The Long Road to Becoming a Social Worker in a New Country

Ajándék Muzsalyi earned her social work degree in Hungary a decade ago. The career choice felt natural, as the profession's values closely aligned with her own.

“I always knew I wanted to help people. As an adolescent, I considered physiotherapy, but by age fourteen, I'd already made my decision to become a social worker.”

 By the time Ajándék finished her university studies in Hungary, there was a shortage of social workers and jobs were plentiful. Ajándék started her career in child welfare and later started to work within outpatient psychiatric care.

However, political instability in Hungary was a concern and led Ajándék and her partner to explore new opportunities abroad. In June 2021, they moved to Finland.

Almost immediately, Ajándék enrolled in an integration course: an 11‑month programme that combines daily Finnish or Swedish language studies with an introduction to Finnish working life and culture.

Her partner had studied Finnish at university while they were still in Hungary and secured a job quickly. Ajándék, on the other hand, spoke only Hungarian and faced a steep linguistic learning curve.

“Studying Finnish was rewarding — and really tough. My classmates became a vital peer‑support network as we were all starting from scratch. I’m also deeply grateful to my partner for all the help.”

Finding work in Finland proved far more complex than Ajándék had imagined. The integration course was very helpful, yet Ajándék believes that landing a role in her own field ultimately came down to her own persistence She hopes Finnish employers would place greater value on immigrants’ higher‑education credentials.

“I wish integration trainers and employers understood that we immigrants are just as capable! Our expertise is wasted if we never get the chance to use it.”

The integration curriculum included a seven‑week internship, which Ajándék completed working in outpatient care. Following this, Ajándék immediately began searching for a position where she could complete Valvira’s 18‑month adaptation period required of foreign social workers.

 “I didn’t mind whether the job was in child welfare or adult social work. I just wanted a kind, friendly team with an understanding manager and some colleagues with immigrant backgrounds. I didn’t want to feel second‑class.”

In March 2023, Ajándék finally started as a child welfare social worker in the Espoo Family Centre. A permanent contract followed quickly. She has enjoyed working for the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County—even though, on arrival in Finland, she had no idea what a wellbeing services county was.

“Our team is fantastic. Whether the challenge is professional or personal, someone is always there to listen.”

Ajándék emphasises the value of a diverse workforce in social work. She hopes more professionals with immigrant backgrounds will be hired, as first‑hand experience helps them also understand clients’ struggles better.

Patience and a good sense of humour, she says, are essential. Finnish humour was initially baffling, but it is getting easier.

“In my native language, I think I have a great sense of humour! But, in Finland, I sometimes couldn’t tell whether something was a joke or not. Finns often keep the same tone of voice, whether the topic is happy or sad.”

Ajándék enjoys how her work allows her to meet children and families living across Finland. At the same time, she has had the opportunity to explore the country herself.

“As a social worker, the most rewarding part of my job is watching a child’s or young person’s life take a turn for the better.”