Moving to another country...

[Chris™]

I'm 23 year old Scotsman who has just finished 4 year carpentry & joinery apprenticeship. I've been really lucky in my apprenticeship having a good boss who let me get hands on from day one. I've had a good mix of working in a workshop and on site, often left by myself to get on with things.

Next month I'm going to move to Finland to find work. I don't know the language well enough to speak anything other than English but from what research I've done there is work available for non native speaking tradesmen. I have a couple potential offers of work but nothing solid yet.

So.....after that long introduction I just wanted to ask, any tips/advice for someone going out into the big bad world looking for work  [big grin]

 

[Ken Nagrod]

HAVE A BACKUP PLAN  [smile]

...and good luck!

 

[fidelfs]

I did that a long time ago.  I moved to USA and I understand your hesitation, doubts and everything else.

Ken gave you a good advise, but don't rely on the back up plan much.  I mean you have to jump into the new place with your 2 feet.  Do not think much what you had, because you will become homesick.

Make your decision and stick to it.  Only if you try and try and didn't success get the back up plan to work, if not you will waste time and money.

 

[tbellemare]

My advice is to have work lined up before you go. I would also make every effort to learn the language as fast as possible. Even in countries where everyone speaks your language but you don't speak their's, it gets lonely fast. I found that when speaking to me, people spoke English and when speaking to one another, they spoke their native language. Imagine how much of the total communication you miss out on...

Tom

 

[Ken Nagrod]

My advice is to have work lined up before you go. I would also make every effort to learn the language as fast as possible. Even in countries where everyone speaks your language but you don't speak their's, it gets lonely fast. I found that when speaking to me, people spoke English and when speaking to one another, they spoke their native language. Imagine how much of the total communication you miss out on...

Tom

"There's an app for that."  [big grin]  [ban]

 

[Chris™]

The language is definitely  a top priority for me. I'm in the middle of a couple teach yourself Finnish books and my girlfriend (who I might have forgotten to mention is Finnish  [big grin] ) is helping me too.

If I don't get work straight away I've got a new table top with a compass rose inlay to do, and rebuild the sauna for my girlfriends father, so worst case. I've got something to keep my mind off being unemployed.

I've also got money in the bank, and will always keep enough for my flight back to gods country  [wink]

But yeah...I'm excited  [big grin]

 

[waho6o9]

Start your own business with your girlfriend in Finland.  You can do it.  Once people see your work, you'll be happening. Good luck and start making some business cards!  [big grin]

 

[Nigel]

I would say the language is no 1, it was for me. Your halfway there with a Finnish girlfriend.Best of luck.

If you get stuck you could always sell your name!

 

[Chris™]

Well after waiting a week for my tool box to arrive I went out looking for work. I found a guy with good English who I persuaded to give me a chance. After two days of graft I been informed that the guy wants to take me on full time. It's only a 4 day week but that gives me some free time to work on my Finnish. My Finnish still isn't great but I learn a little more every day.

....so far so good  [smile]

 

[Guy Ashley]

[thumbs up]

Good luck Chris!!

It takes real balls to do what you have done. Many people blah about it but you have had the guts to do it and if that is a measure of your spirit you will make a success of it.

Your adopted countrymen will have a lot of respect for you when they see you are trying to master their language.

Keep the updates coming!!

 

[Brice Burrell]

Well after waiting a week for my tool box to arrive I went out looking for work. I found a guy with good English who I persuaded to give me a chance. After two days of graft I been informed that the guy wants to take me on full time. It's only a 4 day week but that gives me some free time to work on my Finnish. My Finnish still isn't great but I learn a little more every day.

....so far so good  [smile]

[thumbs up]

 

[mouppe]

Well after waiting a week for my tool box to arrive I went out looking for work. I found a guy with good English who I persuaded to give me a chance. After two days of graft I been informed that the guy wants to take me on full time. It's only a 4 day week but that gives me some free time to work on my Finnish. My Finnish still isn't great but I learn a little more every day.

....so far so good  [smile]

I find the ETS 125 to be the best sander for improving my Finnish.

[doh]

 

[honeydoman]

go online ad order rosetta stone  learn a language,,,, they say you will be speaking a new language in as little as 15 minutes

also since you are an alien now you can hang out at the local homey depot and stand out front and ask for work !!!

glad the guy hired you !  does he make you wear a kilt?  if so don't have him hold the ladder for you.....  [laughing]

now that you are working you can now start building up your festools !!!!!  ah ! Music to Shanes Ears !!!

well I can go on with more of this excellent humor  but have to get back to redoing my van...  enjoy and keep us informed how the work is coming and what kinds of things do they do over there?

do they have bead board??  

 

[woodguy7]

Hi Chriss

All the best with your adventures.  Where in Gods country are you from ?  Post some pics of that table top with the inlay if you get a chance.

Cheers, Woodguy.

 

[Chris™]

I'm from the Isle of Islay of the west coast of Scotland. I'll be sure to upload some pictures when I take them  [smile]

 

[Kev]

I'm from the Isle of Islay of the west coast of Scotland. I'll be sure to upload some pictures when I take them  [smile]

A very important piece of Forum Specific Business ... your location needs updating  8)

 

[spikfot]

go online ad order rosetta stone  learn a language,,,, they say you will be speaking a new language in as little as 15 minutes
also since you are an alien now you can hang out at the local homey depot and stand out front and ask for work !!!

Finnish is no easy language to learn, get into classes as quick as you can. Moving to a new country from scratch is a great experience. Live it up in Finland, it can't be much colder than the Isle of Islay!!!(har har har)
With 15 years exp. including my training, I had a truck + company up and running in close to a year. Sometimes the best of contacts can come from the strangest of places.
Scotland and Finland are both EU countries, he's not an "alien" in any respect, the term is archaic and rarely used in a positive tone. 

...local homey depot?

 

[atogrf1]

In my opinion, the best advice is to do the job you are assigned, do it well, do it with pride, don't be afraid to ask questions, and always show up on time and be prepared.

Stick to those basic rules, and you will be a success anywhere in the world.

 

[Mauri Motti]

Hi Chris,

From the moment I read your post, about a week ago or so, I felt I had to reply though I have nothing to really offer you and thats why it took this long, I thought I write something anyway. I was born and raised in the Netherlands and moved in with my Finnish girlfriend in Finland in 2005. Within a month or so I found a job after many, many times applying different jobs. unexpectedly the job was even in my field. I gave sculpting classes until January this year when my girlfriend and I moved from a dark unfriendly town to Tampere where I spend my time, full-time, building our house. I have not learned the language in all those years... Yes I speak some basics but as we use English at home it just never really happened. I did want to participate the Finnish language course upon my arrival here (intensive course) offered by Kela but as I was employed I couldn't. ( the course is for the unemployed only) I wish you a lot of luck and happiness in Finland. Though it might be a ehmm... not an easy place to be living as a foreigner, I nevertheless really like it here! I wonder whereabout in Finland you plan living because I think it makes a huge difference from one place to the other.

Kind regards,
Mauri