If this is your first ESL job and you are coming from a non-EU country, your chances of finding a job are slim. That is not to say that there are not any competent teachers among the less experienced, it is because there is a horrendous amount of red tape and numerous hoops to jump through in order to hire from outside the European Union. So while you might find a job, it is recommended that non-EU nationals start their job search long before they plan on arriving in Finland, just to get the ball rolling. If your potential employer really wants you on board, they will help you through the paperwork maze, but you can expect a wait of several weeks before receiving the go-ahead to make your plane reservation.

TEFL and ESL jobs are widely available, which is actually a little surprising when one considers the level of English spoken throughout Europe, but jobs can be found in public schools, private commercial language schools and international schools and universities. Most jobs are to be found in the cities – Helsinki in particular. In the formal institutions you can expect to work from 9 am to 4 pm, plus the occasional weekend.

Should you find an ESL job with a language school, you can anticipate that you may have to work a six days a week to meet the demand of your students. While Finns can read and understand English quite well, they need and want to improve their speaking and pronunciation skills. As a result, you may be able to supplement your income by taking on private students on the side for the purpose of conversation classes.

The cost of living is quite high in Finland, but then again, so are the salaries. You can expect to make upwards of USD $3000 a month teaching ESL or EFL at a university or private international school. Private language centres will pay between USD $1000 and $2000 a month, but it should be kept in mind that finding a job in a language centre is much easier than securing a job at a university, where the requirements are regulated and strictly adhered to. The bar is much lower with the language schools.

All that said, make sure you are prepared for your classes no matter where you are teaching – Finish students will expect you to be able to answer their questions – in particular their questions on grammar rules.