How to write a CV for jobs in Finland

One to two pages is normal for most roles. Start with a short profile of three or four sentences that says what you do and what kind of role you are looking for. Long self-descriptions rarely help; Finnish recruiters tend to trust concrete facts more than strong adjectives.

Write bullet points that name the task, the context, and, where you can support it, the result. "Answered billing questions by phone and email for business customers" says more than "Excellent customer service skills".

Contact details first: name, phone, email, city, and LinkedIn if you use it. Then a short profile, work experience in reverse chronological order (month and year, employer, job title, location, and bullet points), education, language skills, IT skills and tools, and certificates, cards, or licences.

Optional sections such as projects, volunteering, or references can follow if they are relevant. Use plain headings and a one-column layout so the CV is easy to read on screen and in application systems. If the CV is in English, keep the headings in English.

Language is often the deciding factor for jobs in Finland. List each language with a clear level, such as native, fluent, good working knowledge, or basic. If you have a CEFR level (for example B1) or a YKI certificate, add it. If you are studying Finnish, you can say so with the course and your current level, but do not round up: interviews and daily work will show the real level quickly.

Ads usually say what they need. "Sujuva suomen kielen taito" means fluent Finnish, "hyvä" means good, and "eduksi katsotaan" means it is an advantage rather than a requirement. The free Finnish job ad explainer on JobFitCV shows an ad's language requirement in plain English before you decide how to present yours.

A photo is optional in Finland. Many Finnish applicants add a neutral, professional photo, while many international applicants leave it out; either is acceptable. You do not need to include your date of birth, age, marital status, nationality, or ID numbers.

If your right to work is relevant, for example because you already hold a residence permit that allows work, a short line such as "Right to work in Finland" can save the recruiter a question.

Some jobs require Finnish cards or certificates, such as a hygiene passport (hygieniapassi) for food work, an occupational safety card (työturvallisuuskortti) for construction and industrial sites, a hot work licence (tulityökortti), or a driving licence. If you have them, list them in their own section with the Finnish name in brackets.

If you do not have a required card, do not list it. Some of these can be completed with short courses, and you can mention one that you are actually enrolled in.

Find the must-haves in the ad, usually after "edellytämme" (we require) or "sinulla on" (you have), and make sure your matching experience appears near the top of your CV, using similar wording when it is true. Nice-to-haves, introduced with "eduksi katsotaan" or "arvostamme", belong in the CV only if you genuinely have them.

JobFitCV can do this tailoring for you: it explains a Finnish ad in plain English, rewrites your real experience around it using Finnish CV conventions, writes a matching cover letter, and keeps unsupported requirements out of the CV.

Check that dates are consistent, contact details are correct, language levels are honest, and the file name includes your name. Send a PDF unless the ad asks for a Word file. If the ad asks for a cover letter (hakemus) or a salary expectation (palkkatoive), include them; missing requested details is an easy reason to be skipped.