Options after studying abroad -not good enough for Finland?

First, I'm only writing in English this time and secondly, I would like to warn you that this will be very long (hence why just one language) and probably a bit sarcastic at times.

I thought I'd write a bit more personal text now, so to speak, after all the general travel and food posts. As you might know, I graduated this summer from University with 1st Class Honours and been trying to figure out what it is that I want to do, and also what would be the plan B. I think I now have a pretty good idea of both things and hence thought I could talk a bit about my plans and well, generally life and options after graduation. Also, I had an experience that confused me a bit the other day and fueled the need to write about this topic.

I guess I could start by summarising what I would like to/am planning on doing now. First, I will send out applications to some graduate schemes in the UK that start in the Autumn of 2014 and onwards (especially interested in commercial law and consulting). The competition is fierce and the current economic climate is definitely not making it any easier. I, however, think that it's always worth a shot and if nothing comes up I at least know that I have tried my best and can move on to other options. What are my other options? To study more. I have found many interesting masters programs in the UK such as International Political Economy but the tuition fees are insane. Fortunately, I spotted the perfect sounding masters program at the University of Amsterdam and the tuition fee is under 2000€, which is basically almost free compared to the UK. I also have few other unis as a back up so all good there. On top of this, I have decided to possibly do some Open University courses in Finland this year (related to business studies and corporate law), volunteer, study languages and work so I could save up more money. So all in all, I thought I was doing quite well until I had to go to the Finnish (un)employment office..

I thought that as someone who has a clear 'action plan' and goals, possibly a job lined up soon and energy and activity to do stuff I would be an easy and a great 'customer.' Mmmm..no. The first thing that I said to this person when we started talking was that I am not planning on and I don't want to pursue a career in Finland. I also am not interested in applying to Finnish Universities, instead I have these and these plans. For those of you who don't know, if you are a Finn and go on to do your degree abroad you can almost forget about working in Finland (you seem to be too weird/different/international after that)..at least as your first job after graduation. I have always known that and it has never been my primary desire/goal/ambition to do that. If it had, I would have stayed in Finland in the first place just to play if safe. So, I tried to explain my plan to this person who didn't listen a word I said and what followed was: 'You know you don't stand a chance of getting a relevant job here (with your degree).' Yes, I do know that and like I just told that person, I'm not even planning on doing that. We could have moved on to something that would have been more relevant in my case but there was still more to say..about Finland.

What was one the most 'funniest' things this person said after that was that with my degree I can't apply to Finnish Universities for Masters or Finnish Universities won't accept my degree even as a proper Bachelor because I have courses such as US History and Politics, Latin American Studies and British History/Politics. My degree is apparently a lot about international affairs (no shit, I studied Politics). Apparently the European History/Politics courses are fine tho. Seriously?!So Finnish Universities don't teach any of that stuff, like stuff strongly related mainly to the world outside Europe? Not that it's important..After all, it's just the biggest (growing) economies in the world that are outside Europe and one of the Finnish flagship companies was just sold to an US company, but who cares about knowing anything about these places? And when I told him that I do realise that if I wanted to apply to do a Masters in a Finnish University I would definitely have to do a Bachelors level course on Swedish, for example, the person told me that I should know that there are other compulsory languages I would have to do as well. Oh yes, English. I think I could get away with that..you know, a degree from an English speaking country and all that.

Well, after a lot of talk about my almost worthless degree to Finnish job and university markets and some things that I know were honestly just not quite true, the person moved on to suggest that maybe, if I was lucky, I might have a chance of somehow getting my foot in to a Finnish uni if I tried really hard and contacted different departments. I'm sorry, what? Didn't I just explain my plan and interests and didn't the person just tell me that I basically have no hope in Finland? Basically, I almost got the impression that I was a poor little girl who just had to go abroad because I was weird and didn't do my degree in Finland and I'm thus not suitable to work in a relevant field or go straight to do a Masters degree in this magnificent Nordic Pearl. Ok, I got a bit dramatic there..

I do understand that if I was delusional and clueless and thought that I would just land my dream job in Finland with my current degree, then the conversation would have probably made sense (could have been said in a other way tho). But in this case? After I clearly stated that Finland was not my plan (for very obvious reasons). Why? What am I missing here? I know there are people who think that some go and do their degrees abroad just because they can't get into Finnish universities so is this something like that? So I only want to go abroad because I still (apparently) can't get into Finnish Universities to do Masters and my degree isn't good enough to get 'relevant' work here? But maybe there is some hope for me after all and that's why we had to spend most of the time talking about this topic?

This doesn't change my plans in any way because obviously Finland was never part of the plan anyway (partly because I saw something like this coming) but I just needed to let all that out. Maybe some of you understand why I was slightly confused and maybe bit annoyed after this meeting, maybe some of you don't. I went in there thinking that I would get some guidance for my year stay in Finland, maybe some tips on useful work experience that could help me in applying to those graduate schemes and who knows, maybe even some proper encouragement, but instead I got that (and bit more, but maybe this is enough).

I also wrote this because I thought this could be informative for those of you who are studying in the UK/planning on studying so you know what you might face if you do decide to return to Finland. Basically the message seemed to be;

It doesn't matter that you have a first class degree from a good university, extra-curricular activities (sports, volunteering, board member), speak some languages and have work experience, you're simply not suitable to work in a relevant or even close field (especially as it's only 'kinda' a bachelors degree) in Finland. Also, you're not suitable to apply straight to masters in Finland.  Poor you.

Well, good for me that I'm still pursuing my dreams..abroad. Also, I don't want to scare anyone who would really like to do a Finnish Masters after doing a Bachelors abroad. I know some people who have done that and it is actually possible without having to necessarily do tons of Bachelor level studies on top of your degree. But apparently it won't be easy, and you'll most likely have to do at least some Bachelor lever studies as it seems that Finland hasn't really embraced this whole Bologna Process thing. Funny how a degree in one EU country is seen as a good degree whereas in another EU country the same degree is perceived as not quite sufficient.

Any thoughts? Comments? Experiences?

..because every post needs a picture to cheer it up, here are some lovely flowers enjoying Autumn sun in Copenhagen!