PhD Pathways: “Expertise is more important than where you’re from”

What makes Finland an attractive place to immigrate to? The question is on everyone’s lips especially since the country dropped from 16th place in 2023 to the bottom 10 in the latest Expat Insider 2024 review. This stirred the media conversation among politicians and corporate leaders worried about labour force scarcity. But what do international talents who have years of experience living and working in Finland think about the matter? 

Ségolène Pélisset, a French expat now living in Finland for the past 12 years, has spent most of her working years outside of her native country. After working in Switzerland for a few years, she and her husband decided it was time for change. 

– I had spent some time in Norway and had fallen in love with the Nordics. We knew Finland was peaceful and beautiful, and my husband found work here first. The decision was clear, Pélisset says. 

According to Pélisset, life in Switzerland was worry-free and it was easy to find work with her experience as an engineer. But when she started looking for a job in Finland, things didn’t go as smoothly as she had hoped. 

Even with broad experience in chemistry and material science, she spent more than a year without any work prospects. The worst thing in a job search is not receiving any replies, Pélisset says. 

– I understand this happens to native Finns as well, but it is extremely frustrating to work hard on your applications and never receive any feedback. During that year, I received replies only a handful of times, and they were about my lack of Finnish skills. 

Language course and university internship: the needed push 

Things started to turn around after Pélisset performed an internship at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu. 

– Working at the Department of Physics and Mathematics for a few months was a wonderful opportunity that allowed me to meet new people. Slowly, I started meeting the right people and getting short contracts here and there, Pélisset says. 

In Finland, it’s often emphasized that foreigners need to integrate into Finnish society. Pélisset says Finland was already doing a great job in this back when she came to Finland in 2012. 

– To learn Finnish, I attended a language course organized by TE-toimisto, and it was fantastic! I quickly achieved an intermediate level of Finnish, which was very helpful. Additionally, we learned about local laws and culture and completed a mandatory period of practical work training. 

Inspired by the new opportunities and knowledge gained from the course, she decided to apply for a master’s degree in Photonics at UEF. Despite her extensive work history in materials sciences, she had developed a keen interest in Photonics. Studying at the university opened many doors, and pursuing a PhD afterward felt like a natural next step. 

– Getting back to studying was an easy way out of being unemployed. I was older than most of my peers, so I focused on making progress with my studies and collaborating with open-minded people from different cultures, she says. 

Many industries in Finland depend on specialized workforce 

By the time Pélisset started her PhD, she had accumulated a fair number of contacts and opportunities in the field. Like most PhD students, Pélisset had a grant to cover her research, but it wasn’t enough, so she got involved in more projects. She participated in studies with big corporations and crossed paths with other PhDs and postdocs in the labs – one of them is her supervisor at her current position at Dispelix. 

– I was approached by someone from Dispelix before I had even finished my PhD and was offered a job as soon as I was available to start. We had previously collaborated on a published article, so they were well acquainted with my skills. 

Recruiting, especially in uncertain times, is a potential risk for the employer. Pélisset feels Finns may hesitate to hire someone who doesn’t seem committed to staying in the country. 

–  For me and my husband, it was clear that we wanted to build a life in Finland. Once I showed that I wanted to stay in Finland (and that I was good at what I do), people found it easier to trust that I would be a valuable hire. 

The current political atmosphere isn’t ideal for foreigners, Pélisset states. Foreigners already face significant challenges, making the situation daunting. However, it is crucial to remain patient and open-minded during job search: 

– I can’t emphasize enough how well networking works in Finland. Finnish companies truly want to recruit foreigners since many industries depend on a specialized workforce: expertise is more important than the country of origin. Job searching is challenging everywhere, especially during an economic recession, but it’s important to remain persistent, she encourages. 

– I feel lucky to have chosen Joensuu as my home and to be part of the thriving photonics industry in the region. I am glad and proud of what I have achieved and hold great expectations for future generations in this fantastic country, she concludes. 

Image: iStock, pixdeluxe