Moving to Finland as a Software Engineer Q&A

I decided to share my answers and thoughts about moving to Finland specially if you work in tech or if you're planning to. Feel free to leave your questions in the comments for future rounds!
Get my GREENISH LUT here! 😇 sergiosheypol....
Business: [e-mail]
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Do you need to speak Finnish to get a job in tech or to survive in daily life situations?
3:37 - What are the requirements to work here? How is the process?
7:04 - How to find a job (in tech) in Finland?
7:54 - Is it easy to get a job these days?
10:35 - Is it easy to become a freelance?
11:29 - What’s an estimate cost of living?
13:35 - Is Finland for me? Is it so hard to survive the winter and the lack of light?
#softwareengineer #lifeintech #finland

[@Theofiilus2978]

Do you need to speak Finnish to get a job in tech or to survive in daily life situations? No. English will work fine mostly but ofcourse it's a beneficial always if you can speak Finnish. BUT! I personally find it more respectful if you show effort to learn the language. There's plenty of people who won't even study the language because it's "too hard" or "i can get everything in English" or "It's useless". But people who say those seem really disrespectful to me. I personally have a rule in my head. If you plan to stay more than 3 months in a foreign country (doesn't matter where are you from and where are you going) You should start learning the language properly.

[@toinenosoite3173]

Personally, I can totally understand the problem with darkness - we Finns have it, too. Of course, when you have lived here all your life, you are more or less used to it.
A question missing, though, is how do you cope with the lack of night (i.e. darkness) in summer? As I have understood it, a lot of foreigners have problems with sleeping when it doesn't get dark at all. Have you encountered this dilemma?

[@sergiosheypol]

Absolutely! It was mindblowing at the beginning because it felt like forever the same day! Nowadays we have blocking curtains in our bedroom and I use a face mask sometimes and it works! I’ve got used to it I’d say haha

[@toinenosoite3173]

@@sergiosheypol Yup, that is something that you also have to learn to live with.
Myself, e.g., have no problems with sleeping in summer or in light generally, but then again, I have lived in Finland all my life.
The thing is that everyone talks about the darkness in winter, but almost noone talks about the lack of darkness in summer. Both cause problems for foreigners, don't they?

[@sergiosheypol]

I’m such a light sleeper so I definitely need to block the light as much as possible haha. But I’d say it’s a clear win! You can “create” a night at home but when it’s dark at 4pm… You’re fucked 😂

[@OfoeNelson]

Hey Sergio can you get a job in Finland without experience

[@sergiosheypol]

I’d say it’s getting harder to be honest!

[@OfoeNelson]

@@sergiosheypol But it's possible? I would be grateful if you can ask around in your company of any other any vacancies that would take on board junior devs that don't have a lot of experience. And what the requirements are

[@BoloH.]

@@OfoeNelson At least used to be possible with some good hobby portfolio if it isn't some run-of-the-mill frontend stuff or through internships. Currently SWD job market is getting saturated after some layoffs.