After eight years building a life in Finland, Sonal Mahkija and her family took a deep breath and resettled in Sweden. It was an opportunity to pursue a career – not just hold down a job – in what felt more like a merit-based labour market.
According to the India-born AI and data ethicist, her journey was typical of so many others’: she came to Finland with her husband, who had relocated because of work. The couple set about exploring and learning about their new home and putting down roots. Sonal went back to school and eventually found work, but soon noticed that forging a career depended heavily on recommendations and networks.
“One of the things that I realised was, when it comes to integrating with working life, the kind of network that you have to build in Finland was something that I had never thought of. And that requires a lot of planning, a lot of thinking, a lot of being active and 'on' all the time,” she told FTTLG.
So when Sonal’s partner was offered an exciting opportunity in Sweden, they decided to grasp it, although she described it as “a difficult move” after eight years in Finland. However she said that the choice was clear because it was an opportunity that would not present itself in Finland.
“It was a company that was merit-based and [valued] skill set-based employment. It wasn't premised on knowing a language fluently other than the language of work. And we know that in Finland, opportunities like this do not really open up or you can't apply without having any networks.”
Swedish recruiters more “outward looking”
Although she said that both Finnish and Swedish societies appear to work in much the same way, she noted some differences in the approaches to recruitment, with Swedish companies being more outward looking that their Finnish counterparts.
“They are looking outside of Sweden also in terms of opportunities for business growth.And that helps, I think, when it comes to recruitment, because then they want to diversify,” Sonal commented.
“They aren't just looking within their network. They're open to having people from elsewhere,” she added.
She also said that Swedes do not seem to be as fearful as Finns that hiring foreigners would somehow transform the company culture. She attributed this to an understanding that culture is not static.
“People adapt to the Finnish way of working and perhaps Finns could also adapt to another way of working.”
Listen to the full conversation with Sonal Makhija on Episode 1, Season 2 of FTTLG. You can follow and subscribe to Finland: Through the looking glass on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor.fm). Remember to like, share and rate the show and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Audio production was provided by Travis Glossop and the podcast was recorded at Enchanté Café in Helsinki.
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