Care work is one of the most common ways international job seekers find work in Finland, in elderly care homes, home care, disability services and hospitals. Employers hire a lot, but they read CVs quickly and look for a few specific things. Here is what to check before you apply.
What Finnish employers look for in a care CV
- Your exact role and qualification. Make clear whether you are a practical nurse (lähihoitaja), a care assistant (hoiva-avustaja), a nurse, or have care experience without a Finnish qualification. These are different jobs with different tasks.
- Your right to practise, if you have one. Practical nurse is a protected occupational title in Finland, and nurse is a licensed profession. Since January 2026, these rights are granted by the Finnish Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto), which took over this work from Valvira. If you have the right, write it on your CV. If your application is in process, say so.
- Finnish language level. Most care work involves talking with clients, families and colleagues in Finnish, and writing short care notes. Write your level honestly, in plain words.
- Practical skills. For example: help with daily activities, medication tasks you are allowed to do, documentation, working with memory disorders, lifting aids and safe transfers.
- Shift work. Care runs around the clock. If you can work mornings, evenings, nights or weekends, say it clearly.
Common mistakes
- A vague title. "Caregiver" or "health worker" doesn't tell the employer what you are qualified to do. Use the Finnish title next to the English one when it applies.
- Duties only, no context. Say where you worked and with whom: for example, a care home with 40 residents, home care visits, or a dementia unit.
- Missing certificates. Certificates such as first aid or medication training are easy to forget. List them with the year.
- Hiding the language question. If your Finnish is basic, write it and add that you are studying. That is better than leaving it out.
- Using a title you don't have yet. Don't call yourself a practical nurse or a nurse in Finland until the authority has granted it. Describe your foreign qualification instead.
A short example
Quick checklist for a care CV
- Your role and qualification are clear, with the Finnish title where it applies
- Your right to practise in Finland, or its status, if your job needs one
- Finnish level in plain words, and that you are studying it
- Type of care setting and number of clients for each job
- Certificates listed with the year
- Which shifts you can work
Trained abroad? Check the official instructions for your profession through Suomi.fi, and use our resource directory to find official help and Finnish courses.
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Get your free CV reviewThis guide is general information based on publicly available Finnish guidance. Requirements can change and can differ between employers, so always check the job ad and the official sources linked here. It is not legal or professional advice and does not guarantee interviews or job offers.
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