Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply?

You can apply by signing up for the recruitment program via one of the applications on our website. The application for nurses or the application for caregivers.

What positions am I applying for?

Our recruitment program is active all of the time. This means that we are constantly recruiting people for so long as there are slots available. An applicant is only offered a job if their profile matches the requirements of the potential employer. Which specific employer you will get will be decided during the recruitment process and will determine what language level you will need to reach. The entry position that all foreign nurses and caregivers start at in Finland is called assistant nurse.

What positions are available?

Our recruitment program operates continuously, ensuring a constant stream of recruitment opportunities. Specifically, we specialize in recruiting nurses and caregivers from select countries for employment in Finland.

Successful completion of the language training program is a necessity for receiving your placement as an assistant nurse in Finland.  The specific employer you will be matched with is determined throughout the recruitment process as well as the language proficiency level required.

In Finland, all foreign nurses and caregivers typically begin their journey in the role of an “assistant nurse.”

Do you accept cleaners, housekeepers etc? 

Unfortunately as of the moment, we only recruit nurses, caregivers, and other health workers for assistant nurse positions in Finland. However you can stay updated for future job openings by following our Facebook page. 

What is the duration of the recruitment process?

The recruitment process depends on the study pace chosen by the applicant. It typically spans 6 to 12 months, contingent upon the specific language proficiency requirements of different employers. 

Currently only a handful of degrees are eligible for the fast track. If you are a Bachelor of Science in Nursing holder or have a Midwifery diploma with experience in nursing or caregiving field, you will be contacted by our placement team. 

Are there any placement fees to get a job?

There are no placement fees or any other kind of hidden fees. 

Is there an age limit for participation?

No, the recruitment program has no age restrictions, as long as you meet the fitness-to-work criteria.

How long does the residence permit processing take?

About 4 months on average. It is done during the recruitment process so it does not create any extra waiting times.

Am I eligible to apply?

To check for eligibility and requirements, you may check this link: https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi/requirements/

Which nationalities can participate in the recruitment program?

All nationalities that are eligible to apply for a residence permit in Finland are welcome to participate in our recruitment program. We strictly adhere to ethical and non-discriminatory practices.

However, we do not directly recruit applicants from countries where we have established partners. In these cases, individuals should proceed through our partners, specifically in the Philippines, India, and Kenya.

Additionally, there are certain countries from which we do not recruit due to challenges associated with local laws and restrictions, with Zimbabwe being one such example.

What are the requirements to join the recruitment program?

You will need to have either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or one of these certificates with at least 700h of studies: caregiver, nursing aide, certified nursing assistant, practical nurse

I have recently graduated but I don’t have any work experience yet. Can I still join the recruitment program?

Degree holders of Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Caregiver certificate holders can also apply without experience provided that they have 700+ hours of study and where the certificate has been attained within the past 5 years.

If caregiver certificates were received from more than 5 years ago, we require at least one year of working experience within those 5 years.

I have a certificate but it does not include all of the 700 hours of study required. What can I do?

We recommend that you sign up and submit your documents during the initial stages of the recruitment program. Our recruitment experts will then review your documents and will tell you with certainty if you can continue the recruitment program or not. They might also be able to tell you how you could complement your studies to be eligible to join.

Can I join the recruitment program if I don’t meet the requirements?

No. We are only looking to recruit professionals that fill the requirements. If you have a medical degree that is not stated as a requirement on our website but still think that it should make you eligible to join you can send a message to our recruitment specialist via our contact page.

I have signed up but not received an email to the orientations?

1. Make sure to check your spam inbox or all inboxes. Sometimes our emails can get sorted into the wrong inbox.
2. If you can still not locate the email try signing up again and double check so you spelled your email address correct.
3. Make sure you are not signing up for our recruitment program from the Philippines, Kenya, or India.. If you are located in the Philippines you will need to go through our partner Topmake. If you are located in Kenya, you will need to go through Africa Work Power, and if you are based in India, you will have to apply either through Walsons healthcare or NSCDI.
4. If none of these work please be in contact with our customer support via our contact page.

How to Sign up for an application?

To begin your journey with us, please sign up for one of our weekly online orientations for nurses or caregivers. You will receive an email with different links to attend one of the upcoming orientation via Zoom or you could choose to attend one our on-demand orientations. Make sure to check your spam folder if you are having issues finding the email.

Where are the online orientations conducted?

Our online orientations are primarily held using Zoom or on-demand via our website. 

I’ve registered but haven’t received an email about the orientations

First, please check your spam inbox or “All Inboxes” as our emails might have been sorted incorrectly. If you still can’t find the email, consider signing up again and double-check that your email address is spelled correctly. If none of these solutions work, please contact our customer support here: https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi/contact/ 

Please also note that if you are located in the Philippines, you must apply through our recruitment partner Topmake (https://topmake.ph/) to get started with the recruitment. If you are located in Kenya, you will need to go through Africa Work Power, and if you are based in India, you will have to apply either through Walsons healthcare or NSCDI. 

I registered for the orientation but I couldn’t get in. How come? 

Our orientations have a maximum capacity of 1000 attendees. If there are more than 1000 in the waiting room, some will not be able to get in. So we recommend joining the waiting room 5-10 minutes before the orientation starts to secure your place in the orientation. 

Updates about the upcoming orientations

To know more about the schedule of the upcoming orientation about Silk Road Workforce Management’s recruitment program for assistant nurses and caregivers, you may visit our Facebook page Events section for updates: https://www.facebook.com/SilkRoadWM/events. 

What happens in the orientation?

During the orientation for potential applicants, we will provide details about Silkroad Workforce Management’s recruitment process for assistant nurse or caregiver in Finland. 

These include information about the language training, fit-to-work checks, residence permit procedures, salary, taxation, housing, employment contracts with future employers, an overview of available services in Finland, a detailed timeline and step-by-step guide, along with specific requirements. 

We’ll also discuss what to expect upon the hired applicant’s arrival in Finland and the next steps in the process.  We also do an interactive Q&A session on our Youtube channel.  We’d love for you to join us here to address any other questions you might have. 

Timezone concern

Our Zoom orientation sessions are announced in the Finnish timezone. To make certain you can participate in these sessions without any scheduling conflicts, we kindly request that you convert the timezone appropriately from your home country.

This way, you can align your schedule with the Zoom sessions and avoid any potential confusion or missed meetings.

What is the Consent form for?

During the orientation you will be asked to fill in a consent form to receive login credentials to our self-study platform, which will aid you in acquiring basic Finnish language skills. Make sure the email you provided us in the consent form matches the one you used to sign up for the orientation with. This enables us to easily follow and support each applicant’s progress.

Where can I access the consent form? 

The link to the consent form is given at the end of the online orientation. Only those who were able to attend will have access to this form. 

What is Moodle and how can I get access to it? 

In order to access the self-study language training kit, prospective candidates are required to first participate in an online orientation.

During this orientation, a consent form will be distributed. Attendees of the orientation are required to complete this form before they are granted access to Moodle, an open-source learning management system that hosts the self-study kits for basic Finnish language proficiency.

Why didn’t I receive the access to the self-study material?

If you are able to attend the orientation, signed up for the consent form, and joined the discord server but did not receive access to self-study material, make sure to check your spam folder or ‘All email’. 

But if you still haven’t completed this, we recommend that you first attend the orientation to complete the other steps needed.  You may do so by signing up on our website: https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi/.

Once done, we will send the links to upcoming orientations by email. At the end of the orientation, we provide a link to a consent form.

What do I do if my Moodle log-in does not work or becomes inaccessible?  

If you have completed the consent form, please expect an email within 2 days containing your login credentials for the Moodle account, where your progress in the study kit will be tracked.

For additional information about the recruitment process, visit our website at https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi/. 

Why is there a delay in Moodle access?

If you haven’t received your Moodle access within 48 hours after completing the consent form, kindly submit a support ticket through our Discord server. 

The Discord server link was shared during the orientation. If you were not able to join, we kindly request that you participate in the orientation again so you can have access to our Discord server. 

Additionally, please remember to check both your email inbox and spam folder for any correspondence with the subject line “Silk Road.” Once you’ve successfully submitted a ticket on Discord, our support team will promptly get in touch with you.

How to join the discord server?

The link to our Discord channel are indeed available, but they are only distributed during the orientation sessions. This allows us to ensure that all members have a smooth and well-coordinated onboarding experience. This approach helps us manage access and information distribution effectively.

If you did not join the Discord server during the orientation, please retake the orientation.

How can I get an interview booking link?

The interview process happens after completing the self-study kit for basic Finnish language and upon a successful completion and approval of your submitted documents. To get a complete guide of the recruitment process, you may check this: https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi/recruitment-process/ 

If you already submitted your documents via the form, it would take about 2 weeks to review. If you still haven’t heard back from us after 3 weeks, send us a message here to follow-up or you may also email us here:  https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi/contact/

What if I failed in the interview?

If you failed your interview, you may consider reviewing the self-study language kit on Moodle and, if you wish, you can attempt to reschedule another interview using the same interview link that was previously provided to you.

You can retake the initial interview once. But if you fail it twice, you will need to restart the process of language studies. 

What if I missed an interview?

If you missed your interview, please book through the interview link that was sent to you earlier, you may use the link that was previously sent to you. Once confirmed, you should be able to receive details about the interview. 

Will the whole process of interview be done in Finnish language?

The interview is mainly conducted in English but it will be testing applicants with questions on the Finnish content of the self study material.

How does language training work?

Language training includes online learning with 1:1 or 1:2 and 1:8 sessions together with your teacher. Different exercises and tasks and bigger language level tests. You will receive a schedule to follow that will help you out with planning ahead. Language training is very flexible and respects your already existing schedule.

How does language training function?

Our language training is conducted online, with one-on-one or one-on-two sessions and one-on-eight sessions  with your teacher. It includes various exercises, tasks, and comprehensive language proficiency assessments. You will receive a schedule to guide your planning, and the training is designed to be flexible and accommodate your existing schedule.

Is language training compulsory?

Yes, it is a mandatory part of the program.

Is language training provided free of charge?

Absolutely, it is provided at no cost.

However, language studies done in Finland will not be counted as paid when done during regular working hours. Some employers would usually deduct salary for hours spent on language studies that are done during regular working hours. 

What is the validity of the language exam results? 

The language exam is being done as part of Silk Road’s recruitment program process, and there is no specified period of validity. However, we strongly recommend that applicants apply when they are certain of their availability to undergo the recruitment process. This will help prevent any unnecessary delays or back-and-forth communication, ensuring a smooth and efficient application process. We hope this clarification helps!

What happens after passing the language exam?

The next step for you is to be assigned into a study group. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for us to assign groupings. However, this ideal duration is also contingent upon the availability of groups where applicants are placed, provided that the applicant has completed required documents.

Make sure to check your spam or trash folder as well. 

What if I didn’t pass the language exam?

You are permitted to retake the language exam. If you fail that one as well, you have to discuss your situation with your teacher and it’s then handled on a case by case basis.

Are salaries deducted when further language studies are done in Finland?

Some nurses may experience a situation where their manager deducts study hours conducted during regular working hours from the employee’s salary if the employee doesn’t adjust or modify the hours spent on studying. It’s not exactly charging the employee for the studies, but rather, the person is utilizing working hours to complete the apprenticeship program. It is important to note that study hours are typically not paid for as stated. 

Depending on your employer and manager, there might be room for an internal arrangement with your manager or supervisor if you discuss the topic with them.

For instance, if the regular working hours are 8 hours, but the employee needs to attend a 2-hour online school during that time, only 6 hours would be paid instead of the full 8. The deduction from the salary is a simplification for the accounting department, reflecting the actual hours worked. The term used for this deduction might be related to “koulutus” or something indicating studies, which might lead to confusion for the employee.

Is Silkroad a legitimate organization?

Silkroad Workforce Management is a legitimate international recruitment company. We take pride in offering a program that combines a strong customer-centric service culture with extensive expertise in social and healthcare recruitment. 

As of 2022 we are also a subsidiary of Attendo, the Nordic’s biggest provider of social and healthcare services.

Our focus is on recruiting nurses and caregivers from select countries for employment in Finland, and we have a dedicated team to assist applicants in navigating the process seamlessly. If you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to ask. For additional information, visit our website at https://workinfinland.silkroad.fi

Is Silk Road and Topmake the same company?

No, we work in cooperation with Topmake. Topmake is an agency in the Philippines.

What employers does Silk Road work with?

Silk Road works with Finland’s biggest social and healthcare employers. To only name a few: Attendo, Esperi, the city of Turku, the city of Vantaa, the city of Helsinki, Päijät Sote, the city of Hämeenlinna, Essote, the town of Forssa, the city of Espoo, Seure, and many more.

Is there an opportunity for an applicant to select the location and working sector in public or private?

Yes, there is a selection process based on performance in language studies. The better you perform, the higher your priority in choosing your placement. However, it’s important to note that we cannot guarantee placements in both the public and private sectors. Your choices are limited to the positions that are currently available and offered to you.

Are additional shifts allowed? Is the employer willing to let the nurse assistant work or does it have a limit?

Typically, the nursing home manager divides shifts equally among the staff. If additional shifts become available, you have the option to express your interest in taking them. Moreover, it is possible to have a secondary job, but it must be within the same field of work.

Is it possible to bring your family with you to Finland?

Yes, and we advice to bring your family members after 1 year in Finland. You can sponsor your spouse and your children under 18.

What is the salary of an assistant nurse in Finland?

Around 2000€ per month plus additional compensations such as overtime, bonuses , and benefits.

Can you study further while working in Finland?

Yes and most of the employers that we work with have a path of their own for that to ensure that their employees have a possibility for career development.

However, language studies done in Finland will not be counted as paid when done during regular working hours. Some employers would usually deduct salary for hours spent on language studies that are done during regular working hours. 

Can I work in other countries apart from Finland with my residence permit?

No. The residence permit permits you to work in Finland. It does permit you to travel within Europe for tourism, but not for work.