So you’ve moved to Estonia and you’re looking for work as a student?
This blog post has been written just for you. It contains tips, some important information and observations from personal experience.
One of the biggest advantages of studying in Estonia is that the government regulations don’t limit the number of hours that you can work. Yes, you read that right. As a student you can work as many hours as you please! This is unlike most countries where there are generally tight restrictions on the number of hours that you can work if you hold a study visa. There is a small caveat though, the job shouldn’t affect your performance as a student at the university. It is up to you to decide how you will spend and manage your time. (Source: PBGB page)
Apart from that, here’s some additional information related to rules that might come in handy. If you hold a TRP for study and it’s validity expires then you have a legal basis to stay in the country for another 270 days (9 months). This means that you have plenty of time to find a job and figure out your next steps. (Source: PBGB page)
Since the casual work and the gig culture has taken off pretty well in Estonia it is possible for students to find jobs which suit their schedules. Speaking from personal experience, many students do find jobs (casual and otherwise) and manage to make enough to meet at least their living expenses.
Types of jobs: If we think about the type of work, it can broadly be classified into two.
- Unskilled: Jobs that don’t need any specialized skills. This includes jobs like food delivery, maintenance, kitchen help etc. Although it can be argued that these jobs also require a lot of skill, and rightly so. I believe that delivering food when it is freezing outside is a skill in and by itself. And working in a commercial kitchen is an entirely different story again. But from the point of view of the job market, these jobs are considered unskilled, meaning you don’t need to have a lot of experience and you can learn the things needed for them on the fly.
- Skilled: Everything that requires some background knowledge, or expertise. This includes jobs in marketing, research in labs, IT etc. Naturally these jobs have tougher requirements, and generally have better perks and salaries. Additionally, depending on the industry and the type of work you are allowed to take time-off from work for studies. As an international student I believe your priority should be on getting into the skilled labour force. Do check out our series about spin-offs and research in Tartu (Sandbox, ADL) for some of the opportunities in different fields.
Given that the skilled jobs generally pay more, have better benefits, it is important that you have some kind of a plan about what you’d like to get to. Granted that it might not be possible to get a job in your specific field right off the bat, but it is important to have a goal that you can work towards during the duration of your studies. It would be hard to give a specific action plan for every student, so in this post I will focus on some general pointers that have helped me find work.
- Respect the local culture, and try to learn the language
This demonstrates the willingness to learn. Nothing makes a better impression than showing that you put effort into understanding the culture. So go sign up for that Estonian language class. If you prefer to learn on your own, then I would recommend Drops for learning vocabulary, and Speakly for everything else.
Photo credit: Drops and Speakly official webpages - Network, network, network
The world is a small village, and even more so in Estonia. Estonia is a small country, and word travels fast. Meaning if you are professional and do your job well, people will know about you very quickly. A small caveat here is that it also works the other way. If you are sloppy in your work, word about that too will travel fast. So deliver top quality work, and build a reputation of being professional. One great way to do this is by volunteering at events (sTARTUp Day, festivals etc) or places (animal shelter etc). Apart from it being something that you actually enjoy, it will help you build a professional network and your reputation. Another possible avenue, and possibly the best one for networking, is the sauna. You have to experience a proper sauna to understand the importance of these extremely hot rooms. Many Estonian companies will have a sauna room in the office, and it’s a great place to meet people and build a network.
Photo credit: Smoke Sauna by Tõnu Runnel - Keep an eye out for training events
There are many programs like ibs unlock which help students get insights into the work culture, and also great places to build a professional network. Last year due to the pandemic most of these things happened online and had lower participation, but even then they were quite useful in understanding some of the unsaid rules of the workplace etc. Although they don’t directly lead you to getting a job they help you fit into the workspace better. Maybe this year some of these training events will be in-person and would offer more opportunities for students to work. - Keep an eye out for the mentoring program of the university
The university runs a mentoring program every year where it matches students with alumni from the industry. It is a great way to meet professionals who have been in your shoes. Another thing to note is that your mentor doesn’t need to come directly from the university. If you find someone in your field inspiring and you look up to them, approaching them and asking for help never hurts. Best case you’ll get a mentor who will help you craft your career and move towards a place you want to be. Worst case you’ll get a no for an answer, and then you can move on to finding someone else.
Other resources:
This blog post would be incomplete if I didn’t mention the job-boards where you can actually apply for jobs and other noteworthy websites that can help you plan your career. More resources should only be a google search away.
- cv.ee (Job board)
- cvkeskus.ee (Also a job board)
- OSKA (Has skills trends and requirements for different industries)
