How to write a CV for winter season jobs in Lapland

• Your exact dates. Seasonal employers plan the whole season ahead. Write when you can start and finish, for example "Available 20 Nov 2026 – 15 Apr 2027". Say if you can work the busy weeks around Christmas and New Year.
• Customer service with tourists. Hotel, restaurant, shop or tour work counts. Show the size: how many guests a day, rooms per shift, covers per evening.
• Languages, with levels. Most guests speak English, so it's usually needed. Other languages, such as German, French, Spanish or Chinese, are a real plus in tourism. Write each one with a plain level (fluent, good, basic). Write your Finnish level too, even if it's basic.
• Cards and licences. For kitchen and food jobs, the hygiene passport (hygieniapassi). For bar and restaurant work, the alcohol serving pass (anniskelupassi). For guiding and transport jobs, a driving licence and first aid training are often asked for. Put the ones you have near the top.
• Winter and outdoor experience. Skiing, snowboarding, outdoor guiding, or work in cold or remote places. Lapland winters are cold and dark, and employers want to know you'll be fine there.
• Your right to work in Finland. Say it clearly at the top. See section 04 below.

• No dates. "Looking for a seasonal job" without dates makes the employer guess. Give your start and end dates.
• Leaving out short or seasonal jobs. Summer jobs, festival work and earlier seasons all count. Group them if there are many: "Seasonal hotel and restaurant work, 2022–2025".
• Only adjectives. "Hardworking and positive" tells little. Facts do: "Served about 150 guests a night in a ski resort restaurant".
• Not saying where you are now. Write your current city and country. If you are already in Finland, say so.
• Forgetting the Finnish job titles. Ads use words like kausityö (seasonal work), vastaanottovirkailija (receptionist), kerroshoitaja (room attendant), kokki (cook), tarjoilija (waiter) and opas (guide). Using the same words helps.

Employers need to know straight away whether you can legally work in Finland. Write one line at the top of your CV, for example "Right to work: EU citizen" or "Right to work: residence permit with right to work".

• EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a seasonal work permit. If you stay longer than 3 months, you register your right of residence.
• Coming from outside the EU: for seasonal work under 3 months you need a seasonal work visa (if you need a visa to enter Finland) or a certificate for seasonal work (if you don't). For 3–9 months you need a residence permit for seasonal work. You need an employment contract with a company in Finland, and you can't start working before you get the permit (Migri).
• Apply early. Migri handles seasonal applications in a queue, so leave enough time before the season starts.
• Already living in Finland? If your residence permit gives you the right to work, write that. Students, for example, can work on average 30 hours a week.
• Never pay anyone for a job. Real employers don't charge you to hire you.