It's time to start looking for a job! But....
- Where and how to apply for jobs?
- What to consider when looking for a job?
- What kind of salary can be requested?
- What to keep in mind when entering into an employment contract and on what terms?
- Is it worth joining the KOKO fund (unemployment fund) and why?
You will find the answer to these and many other questions on this page.
1. Become a TEK member
Student membership is free, and as a member, you can access all services you need in work life.
2. Make the most of TEK's job search services
When applying for a job, you should first put the job search documents in order. In TEK's Workbook, the guide for job search and career planning you will find great instructions for job search, such as basic CV templates for students and recent graduates in Finnish, Swedish and English.
We have gathered a comprehensive list of tools for jobseekers, including tailored CV templates for project managers, product developers and IT experts.
Not sure where to look for jobs in Finland? Check out our list of the most common portals and sites. You can also utilise the Career Services at your university.
3. What is the right salary level?
TEK annually determines internship salary recommendations for students, which apply to work related to their own field of study. The salary recommendations are a good starting point for a salary request. TEK's recommendations are based on the salary information of TEK's student members.
4. Join the KOKO unemployment fund
You can join the Unemployment fund for Highly Educated KOKO already as a student when you are in paid employment. You can become a fund member, for example, on the first day of your summer job. You can already accumulate the required conditions for earnings-related unemployment benefit during your summer or part-time jobs as a student. Then, if you don't find a job right after your graduation and you become unemployed, you may receive the earnings-related unemployment benefit from the fund. The unemployment benefit from the fund is better than the one you could receive from Kela. Read more on KOKO's website.
The fund membership fee in 2024 is 63 € (5,25 € / month) for the whole year. You can join the fund by adding the membership to your membership services at OmaTEK member portal or by sending a message to our member service through OmaTEK's communication channel. Please note that you must be in paid employment when you join the fund. The accumulation of the required conditions begins the day you join the fund, not retroactively.
5. Know your rights
The terms of employment relationships are partly different for fixed-term and permanent employment relationships. In general, summer jobs, internships and other typical student jobs are temporary.
It is important to always have a written employment contract. Do not sign a contract until you understand all the points in it. If you wish, you can send your employment contract to TEK's lawyers for reviewing. At the end of your employment, be sure to ask your employer for a certificate of employment.
Information on the rules of Finnish work life can be found here. If you feel that you are being mistreated at your workplace, contact your employee representative or TEK's lawyers.