Advice and guidance to job seekers
You will receive job search counselling and guidance when you register as a jobseeker in the employment services of your region. As a jobseeker, you can apply for unemployment benefit from Kela or your unemployment fund. The employment authority issues a statement on the matter to Kela or the unemployment fund.
The employment authority will advise and guide you in applying for work and selecting the right services. Your employment will be supported through an initial interview, an employment plan and job search discussions.
Once you have registered as a jobseeker, the employment authority will arrange an initial interview with you within five working days. In the interview, you and an expert will discuss what kind of jobs you could apply for or whether you need to acquire training or change fields. The employment authority will also draw up an employment plan with you.
During job search discussions, you will be in regular contact with the employment authority in your area. Between the discussions, you apply for work independently or participate in services promoting employment in accordance with the employment plan.
When you register as a jobseeker, you start your job search and become a client of the employment services in your area. As a jobseeker, you can apply for unemployment benefits from Kela or your unemployment fund.
The employment service will advise and guide you in your job search and provide other services to help you integrate and get a job. These services may include integration training and multilingual social orientation, where you can learn about Finnish society.
In the initial interview or skills and integration needs assessment, your education and work history, language skills, and other factors that affect your integration and employment will be reviewed. Additionally, your language, reading, and writing skills may be tested.
The integration plan supports your integration into Finland. It includes an agreement on studying Finnish or Swedish based on your learning abilities and skills, as well as participation in employment services that best suit your situation.
Do the following
If you have a Finnish personal identity code and can identify yourself electronically, start your job search in the e-service.
If you do not have a Finnish personal identity code or cannot use the e-service, contact the employment services in your region.
You can get support for using the E-service from the Job Market Finland's E-services advice.
If you have a Finnish social security number and the ability to authenticate electronically, start your job search in the e-services.
If you do not have a Finnish social security number or cannot initiate your job search in the e-services, contact your local employment services.
To whom and on what terms
Registering as a jobseeker online requires strong identification, that is, online banking IDs, a mobile certificate or an identity card with a chip. You need a Finnish personal identity code to use the online service.
If you are not a Finnish citizen, you must have a valid residence permit and a right to work in Finland.
To register as a jobseeker, you must have the right to work in Finland. This can be based on a valid residence permit or citizenship from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
The local employment service will assess which services you need to help with your integration and finding a job.