Part-time Work Options in Finland for International Students

Many Indian students look for part-time jobs in Finland to cover their cost of living. Majorly to pay for their rent, food, and other monthly bills. If you are enrolled in a full-time degree to study in Finland, you are legally allowed to work part time.

Currently, overseas students can work up to 30 hours per week during the semester. This is a great way to gain local work experience and cover your living costs. During holiday breaks, such as summer or Christmas, there are usually no hour limits, allowing you to work full-time.

You need to keep a few things in mind before exploring part-time jobs in Finland. There is no fixed minimum wage. But, even without a national minimum, Finnish wages are high in Europe.

The most important thing is that your hourly rate usually depends on your skills and other factors. Finding part-time jobs in Finland is easier if you look into sectors like delivery services, cleaning, hospitality, or English tutoring.

Part Time Jobs in in Finland for Indian Students

Here are some part time work options in Finland for Indian students. Remember, you need to have the required skills to get the job.

• Exam Guard Duty / Exam Supervisors: These are invigilator jobs that you can do at your university.
• Summer Jobs: These are available from December to March. You must reach out to your university’s career centre to apply for these jobs.
• Assistant Jobs: Research assistant/teaching assistant/lab assistant are some of the top student jobs in Finland. These increase the value of your resume as well.
• Mail / Newspaper Delivery: It is great for students who like to wake up early in the morning. It is not a demanding job and can be managed with your academics.
• Restaurant Jobs: These jobs usually involve dishwashing, working as a cashier, packaging, etc. However, you have to apply for a hygiene passport to be eligible for these jobs. Obtaining this certificate is simple.
• Cleaning Jobs: These depend on your employer and can fetch you decent money.
• Food Delivery: It is the most popular part-time job due to its flexible working hours and high pay. Wolt and Foodora are the food delivery companies that offer excellent opportunities to students.

Do not want to work part-time? You can explore scholarships to study in Finland, too.

How Many Hours Students Can Work Part-time in Finland

As a student, you are allowed to work part-time for up to 30 hours per week in Finland along with your studies (during the semester). Also, during the summer breaks or holidays, there are no restrictions on the number of hours you can work, so you can work full-time if desired when classes are not in session.

Minimum Wages for Part-time Work in Finland

Finland does not have a fixed minimum wage for part-time jobs. Pay depends on the type of work and the industry. Most students earn between 9 and 13 Euros per hour.

Average pay rates include:

• Lowest wages: 7 to 8 Euros per hour
• Student jobs: 9 to 13 Euros per hour
• Sunday and evening shifts: Higher pay

Sectors like information technology and software engineering may offer better salaries.

Students can find more job openings during hiring seasons:

• Before the winter break in December.
• Before the summer holidays.

Applying early can improve the chances of getting a part-time job in Finland.

Types of Part-time Work

Working in restaurants, cleaning, food delivery, or newspaper delivery are some of the most common and popular part-time jobs for Finnish and international students. Part-time cleaners work through a reputable Finnish company, and it is not a job to look down upon. Students have the option to take up cleaning work in hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, offices, and on ferries.

There are different types of jobs if you work in a restaurant. One needs to have a hygiene passport to demonstrate that one knows how to handle unpacked and perishable goods. Employers prefer students who have already obtained a hygiene passport, so it is better to get one before applying for these jobs.

Where to Find Part-time Jobs in Finland

Stay alert and keep networking within and outside the campus. Students often find jobs through a recommendation of a friend or someone you might know. Also, use the career services at your university and keep your LinkedIn profile updated with your latest resume and details.

Other than this, job announcements are published on job websites/portals. Also, you can explore the websites of companies to find exclusive openings. TE service is a popular government job search portal. Monster, Adecco, The Hub, and Barona are other popular job-seeking pages. Cleaning companies like Sol and Freska, and food delivery companies Foodora and Wolt are popular among students looking for part-time work.

How to Find a Part-time Job in Your Field

Finding a job in your major may take more time, so, understand the importance of networking and start it from day one. Also, proactively use the career services of your university. There is going to be a huge demand for people with a technology background. In fact students working in the IT field and software programmes like digitization, data analytics, robotics, and artificial intelligence are paid well for part-time jobs while studying.

Apart from this, the tourism and healthcare sectors also require skilled workers. However, for work in the healthcare sector, one needs at least basic Finnish language skills (B1 level). Learning Finnish at the start of your education is a good idea, so it will improve your future job prospects.

Conditions for Working Part-time in Finland

You need to be eligible to work in Finland. Other than this, here are some conditions that you should know:

• There is no restriction on working hours during semester breaks.
• Studies should not be compromised while doing part-time work.
• Attendance should be met while working part-time.
• You need to score grades as set by the university
• Universities offer career services that help students to find internships and course-related jobs
• Students can work as research assistants for research programmes run by the universities
• You can find off-campus part-time job opportunities in the local newspapers and job sites.

Part-time income will not be enough to pay for the entire study expenses. Also, getting a job after completing your studies may require a certain level of knowledge of the Finnish language. Even if you work part-time, you need to pay income tax in Finland. The tax amount depends on the nature of your job and salary. Non-European students have more job restrictions in comparison to EU/EEA nationals.