International Graduates Journey to Finnish Job Market : The Challenges International Graduates Face In Finnish Job Market
Abdulkarim, Mohamed (2013)
Lahden ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
Creative Commons Attribution 1.0 Suomi
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013112818730
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013112818730
Tiivistelmä
Objective
The objective of this thesis was to investigate the challenges international graduates face after their graduation from the Finnish universities and if the employment office could help them to achieve their goal. Furthermore, the study provides suggestive solutions to the challenges foreign graduate face in quest of job after graduation. Thesis highlights some of the biggest challenges graduates face in the Finnish job market. The role and help of the employment office, and other major factors affecting foreign employability such as Finnish employer’s attitudes are also discussed in this thesis.
Methodology
Qualitative research approach was applied in this study to collect data and its analysis. Interview was used as a tool for qualitative research to gather qualitative data. Face to face theme interview for foreign graduates and email interviews for employment officers were conducted for gathering qualitative data.
Findings
Findings show that foreign graduates are facing really difficult challenges while searching for suitable positions. The first steps are challenges within the graduates. These are challenges which graduates can overcome by improving their skills such as Finnish language skills, professional skills and interpersonal skills. The second steps are challenges which are related with residence permit, which is hard but graduates can overcome by finding odd jobs. The third and most difficult steps are challenges related with attitudes of the Finnish employers which graduates cannot affect or influence beforehand. Findings also show that the help of employment office to international graduates is very little.
The objective of this thesis was to investigate the challenges international graduates face after their graduation from the Finnish universities and if the employment office could help them to achieve their goal. Furthermore, the study provides suggestive solutions to the challenges foreign graduate face in quest of job after graduation. Thesis highlights some of the biggest challenges graduates face in the Finnish job market. The role and help of the employment office, and other major factors affecting foreign employability such as Finnish employer’s attitudes are also discussed in this thesis.
Methodology
Qualitative research approach was applied in this study to collect data and its analysis. Interview was used as a tool for qualitative research to gather qualitative data. Face to face theme interview for foreign graduates and email interviews for employment officers were conducted for gathering qualitative data.
Findings
Findings show that foreign graduates are facing really difficult challenges while searching for suitable positions. The first steps are challenges within the graduates. These are challenges which graduates can overcome by improving their skills such as Finnish language skills, professional skills and interpersonal skills. The second steps are challenges which are related with residence permit, which is hard but graduates can overcome by finding odd jobs. The third and most difficult steps are challenges related with attitudes of the Finnish employers which graduates cannot affect or influence beforehand. Findings also show that the help of employment office to international graduates is very little.