I'm currently a student applying for jobs related to automation engineering, after trying for sometimes, I've gotten only one job interview, I have to admit that I don't have much work experience or advanced degree, so I know that's part of the reason. But I've seen some of my Finnish friends got jobs with less experience.

Now I've heard that some employers just filter out all the non-Finnish names in the first stage of job applications, I can somewhat understand that, but it's still discouraging.

So I'm thinking if I use a Finnish name instead of my own name, will it make a difference on the callback? Or at least take me to the interview phase? I will still use the same resume content, I'm just curious will this be considered as a fraud or some serious issue.

Just to be clear, I can't speak Finnish, which I know is also a major reason for those rejections. I'm not trying to pretend to be a Fin, just in someway I hope to be traded fairly in this country. And again, I understand if some companies only want to hire Fins.

Edit: I'm completely okay with a new name, and basically everyone here can't pronounce my original name anyway, so what's the point of holding on to it. I'm just thinking how I can show the employers that I'm a well behaving normal person and not a strange immigrant terrorist if they don't even open my application.

Also see in this report, how can we be respected in this country if the discrimination starts when they see my name.

And again I like Finland, all the people around me are nice and friendly, I'm not attacking the country or anyone personally, I hope we can discuss this matter peacefully.

by bobiestan

12 comments

  1. Do you really think using false identification and lying on your application is a good strategy?

  2. Nickname.

    “I understand if some companies only want to hire Fins.” uh. This is very illegal. “Finland’s Non-Discrimination Act” says so. However, if they were doing it, they will interview you and they’ll find out.

    If you start getting a lot more interviews than normal then you know the culprit -> you’re not white enough

  3. Would maybe increase your chances of getting an interview but strongly decrease your chance of actually getting a job

  4. It’s a breach of trust in a trust based society and you’re asking if it’s a good idea?

    Also, most likely a breach of contract if you were to be hired and grounds for nullifying the contract, i.e. getting fired.

  6. Theres over 300k people looking jobs… Its not easy for anyone.

  7. Imagine coming from a culture where lying and cheating is seen as the same thing as being clever and wondering why you are not getting hired

  8. Even if that somehow got you a job, would you really want to work for a company that filters out foreign applicants?

  9. In all honesty they filter out non-Finnish names because it’s not unreasonable to require at least basic Finnish fluency… in Finland. You don’ t need to be a foaming bigot to say that, though obviously it depends on your field.

    The thing you try to pull would be obvious from the start, and immediately dissolve all trust.

    Also it baffles me why would you expect to be employed without speaking the language at all? Like what was your plan? I wouldn’t presume to migrate to Japan and the rest of the work community to conform to me.

  10. By all means, pick a Finnish (or common international) first name and start using it. First get used to the name with some friends. Only do this if you are willing to be called by that name for the rest of your life. If asked for the reason, you like the name, and it is easier for your Finnish friends to pronounce and remember. Not a lie, just your way of assimilating into the Finnish society.

  11. Oh come on, all these people with the “it’s lying this is trust based society bullshit” can get the hell out. I’m a 100% Finnish woman and I say do it. It’s entirely fine!

    A CV and a job application is not an official document so you don’t have to put down your legal name on it. Now a job contract, you have to. But at that point the person who has hired you has looked past their biases and prejudices and decided to like and trust you enough to hire you anyway, so giving your legal name then is fine. When putting out your CV, using a “white name” or Finnish name is entirely fine, but be ready to be called that then all the time and adopt it as your new nickname. People do this all the time, even Finnish people, who have a preferred name over their legal names. Are they lying and getting caught in a trust based society? No they aren’t, because that’s ridiculous. It sounds ridiculous because it IS ridiculous.

    My husband has also adopted a different name, because people just giving him services or talking to him are less wary of him by default when he uses it. He’s not a Finn. His legal name is entirely different and he uses it in his legal documents only. Nobody is yet to shit on him and call him a liar for it, because he isn’t and that’s his chosen name. I have also a friend over in America who adopted a “white name” just for work, so he’d face less racism. Now he’s just an affable Freddie, because people over there for some reason are extra dumb against non-whites.

    However, while this might mean employers will look at your CV more, it’ll be still important to tell them about your language skills. A non-Finnish speaker will always be hired less likely, since the language is needed in many jobs in many ways. So if you want to get employed, you’ll need to apply to jobs where you’ll be fine with just English alone or start learning Finnish. If you mean to stay here, learning the language will be beneficial for you in many ways, not just job applications. So I highly recommend at least trying to pick it up, as hard as it can be.

  12. I’ve not heard of taking out non-finnish names. You do realize that people have a million different reasons to have a name that is not Virtanen, it doesn’t tell anything about their language skills or degree, nationality or ancestry. Neither does a common finnish sounding name.

    You’ve surely noticed that the employment situation is horrendous.

    I’d guess they start with language proficiency. It should be obvious that if the Finnish employer has a choice of 200 applicants for one job, it’s way more reasonable for them to choose one who knows the language fluently. Even if they are slightly less experienced otherwise. Most people who are fluent in english in conversation, cannot do the same with professional accuracy. Not your colleagues, your boss, your clients, their clients. It’s delusional to expect it. Even if one colleague and boss are professionally fluent in english, they aren’t the only people who you’re supposed to communicate with. The employer doesn’t prefer someone who needs a translator for every email.

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