (sijaisuus) or a project. "Koeaika" is the probation period at the start of the job, usually at most six months.
Use the explainer for the rest
If an ad uses phrases you cannot place, paste it into the free Finnish job ad explainer on JobFitCV. It lists the must-haves, nice-to-haves, language requirement, contract and salary details, and how to apply, in plain English.
Glossary of common Finnish job ad terms
Finnish words change their endings, so look for the beginning of the word: vakituiseen and vakituinen mean the same thing.
Contract and working time
- vakituinen
- Permanent job (open-ended employment contract).
- toistaiseksi voimassa oleva
- Open-ended contract; the legal wording for a permanent job.
- määräaikainen
- Fixed-term contract. The ad usually states the end date or the reason, for example a substitute position.
- sijaisuus
- Substitute position, for example covering someone's parental leave. Usually fixed-term.
- kokoaikainen
- Full-time work.
- osa-aikainen
- Part-time work. Check the ad for the expected hours per week.
- vuorotyö
- Shift work, for example morning and evening shifts.
- kolmivuorotyö
- Three-shift work, which includes night shifts.
- keikkatyö
- Gig or on-call work. Shifts are offered when needed, so hours are not guaranteed.
- tarvittaessa töihin kutsuttava
- On-call worker: you are called in when there is work, without guaranteed hours.
- koeaika
- Probation period at the start of employment, usually at most six months. During it either side can end the contract without a notice period.
- työaika
- Working hours.
- etätyö / hybridityö
- Remote work / hybrid work. Check how many office days are expected.
- työt alkavat / aloitus
- Start date.
- kesätyö
- Summer job.
- harjoittelu
- Internship or traineeship.
- oppisopimus
- Apprenticeship: paid work combined with vocational studies.
- vuokratyö / henkilöstövuokraus
- Agency work: you are employed by a staffing agency and work at a client company.
Pay and salary
- palkkaus TES:n mukaan
- Pay follows the collective agreement for the sector, which sets the minimum pay and conditions.
- TES (työehtosopimus)
- Collective agreement for an industry. It sets minimum wages, working hours, extra pay and holiday rules.
- palkkatoive
- Salary expectation. Many Finnish ads ask you to state it in the application; give a realistic figure or range.
- tuntipalkka / kuukausipalkka
- Hourly wage / monthly salary.
- lomaraha
- Holiday bonus paid under many collective agreements.
- ilta-, yö- ja viikonloppulisät
- Extra pay for evening, night or weekend work.
Requirements: must-have vs nice-to-have
- edellytämme
- We require. What follows is usually a must-have.
- vaatimukset
- Requirements.
- sinulla on
- You have... Lists that start like this usually describe what they expect from you.
- arvostamme
- We value. Usually a nice-to-have, not a deal-breaker.
- eduksi katsotaan / on eduksi
- Considered an advantage: nice-to-have.
- plussaa
- A plus: nice-to-have.
- toivomme
- We hope. Usually nice-to-have, sometimes a soft requirement.
- soveltuva koulutus / tutkinto
- Relevant education / degree or vocational qualification.
- työkokemus
- Work experience.
Language requirements
- sujuva suomen kielen taito
- Fluent Finnish. Usually a real requirement for daily work and customer contact.
- hyvä suomen kielen taito
- Good Finnish: you can work in Finnish day to day, not necessarily perfectly.
- suomen kielen taito
- Finnish language skills. Check the adjective before it (sujuva = fluent, hyvä = good, tyydyttävä = satisfactory).
- ruotsin kielen taito
- Swedish language skills. Common in public sector jobs and bilingual areas.
- englannin kielen taito
- English language skills.
- työkieli
- Working language. "Työkieli on englanti" means the working language is English.
- YKI (yleinen kielitutkinto)
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency, a Finnish language test with levels 1-6.
Applying
- hakemus / työhakemus
- Application. In Finland this usually means a cover letter sent with your CV.
- ansioluettelo
- CV.
- haku päättyy / hae viimeistään
- Application deadline / apply by.
- valinnat tehdään hakemusten saapuessa
- Candidates are selected as applications arrive. Apply early: the position may be filled before the deadline.
- lisätietoja antaa
- Further information from... Calling or emailing the named contact person is normal in Finland, often at the times given in the ad.
- suosittelijat
- References.
- avoin hakemus
- Open application that is not tied to a specific vacancy.
Cards, licences and checks
- hygieniapassi
- Food hygiene proficiency certificate, needed when handling unpackaged perishable food.
- työturvallisuuskortti
- Occupational safety card, a common requirement on construction and industrial sites.
- tulityökortti
- Hot work licence for welding, cutting or grinding near flammable materials.
- ajokortti
- Driving licence. B = car.
- anniskelupassi
- Licence for serving alcohol.
- rikostaustaote
- Criminal record extract. Often required for work with children and in some care roles.
Benefits and workplace
- työterveyshuolto
- Occupational health care provided by the employer. The scope varies by employer.
- lounasetu
- Lunch benefit.
- liikunta- ja kulttuurietu
- Sports and culture benefit paid by the employer.
- perehdytys
- Onboarding and training at the start of the job.
- työpaikka sijaitsee
- The workplace is located in...
FAQ
What does "vakituinen" mean in a job ad?
It means a permanent job with an open-ended employment contract.
What is the difference between "edellytämme" and "eduksi katsotaan"?
"Edellytämme" introduces requirements the employer expects you to meet. "Eduksi katsotaan" introduces things that are an advantage, so you can still apply without them.
What does TES mean?
TES (työehtosopimus) is the collective agreement for an industry. It sets minimum pay, working hours, extra pay, and holiday rules for many jobs.
What is a palkkatoive?
Your salary expectation. Many Finnish ads ask you to state it in your application, usually as a monthly figure or range.
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