Language skills matter more in Finland than in many other countries. Even when the job is in English, employers want to know how much Finnish you understand, because it affects your daily work with colleagues and customers. A clear language section helps a recruiter decide quickly, and a vague one makes them guess.
Use plain words, not only levels
Most Finnish employers understand plain descriptions better than the CEFR scale (A1–C2). Use a word first, and add the level in brackets if you like.
The words recruiters expect, in English and Finnish:
- Native – äidinkieli
- Excellent / fluent – erinomainen / sujuva
- Good – hyvä
- Satisfactory – tyydyttävä
- Basic – perustaso (or alkeet for a beginner)
Always mention Finnish, even at a basic level
Many people leave Finnish out because their level feels too low. That's a mistake. To a Finnish employer, "Finnish: basic, studying actively" shows motivation and that you plan to stay. Leaving it out can look like you aren't learning at all.
- Add "studying actively" (opiskelen aktiivisesti) if you're taking a course or studying on your own.
- If you've finished an integration course or a Finnish course, put it under Education too.
- If you have an official YKI certificate, mention it with the level, for example: Finnish: good (YKI intermediate level, skill level 3).
Be honest about your level
It's tempting to round up. Don't. Many Finnish interviews include a few questions in Finnish, or the interviewer simply switches language for a minute. If your CV says "fluent" and you can't follow, it damages trust in the rest of your CV too. An honest "satisfactory" with a clear plan looks better than an inflated "fluent".
Not sure what your level is? Our free Finnish Level Check gives you an informal estimate in about 6–8 minutes.
Put the right languages first
- Order by usefulness for the job, not by how well you speak them. For a job in Finland, Finnish and English usually come first, then your native language.
- Leave out very basic languages that don't matter for the job. Three useful languages are better than six weak ones.
- Don't use stars, bars or percentages ("English 90%"). Recruiters can't tell what they mean, and automated application systems often can't read them.
- Swedish counts. If you know some Swedish, include it: it's Finland's second official language, and some jobs value it.
Quick checklist for your language section
- Plain words for each level, CEFR in brackets if you want
- Finnish included, even if basic, with "studying actively" if true
- YKI certificate or Finnish courses mentioned, if you have them
- Most useful languages for the job listed first
- No stars, bars or percentages
What is your Finnish level for work?
Take the free Fovo Finnish Level Check: 18 questions from A1 to B2, results in a few minutes, no sign-up.
Check my Finnish levelThis article is general guidance based on publicly available Finnish job-search resources. The Fovo Finnish Level Check is informal and is not an official YKI result. It is not professional advice and does not guarantee interviews or job offers.
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