A Finnish job interview, a työhaastattelu, rewards facts over shine. Kerro itsestäsi — "tell me about yourself" — is the opener, and the best answer is short, specific and a little understated. Calling yourself an exceptional leader goes down worse here than saying you led a team of five for three years.
It's also likely to be on sinä terms, even with the managing director. Informal address isn't a sign the interview is casual; it's just how Finnish working life talks.
Questions You'll Hear
Tell me about yourself.
Kerro itsestäsi.
Why are you applying for this position?
Miksi haet tätä paikkaa?
What do you know about our company?
Mitä tiedät yrityksestämme?
What are your strengths?
Mitkä ovat vahvuutesi?
What would you like to get better at?
Missä asioissa haluaisit kehittyä?
What are your areas for development?
Mitkä ovat kehityskohteesi?
Tell me about a challenging situation at work and how you solved it.
Kerro jostain haastavasta tilanteesta työssäsi ja miten ratkaisit sen.
What is your salary expectation?
Mikä on palkkatoiveesi?
When could you start?
Milloin voisit aloittaa?
Do you have any questions?
Onko sinulla kysyttävää?
Practice these words
Kerro itsestäsi.
Weaknesses, the Finnish way: instead of "what are your weaknesses?" you'll usually hear about kehityskohteet, "areas for development" — missä asioissa haluaisit kehittyä? Answer it honestly and briefly, with what you're already doing about it.
Salary is monthly: Finns talk about pay as a gross monthly figure, so answer palkkatoive in euros per month — noin 4 000 euroa kuukaudessa. Finland is also bringing in pay-transparency rules under an EU directive, due to take effect on 1 January 2027. Once they apply, the employer has to tell you the starting pay or its range early enough to negotiate — in the ad or before the interview — and can't ask what you earn now or earned before.
Talking About Yourself
I work as a software developer.
Työskentelen ohjelmistokehittäjänä.
I have five years of work experience.
Minulla on viiden vuoden työkokemus.
I studied economics.
Opiskelin taloustiedettä.
I graduated last year.
Valmistuin viime vuonna.
I'm good at solving problems.
Olen hyvä ratkaisemaan ongelmia.
I work well in a team.
Toimin hyvin tiimissä.
I learn quickly.
Opin nopeasti.
I can work in English and Finnish.
Pystyn työskentelemään englanniksi ja suomeksi.
Practice these words
Työskentelen ohjelmistokehittäjänä.
Let the facts do it: a Finnish interviewer would rather hear vastasin viiden hengen tiimistä kolme vuotta ("I led a team of five for three years") than any adjective about yourself. Modesty, vaatimattomuus, is a professional virtue here — more on why in personality adjectives. Job titles themselves are in jobs and professions.
Words in the Ad and the Contract
job application
työhakemus
CV
ansioluettelo
referee
suosittelija
job interview
työhaastattelu
salary expectation
palkkatoive
probation period
koeaika
permanent
vakituinen
open-ended (in contracts)
toistaiseksi voimassa oleva
fixed-term
määräaikainen
full-time
kokoaikainen
part-time
osa-aikainen
employment contract
työsopimus
collective agreement
työehtosopimus
holiday bonus
lomaraha
notice period
irtisanomisaika
Practice these words
työhakemus
Koeaika has a ceiling: a probation period in Finland is normally at most six months. Lomaraha — a holiday bonus paid on top of your holiday pay — comes from the työehtosopimus, the sector's collective agreement, so whether you get it depends on which one covers the job — or on your own contract if no agreement applies. Before your first payday you'll also need a verokortti, explained in money and banking words.
List your referees: Finnish CVs often name two or three suosittelijat with their phone numbers, and employers do ring them.
Your Questions at the End
What would a normal working day look like?
Millainen olisi tavallinen työpäivä?
How big is the team?
Kuinka iso tiimi on?
Is remote work possible?
Onko etätyö mahdollista?
How long is the probation period?
Kuinka pitkä koeaika on?
How does the process go from here?
Miten prosessi etenee tästä?
When will you make a decision?
Milloin teette päätöksen?
Practice these words
Millainen olisi tavallinen työpäivä?
After the Interview
Thank you for the interview.
Kiitos haastattelusta.
I'm still very interested in the position.
Olen edelleen hyvin kiinnostunut paikasta.
You've been chosen for the position.
Sinut on valittu tehtävään.
Unfortunately we chose another applicant.
Valitettavasti valitsimme toisen hakijan.
Unfortunately we didn't choose you this time.
Valitettavasti valintamme ei tällä kertaa kohdistunut sinuun.
Practice these words
Kiitos haastattelusta.
Valitettavasti early in the email means no — usually right after Hei and kiitos hakemuksestasi. It's the same softener described in apologising. A yes often comes by phone; in writing it tends to say haluaisimme tarjota sinulle… — "we'd like to offer you…"
What a Finnish Interview Is Like
Shorter and calmer than you may be used to. There's usually little small talk at the start, few trick questions, and no expectation that you perform enthusiasm. Interviewers ask what you've done and how, and they take your answers at face value — which is exactly why exaggeration is a bad idea. If you say you speak fluent Finnish, the next question may be in Finnish.
Arrive on time, meaning a few minutes early rather than exactly on the dot. Bring nothing but yourself unless asked; the application, the CV and any certificates normally went in electronically. Some interviews include a test task or a psychological assessment, soveltuvuusarviointi, for the final round, and it's normal to be told so in advance.
Silence is allowed. If you need a moment to think, take it — saanko miettiä hetken? ("may I think for a moment?") is a perfectly good answer to a hard question, and a pause reads as considered rather than lost.