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Instructions and support⁠
Job Market Finland
Instructions and support⁠
Job Market Finland

I want a change in my career

Do you crave a change in your career? Are you interested in a new job, occupation or studying? There are a lot of different training options and professions on offer, so you should gain knowledge to support your choice. At Job Market Finland, you can find information to support you in choosing a field of study or a profession.

Information about the situation

You can improve as a job seeker when you master the basics of job search.

On this page, we have gathered tips to help you improve your chances of employment. We provide guidance on, for example, how to get started with your job application documents and how to prepare for a job interview.

At Job Market Finland, you can automate your job search by creating a job applicant profile. In it, you can introduce yourself, highlight your skills, and list your education and work experience. Based on the provided information, you will recieve job recommendations that suit you, and employers interested in your skills can contact you.

Before sending a job application

The job seeking process consists of several stages, and it is advisable to start by acquiring information. Once you have found an interesting job, try to obtain the best possible understanding of the employer and everything that is involved with the open position. When you have acquired information in advance, it will be easier for you to apply for the position.

When you find an interesting position, read the job posting carefully. It is a good idea to find answers to at least the following questions related to the open position.

  • What are the main responsibilities and special requirements of the position?
  • Do you need a specific degree or certain type of work experience?
  • Do the tasks correspond to your competence?
  • What can you learn from the job requirements?
  • What kind of person are they looking for to fill the position?

Before submitting a job application, you should also familiarise yourself with the employer. Visit the organisation’s website and find out at least the sector, size, and structure of the organisation, as well as its vision, values, and objectives.

Once you have familiarised yourself with both the position and the employer, and you still want to apply for the position, you should consider your next step. Will you contact the employer before sending your job application? Will calling or visiting the workplace, or sending an email help you write your application? Sometimes the job posting contains the contact details of the person participating in the recruitment process and the times when you can approach the employer. If you really have questions about the position and feel that it is useful to contact the employer, you can do so before submitting your job application. However, you should carefully consider the most suitable choice for your situation and proceed accordingly.


Job application documents

Although it may seem old-fashioned to draw up traditional job application documents, almost every job application process still requires an application letter and a CV. A one-page application letter and a resume of maximum two pages is usually a good combination.

It may be challenging to formulate your own competence in a comprehensive yet interesting manner. The following instructions will help you create a successful application letter and an interesting CV.

It is a good idea to invest some time and effort in writing your application letter, as what you write can help you get a job interview. The aim of the application letter is to attract the recruiter’s attention so that you will be invited to a job interview.

In the application letter, you will describe

  • why you are applying for the job,
  • how you meet the selection criteria for the position, and
  • why you should be selected for the job in question.

The application letter should give a positive impression of you. It should be concise and targeted specifically at the employer whose position you are applying for. You describe your background and work history in your CV, but in the application letter, the focus is on the future. 

Avoid making lists. In the application letter, you can describe yourself and your competence more informally. In addition to subject-related competence, you should also highlight your other strengths that are useful for the position you are applying for. In addition to describing them, it is essential to explain in the application letter what you can offer the organisation.

If you are applying for a position for which you do not have any previous experience, explain how your competence fits the position, and emphasise your motivation, good attitude, and ability to learn.

Finally, you should run a spell check on your text. The application letter is an opportunity to demonstrate your competence, and even small details matter. Therefore, make sure that there are no spelling mistakes in the text.

When working on a CV, try to make it comprehensive yet also clear. You can use creativity when making your CV, but you should not divert too far from the commonly used structure. Express yourself concisely. It is, after all, very important that the recruiter finds the relevant information easily and quickly, as not much time is necessarily given to each individual CV.

A good CV is visually interesting, clear and easy to understand. It quickly indicates whether you meet the requirements of the position.

It is a good idea to describe your work experience and educational information in chronological order, with the most recent experience first. Briefly describe each of your work experiences. Describe what your tasks have included and what you have learned from the work. In addition to work experience, you can also describe your language and IT skills, and provide a list of references.

Check that your resume includes your contact information.

LinkedIn profiles have not superseded traditional CVs, but the service can support your CV in the job application process.

You can also write an application letter in the email message field. Consider the text in your email message as carefully as if you were writing a traditional application letter.

  • In the subject field, write “Application” and the title of the position you are applying for.
  • Upload your CV as an attachment to the message.
  • Begin with a friendly greeting.
  • Type your application letter in the text field. You do not need to follow the layout of a traditional application letter.
  • Explain that your CV is attached to the email message.
  • End your letter with a closing phrase and your contact information.

Employers’ own electronic job search services have their own specific characteristics. Recruiters may, for example, perform word searches on them. In other words, search the job posting for keywords describing the nature of the task and the applicant’s characteristics, and use them in your application. Remember to also describe your personal expertise.

When submitting an application in the employer’s online service, read the instructions carefully. It is a good idea to first write your text using a text editing programme and copy it to the form afterwards.

In the case of an open application, update it regularly.

It is increasingly common for employers to request video applications from job seekers. Video material makes it easier for the employer to pre-select applicants. You can use a video to give a more authentic image of yourself than with a traditional job application.

Make a short, 1–3 minute video and upload it to a video service. Send the link to the employer.

You should practice beforehand so that you can express yourself naturally instead of reading from a piece of paper. For example, you can use the video to

  • describe your special talents,
  • talk about your personality and strengths, or
  • provide an example of your language skills.

A portfolio is a collection of your best and most important work or achievements. You can assemble a portfolio in different ways. It can be a folder, portfolio, demo, plan, drawing, or a photo collection.

Portfolios are most commonly used in the creative sector, but they work well in many other fields, too. For example, a chef’s portfolio may include their personal recipes, photos of dishes and customer feedback.

You should assemble a new portfolio for every new application. However, do not make your portfolio too broad in scope.

A portfolio can include

  • certificates, recommendations and evaluations,
  • samples of various work tasks in the form of brochures, posters, programmes, magazine articles or similar, or
  • anything that will help you land the job.

You can send your portfolio to the employer or take it with you to your job interview and present it there. If your portfolio can be found online, remember to include a link in your job application.


Job interview

You should not think of a job interview as a one-sided interrogation, but as an opportunity for people to get to know each other. For employers, an interview is a way to test the suitability of a job seeker for an open position and the work community. The applicant will also familiarise themselves with the employer and reflect on their suitability for the position and their interest in becoming part of the organisation. Keep this in mind when you attend the job interview.

When you challenge the interviewer and ask questions about the employer or position, you will give the impression that you are motivated and indicate that you are genuinely interested in the position. At the same time, you will gain information on whether the position is right for you.

Next, we will give you tips on how to succeed in a job interview.

When you are well-prepared for the interview, you can relax and be yourself. It is alright to feel a little nervous.

You should do the following before the interview.

  • Find out more about the employer.
  • Remind yourself of the job description and what is stated in the job posting.
  • Go over your competencies and be prepared to describe them concisely.
  • Think about the questions that you would like to ask about the job and your potential employer.

A positive first impression goes a long way when people meet for the first time. Dress in a way that suits the position and employer. Remember to take your application letter, CV, work and educational certificates, and possible portfolio with you. Be on time.

In the interview, the recruiter will evaluate whether you are genuinely interested in the position and whether your skills and competence are suited for the position. Above all, the interview will reveal your interaction skills and attitude. If there are more than one interviewers present, give each one of them an equal amount of attention.

Remember that your body language, expressions, and the way that you speak tell a lot about yourself. Listen to what they are asking you, and take your time to think before answering. When answering, be honest, but remember to also consider what should possibly be left out.

There are usually three stages to an interview.

  • General issues are often discussed in the beginning. The aim is to create an overview of the interviewee.
  • In the middle of the interview, the interviewers ask questions with the aim to find out how motivated you are and how you would fit the position. The questions will also involve your career and changes therein. In addition, the interviewers will want to know what kind of a person you are, your values, and your attitude.
  • The final stage of the interview focuses on the more practical matters related to the position, such as your salary, working time and start date. The interviewer also often describes how the application process will continue. If necessary, you can also ask questions about the next stages of the process.

After the interview is over, think about how it went. Assess what went well and what you could improve on.

If you are not chosen for the position, ask the employer or interviewer what factors were emphasised in the selection, and what were the reasons why you were not chosen for the job.

Practice answering the questions and consider appropriate answers in advance. The better you prepare, the more confident you will feel during the interview.

  • Tell us briefly about yourself.
  • Describe your current or most recent employment relationship.
  • Why are you applying for this job?
  • Why do you want to switch jobs?
  • What are your goals for the future?
  • What are you like as a colleague or supervisor?
  • What are the most important things that you have learned in your previous jobs?
  • Describe your dream job or workplace.
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • How will your strengths help you succeed in your task? What have you done or will you do to fix your weaknesses?
  • What motivates you as an employee?
  • Describe the type of work community that you thrive in.
  • Describe your idea of a good place to work.
  • Do you prefer working alone or in a group?
  • Why are you applying for a position that is not related to your previous work experience and educational background?
  • How do you work under pressure? Give a concrete example.
  • Are you ready to travel for work?
  • Are you prepared to be flexible with your working hours?
  • How much salary do you want?
  • What have you learned in your previous jobs?
  • What achievement are you particularly proud of?
  • Why should we choose you?
  • What would you like to know about us?
  • Who could recommend you for the position?
  • If we called the person giving you a reference, what would they tell us about you?

You may be asked several similar questions, and the order of the questions may seem completely random. This way, the interviewer may simply be testing how you cope under pressure.


Other matters related to the job seeking process

It is worth remembering that you do not need to answer all questions asked by the employer. It is also good to be aware that, in addition to the job interview, the employer can examine your suitability for the position by means of personal assessments and aptitude tests.

There are certain topics that should not affect the recruitment process. During a job interview or similar encounter, you do not need to answer questions related to your

  • age,
  • health,
  • family relationships or plans,
  • sexual orientation,
  • ethnic background,
  • religion, or
  • political orientation.

The employer is not allowed to place job seekers in an unequal position on the basis of the aforementioned characteristics.

Exceptions to this may include some situations where the listed features have a material impact on the performance of the work tasks.

In addition to a job interview, your competence and aptitude for the task may be evaluated in other ways.

Your professional competence may be tested in different ways. For example, you may be asked to do a demo in a situation that resembles work, participate in group work, or give a small-scale presentation.

A psychological evaluation can be used to assess and predict how you will perform in a task by studying your thinking, expertise, skills, characteristics, or operating models.

Through psychological assessment, the employer may wish to find out, for example, 

  • how you solve problems,
  • how well you withstand pressure, and
  • what kind of interaction style and personality you have.

It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the tests are based on reliable methods and that the information gained during the testing process is accurate. The people who perform these tests must have sufficient expertise.

The best way to prepare for these types of tests is to be yourself and go in with an open mind. You are always entitled to receive a copy of your test report or oral feedback on it.

Browse regional services

Are you planning on working abroad? Before you begin applying for work abroad, evaluate your language skills, expertise, and the employment situation of your field in your destination country.

EURES helps you find a job abroad 

EURES (European Employment Service) supports free movement between its Member States. In addition to EU countries, EURES covers Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.  

Free movement gives all citizens in the region the right to work in another Member State. As a Finnish citizen, you have the same rights and obligations when working in the EU and Switzerland as the nationals of those countries. You must register your residence in the new country, but no separate residence permit is required. 

If you want to work in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland and are looking for information about open jobs in the country, education and training, or the labour market, check out the EURES online service.

EURES advisers provide guidance on international job searches and help you prepare a country-specific CV and cover letter. In addition, you receive support from EURES member and partner organisations throughout the job search. The service is free of charge. 

The EURES portal is a recruitment site for the EU. In addition to open jobs, it also contains a wide range of useful information on matters such as living and working in other EU countries and the contact details of EURES advisers in different EU countries.

You can also register in the EURES portal and create a job seeker profile and a CV there. You can publish your job seeker profile on the CV database where the employers registered in the service can find it. If an employer considers you to be a suitable candidate for a vacancy in their organisation, they can contact you and offer you the job. You can transfer your job applicant profile data from Job Market Finland directly to the EURES portal. 

Usually the job posting will specify what kind of an application the employer is looking for. The content of cover letters and CVs elsewhere in Europe is usually very similar to what is required in Finland. However, note that there may be some practical differences. In Germany, for example, it is common to attach copies of certificates to job applications.  

You can ask the EURES advisers in the destination country about country-specific practices; you can find their contact details in the EURES portal. You can also find country-specific tips for drafting a cover letter and a CV in the Living and working conditions section of the EURES portal. You can also read the country-specific information on job search processes in the ‘Ready to make the move?’ guide which is available on the website of the European Commission. You can download the guide in PDF format or order a print version.  

It is a good idea to use the Europass CV template as the basis for the CV. Europass has been developed with international recruitment in mind and easily gives the employer an overview of your professional skills and competence.

Targeted Mobility Schemes provide financial support for promoting labour mobility in the EU. There are several projects, which are currently coordinated by the Swedish and German employment services and EURES.  
 
You can receive a mobility subsidy e.g. if you have a job or a job interview in another EU country, Norway, or Iceland, and you need financial support for travel or relocation costs.  

EURES Targeted Mobility Scheme support for mobility in Europe

The European Online Job Day (EOJD) events are virtual recruitment fairs. They are organised by different EURES member states. Participation is free of charge for you. At the events, you can search for vacancies, chat with employers, watch videos and even participate in a job interview. You can also create a profile on the event platform. At EOJD events, you can easily find job opportunities abroad and hear about living and working in different countries. For more information on the events, contact an EURES adviser or the event platform.

More information

Job seeking trip to an EU or EEA country or Switzerland 

As an unemployed job seeker, you are allowed to go to another EU or EEA member state or Switzerland for three months to look for work and still retain your entitlement to the unemployment benefit you receive in Finland. During your job seeking trip, you can receive earnings-related unemployment allowance or basic unemployment allowance. In other words, you cannot receive the labour market subsidy during the trip. 

To be able to receive unemployment benefits while you are abroad, your unemployment before your trip must have lasted for at least four weeks. The employment official may, at its discretion, shorten this period for a special reason, for example if you have already agreed on a job interview or your spouse has got a job in the destination country. Your unemployment period can also be calculated to include the time that you have participated in a service that promotes employment. 

Please report your travel dates to your local employment official in good time before your departure. The official will inform the payer of the unemployment security that you will be leaving to look for work in another EU or EEA member state or Switzerland. 

Remember to order a U2 form from Kela or your unemployment fund well in advance of your departure, as you will need to take this to the employment official of your destination country. KELA or your unemployment fund will determine whether the prerequisites for transferring the unemployment allowance that falls within their domain are met. 

After you have arrived at your destination country, remember to register as a job seeker with the local employment official within seven days. This will allow you to receive your allowance for the duration of your trip. If you register later, you will only receive money from your registration date. You can search for your future country of employment on the European Commission’s website.

During the job seeking process, you are required to comply with the obligations and supervision methods that have been mandated by the labour officials of your destination country. 

Your unemployment allowance is paid by KELA or an unemployment fund. During your job seeking trip, you can apply for unemployment allowance online as usual, or you can post your unemployment period notice to the payer.  

More information

Register as an unemployed job seeker after the trip  

Once you return to Finland, notify your local employment official immediately. Your unemployment security may change if you do not return to Finland and you do not notify the official at the latest on the return date mentioned in the U2 form. This means that you would not receive any unemployment allowance before you have been employed or participated in labour market training in Finland for four weeks. You may be entitled to receive labour market support. 

For more detailed instructions, contact the employment official, Kela, or the unemployment fund.  

If you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, contact the employment official and the payer of your unemployment benefit. 

For more information, contact your local EURES adviser.

More information

This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)

 

Which profession is right for you? Choosing a profession is an important decision, but it will not determine who you are for the rest of your life. This is why it is better to think of the process as a lifelong one, as you may change professions several times throughout your career, either to follow your passions or due to circumstance – for example, if there are changes in the job market or in your health.

The starting point for career planning is to assess your interests. Think about what hopes and wishes you have for your future career and how your values may influence your choice of profession. It is also important to identify your personal strengths and limitations. After that, you can begin thinking about different professions and which options may suit you best. Find out what types of education and training are required to access the tasks that interest you. You should also familiarise yourself with the future prospects of your chosen field and profession.

You can receive help and assistance from the psychologist's service for career choices and career-related guidance. You can also participate in career coaching, where you will have the opportunity to reflect on your career path together with a career coach and other individuals who are in a similar situation. Those under the age of 30 are also eligible for free help and support from the One-Stop Guidance Centers, which can help you with a variety of issues, such as your studies, employment, or housing.

Browse regional services
More information

How can I find a profession that suits me?

There are many different professions, and finding a suitable profession or position may seem difficult at first. You can watch the following short videos to reflect on your ideas and choices.

After watching the videos, you can learn more about different career planning tools and information resources.

Job Market Finland’s 'Professional information' service

You can find out more about different fields and professions in Job Market Finland’s 'Professional information' section. The job descriptions in this section contain information on the competence and educational requirements and salaries for each profession. You can also read interviews with people who represent different fields to discover handy tips for your career planning.

Job Market Finland’s career stories

You can read the career stories in Job Market Finland's 'Current topics' section to learn about the career paths of different people and the knowledge and experiences they have to share.

>      Job Market Finland’s career stories

The AVO career choice program

You can use the AVO career choice programme to consider your personal areas of interest and what wishes you have for the content of your future career. Based on your answers, the programme can offer you suggestions for suitable professions.

Career Skills tool

Career Skills is a digital tool that helps you assess and develop your career management skills.

Töissä.fi

The Töissä.fi website provides information on the careers of those who have graduated from a university or university of applied sciences. You can also read what different graduates have to say about the tasks and positions they have worked in.

Labour Force Barometer

The Labour Force Barometer allows you to examine the employment opportunities that are available in your field of choice in different regions. The Labour Force Barometer contains useful information on the employment prospects and development trends of over 200 different occupations.

Skills Needs Compass

The Skills Needs Compass contains information on what kind of competence is needed in our society and what changes can be observed in our competence-related needs. The Compass also contains information on various professional fields.

Abiliator

The Abilitator service allows you to assess your work-related abilities and capabilities and examine your strengths and development areas.

Training for a profession

Once you have discovered a profession that interests you, find out if it requires any specific education or training. You will typically have a lot of different options at your disposal, as you can develop your competence and vocational skills at a wide range of educational institutions and in many different ways, such as through contact teaching or distance learning.

Read more

Studyinfo

Studyinfo is a national education information service that contains important facts and figures on the degrees, professions and studies offered by Finnish educational institutions. You can use the service to find and apply for different educational paths and options.

Interested in entrepreneurship?

Many people also choose to work for themselves as entrepreneurs. Find out what it takes to become an entrepreneur and whether entrepreneurship could be a good fit for you. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, remember that you can also participate in entrepreneurship training or career coaching.

Read more
More information

Ending your employment may be a relevant option for you if, for example, you want to change your job, are looking for new challenges, or are moving to another location. Resignation and termination of employment are two means for ending your employment with your current employer.

Before changing jobs, it is worth weighing the good and bad aspects of your current job. What changes will a new employment relationship bring? For example, does the new position have a more interesting job description, an opportunity for remote work, better pay, better opportunities for progress, or like-minded colleagues? If you think that the new employment relationship will have more positive aspects than your current job, it may be a good idea to make a change.

You do not need a special reason to terminate a permanent employment relationship. Remember, however, that you must comply with the notice period agreed in your employment contract, which must be at least as long as the minimum period required by law. Where possible, it is polite to notify your employer of your resignation well in advance. 

It is also possible to resign during a fixed term contract if such an agreement has been made with your employer either in the employment contract or during the employment relationship. 

In special cases, you may also cancel the employment relationship without any notice period if the employer has seriously violated their obligations. If there is a trial period at the start of the employment, you may cancel the employment relationship during this period without any special reason. Comprehensive instructions for different types of employment termination can be found on the website of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

If you know that you will be unemployed between jobs and want to claim benefits for the period, find out whether you are entitled to unemployment security.

You can also resign from a fixed-term employment relationship if you have agreed on this with the employer in the employment contract or during the employment relationship. 

Where possible, it is polite to inform the employer of such a decision in good time. You can announce your resignation with a separate notice of resignation or by sending an email with your name, personal details, and the date.

Termination of employment

If there is a trial period at the start of the employment, you may terminate the employment relationship during this period without giving any special reason. During the trial period, you can terminate the employment relationship without serving any period of notice. In such cases, the employment relationship ends immediately, in practice on the same day.

As an employee, you can also terminate the employment contract if your employer violates or neglects very seriously their own obligations, such as payment of wages or occupational safety

More information

This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)

Do you wish to develop your competence? There are many different ways to expand your expertise.

Identify your competence

Are you aware of all your areas of competence? It is important to acknowledge what you already know and what you could still learn if you are seeking to find a new job or to develop your competence. You can attend higher education institutions to complement your existing competence and degrees, or study at any institution of your choosing alongside work.

Complementing studies and degrees through higher education

Higher education institutions allow you to complement your previous degrees or take studies in an entirely new field. These non-degree studies can also be taken alongside work to expand professional competence.

Studying while working

If you are working, you can take multiform studies or ask your employer about the possibility of taking study leave.

Multiform studies are designed to be taken alongside work, so contact teaching is reduced and mostly takes place in the evenings and on weekends. Multiform studies combine different forms of study, which may include contact teaching, online learning, working in study groups, and independent study, for example.

Policies on study leave vary from workplace to workplace, so discuss them with your own employer.

The way that work is done is changing, opening new opportunities for you to find employment. In addition to traditional salaried work and entrepreneurship, you may also employ yourself in other ways, such as using light entrepreneurship services, working as a freelancer, working on a grant, working in a worker cooperative, or working as a family caregiver, professional athlete, or volunteer. These different ways of working offer you alternatives when preparing for changes in working life.

You can employ yourself in many different ways. You can earn your income from multiple sources, either simultaneously or in alternation. For example, you may work part-time through light entrepreneurship whilst also in paid employment or doing your studies, or your work may consist of a number of short-term job assignments. Have you ever considered that you could also earn money from your hobby? 

This may bring up questions about unemployment security. There is no unequivocal model for all self-employed people, as the amount and duration of the work you do has an impact on unemployment security. For more information, you can browse information at our 'Unemployment security' and 'Information and guidance about unemployment security' sections.

  • Informal carer

    As an informal carer, you take care of a loved one who has a disease or disability or who otherwise needs special care and is unable to cope with their daily life on their own. At the same time, informal carers employ themselves.

  • Volunteer

    Formal or informal volunteering involves ordinary non-profit work for which you are not paid.

Are you interested in entrepreneurship?

Explore the entrepreneurship content at Job Market Finland.

 

 

Entrepreneurship section

Services

Vocational guidance and career planning help you assess your vocational, education or work options.

Career coaching guides and supports you in studying different career options.

All situations

This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)