Nadezda from Russia: Networking and a clean reputation are significant

1. I currently work as an…

entrepreneur and legal and tax consultant, as well as advisor for running your own business in Finland for Russian-speaking clients.

2. The reason I ended up in Finland is…

the Ingrian-Finnish family of my ex-husband. We moved to Finland when our twins were three years old; this year they are turning 18. After the adjustment and the birth of my third child, I immediately founded my own company. I realised that, for me, this would be the only opportunity for employment in Finland.

3. What I find surprising about working in Finland is…

that running your own business here is quite simple – the rules are clear. All the difficulties that foreigners end up having are due to poor knowledge of the Finnish language, which leads to mistakes and misunderstandings. Surprisingly, networking and a clean reputation play a very significant role.

4. If I could change one thing about Finnish working life, it would be…

to abolish all collective agreements with trade unions! Payments, such as “for the return from vacation” and double-pay on Sundays, are remnants of the past, which used to make sense when there was a lack of workforce; but now, when unemployment is high, all collective agreements, which dictate to employers the terms and conditions of working relationship, only obstruct employment. While employers do not profit from hiring new employees, the unemployed are not interested in going back to work due to high unemployment benefits.

5. My favouritething about Finland is…

the right of all citizens to collect mushrooms and berries in the forest and to go fishing. Finland gives opportunities for people to enjoy the benefits of nature and it teaches them to respect and take care of it.