When a recruiter or a staffing agency reads your CV, one of the first questions is simple: what job does this person want? If your CV doesn't say it, they have to guess, and many won't. A clear tavoite answers that question in a few seconds.
What "tavoite" means on a CV
Tavoite means goal or objective. On a CV you may also see työtoive (job wish) or uratavoite (career goal). They all do the same job: say what kind of work you are looking for.
A good tavoite answers up to four things:
- What job or field: for example cleaning, care work, a kitchen job or marketing.
- What kind of work: full-time, part-time, summer job, seasonal work or an internship.
- Where: your city or area, if it matters.
- When: when you can start, if you can start soon.
Where to put it
You have two good options:
- As its own short section called Tavoite or Työtoive, right under your name and contact details.
- As the last sentence of your profile summary. This works well if your CV already has a profile. See our guide to writing a CV profile summary.
Choose one place. Saying the same thing twice takes space without adding anything.
5 examples in Finnish
Use these as models and change the details to match your own situation.
Common mistakes
- Too many fields. "Cleaning, IT, nursing or sales" makes it look like you don't know what you want. Make a separate CV for each type of job instead.
- Too long. One or two sentences is enough. Your skills and experience belong in the profile and work history.
- The same tavoite for every job. Change it to match the job ad. It takes one minute.
- Only about what you want to get. "I want to learn Finnish and get experience" is honest, but add what kind of work you will do for the employer.
Useful Finnish words
- kokoaikainen työ: full-time work
- osa-aikainen työ: part-time work
- vakituinen: permanent · määräaikainen: fixed-term
- kesätyö: summer job · kausityö: seasonal work
- harjoittelu / harjoittelupaikka: internship
- vuorotyö: shift work
- opintojen ohella: alongside studies
- voin aloittaa heti: I can start immediately
- pääkaupunkiseutu: the Helsinki region (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen)
Quick checklist for your tavoite
- One or two sentences
- Names the job or field you want
- Says full-time, part-time, summer, seasonal or internship
- Mentions the area and start date if they matter
- Matches the job ad you're applying to
Questions people ask
Do I need a "tavoite" section on a Finnish CV?
No, it is not required. But it helps, especially when you send an open application (avoin hakemus) or give your CV to a staffing agency, because the reader does not know which job you want.
Where do I put the tavoite on my CV?
Either as a short section called "Tavoite" or "Työtoive" right under your contact details, or as the last sentence of your profile summary. Use one place, not both.
Should I write my tavoite in Finnish or English?
Use the same language as the rest of your CV, and usually the same language as the job ad.
How long should a CV tavoite be?
One or two sentences. Say what job you want, what kind of work (full-time, part-time, summer or seasonal), where, and when you can start.
Does your CV say what job you want?
Upload your CV to Fovo for a free review. You'll see what's missing in seconds, and you don't need to sign up.
Get your free CV reviewThis article is general guidance based on publicly available Finnish job-search resources. It is not professional advice and does not guarantee interviews or job offers.
Free Finnish CV template
A ready-to-fill Word template built for Finnish employers, with examples for care, cleaning and restaurant jobs.
- Space for your photo
- Finnish section names (Työkokemus, Kielitaito…)
- Tips in every section