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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.
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 advertisement 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.
Services
- Job search training
- Advice and guidance to job seekers
- Reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses caused by job seeking
More information
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.
Working in EU and EEA member states and Switzerland
As a Finnish citizen, you have the same work-related rights and responsibilities in EU and EEA member states and Switzerland as their own citizens.
If you want to work in one of these countries and find information about job vacancies, training, and the labour market in the country, you should check out the EURES online service.
The EURES network helps job seekers from EU countries as well as Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. You can get support from EURES member and partner organisations throughout the job search process. The service is free of charge.
From a EURES advisor, you can get, for example, guidance in the international job search and help with the country-specific preparation of the CV and application.
Services
More information
- EURES Suomi, in Finnish (toimistot.te-palvelut.fi)
- Eures (eures.europa.eu)
- Working abroad and unemployment security (ytk.fi)
- Taxation of income earned abroad (vero.fi)
Working in a country outside the EU and EEA region and Switzerland
As a rule, you need a work permit issued by the immigration authority of the destination country to work in countries outside the EU and EEA countries and Switzerland. As a job seeker, you will be personally required to find out the necessary prerequisites and procedures related to the work permits. For more information, contact, for example, the embassies of the countries that you are interested in.
Interning abroad
An internship abroad supports your professional development, language skills, and readiness to work internationally.
If you are studying in a vocational institution, you can apply for a workplace learning spot through your educational institution.
If you are a higher education student, traineeships from abroad can be provided to you by, for example, your own educational institution, in case of EDUFI internships, through the Finnish National Agency for Education, which is responsible for international mobility and collaboration as well as international student organisations.
Job interview or application trips within the EU and EEA region and Switzerland
Going on a job seeking trip on an unemployment benefit
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 the right to an unemployment benefit that is paid in Finland. During your job seeking trip, you will only be able to receive earnings-related unemployment allowance and basic unemployment allowance. You cannot receive 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 expert at the TE Office or the local government pilot can reduce this period at its discretion and for a special reason, for example, if you have already agreed on a job interview. Your unemployment period can also be calculated to include the time that you have participated in a service that promotes employment.
Report the travel date to the TE Office or the local government pilot well in advance of your departure. It will inform the payer of the unemployment benefit 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 labour office of your destination country. Kela or your unemployment fund will determine whether the prerequisites for transferring the unemployment benefit that falls within their domain are met.
After you have arrived at your country of destination, remember to register as a job seeker at the local labour office within seven days. This will allow you to receive your unemployment benefit for the duration of your trip. If you register later, you will only receive money starting from your registration date.
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 your unemployment fund. During your job seeking trip, you can apply for unemployment benefits as usual online, or you can post your unemployment period notice to the payer.
Reimbursement of travel costs
Your TE Office or local government pilot can reimburse you for any travel and accommodation costs for a return job interview journey to another EU or EEA country if the work you applied for will last for at least two weeks and your working hours will be at least 18 hours per week on average. Reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs cannot be granted for job search trips to Switzerland.
Register as an unemployed job seeker after your trip
When you return to Finland, register immediately as a job seeker. Your unemployment security may change if you do not return to Finland and you do not register as a job seeker at the latest on the return date mentioned in the U2 form. This will prevent you from receiving any unemployment benefit before you have been employed or have participated in labour market training in Finland for four weeks. You may be entitled to a labour market subsidy.
For more detailed instructions, contact your TE Office, local government pilot, Kela, or unemployment fund.
If you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, contact the TE Office or local government pilot and the payer of your unemployment benefit.
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Parliament has approved the government's proposal to repeal the acts governing adult education benefits and job alternation leave, resulting in the cessation of payments for adult education allowance and job alternation compensation. Job alternation leave has beeb initiated by July 31, 2024. Those who started their leave by this date are entitled to take job alternation leave for a maximum of 180 calendar days. It will be possible to receive the adult education allowance until the end of 2025, provided that the studies and the support period begun no later than July 31, 2024. Currently, recipients of the adult education allowance can apply for the allowance in one or more parts until the end of 2025.
If you are considering taking job alternation leave, check whether you meet the following conditions:
- The maximum age for an employee to take job alternation leave is three years before their earliest retirement date. This limit does not apply, however, if you were born before 1957.
- Those taking job alternation leave must have at least 20 years of work history. Their work history is reviewed by the payer of the job alternation compensation, i.e., an unemployment fund or Kela.
- The person taking job alternation leave must have worked for the same employer continuously for at least 13 months. This period can include an unpaid period of absence of a maximum of 30 days.
The person recruited for the period of your job alternation leave must be registered as an unemployed job seeker at the TE Office.
If you are a customer of a local government employment pilot, contact your regional TE Office in matters related to job alternation leave.
Job alternation compensation and its calculation
You can receive job alternation compensation for the duration of your job alternation leave. You receive compensation even if your replacement's employment ends before the end of your job alternation leave.
Job alternation compensation is equal to 70% of the daily unemployment allowance that you would receive if you became unemployed. Child increments are not taken into account in this calculation. Job alternation compensation is taxable income.
By way of exception, the daily unemployment allowance on which the job alternation compensation is based is calculated according to the earned income received during the 52 weeks preceding the start of the job alternation leave.
If you have been a member of an unemployment fund for at least 26 weeks immediately prior to the start of your job alternation leave, your benefit is calculated based on your earnings-related unemployment benefit and paid by the unemployment fund.
In other cases, the compensation is based on basic unemployment benefit and paid by Kela.
Work and other income during job alternation leave
The purpose of job alternation leave is to support employees in coping at work and to provide unemployed jobseekers with fixed-term employment. You may still do other work during your job alternation leave if you so wish.
Any salary and other earnings received during your job alternation leave reduce your job alternation compensation. In such cases, the compensation is based on your adjusted daily allowance. You are not entitled to compensation for periods where you are in full-time work for more than two weeks.
However, the amount of the job alternation compensation is not affected by pay earned before the leave and paid during the leave if this is not pay for which you receive leisure time. In other words, your job alternation compensation is not affected by, for example, holiday bonus paid during the job alternation leave or by different profit and performance bonuses.
Statutory benefits that reduce unemployment security (such as child home care allowance) also reduce job alternation compensation.
By contrast, your job alternation compensation is affected by
- survivors' pensions,
- housing allowance,
- child benefit,
- social assistance, or
- support for informal care.
Restrictions on the right to job alternation compensation
You are not entitled to job alternation compensation for periods during which
- your employer is paying you a salary, annual holiday pay or other compensation and payments for which you receive time off – see the list below for details,
- you are engaged in military or non-military service or women's voluntary military service,
- you are serving a custodial sentence in a correctional institution,
- you are in full-time employment lasting more than two weeks in the service of someone other than your own employer,
- you are engaged in full-time entrepreneurship, or
- you are receiving a benefit specified in the Act on Unemployment Security, such as daily sickness allowance, maternity, special maternity, paternity or parental allowance, special care allowance or training support
The following, however, are not considered as a salary within the context of the first point listed above:
- training paid for by the employer, if the benefit is not counted as taxable income of the employee or
- fringe benefits that you also receive during your job alternation leave.
Applying for job alternation compensation
When you plan to take job alternation leave, submit a notification to the TE Office before the leave begins informing them that the conditions for the leave have been met. These include your employment during the preceding year and its full-time status. You can prove these, for example, by providing a copy of your pay slip.
Apply for job alternation compensation from your unemployment fund or from Kela.
Application forms are available on the website of the Federation of Unemployment Funds in Finland or from the TE Office.
Attach to the application a pay certificate of the full pay periods covering at least the 52 weeks preceding the job alternation leave and copies of the job alternation agreement.
A retroactive period of three months applies to job alternation compensation applications.
The TE Office issues a statement on the labour policy requirements for paying compensation to the unemployment fund or Kela. They then decide on the compensation and ensure that it is paid. The compensation is paid retroactively on at least a monthly basis.
Deliver to your local TE Office
- a job alternation agreement signed by you and your employer and provided well in advance of the commencement of the job alternation leave and
- a trustworthy account of the employment of the unemployed person for the duration of your leave, preferably evidence such as a copy of your employment contract or letter of appointment. This must be provided either before the start of your job alternation leave or without delay after it begins.
Reporting duties
When you are receiving job alternation compensation, inform the payer without delay of any work, business activity and other matters that affect the payment of the compensation. If you receive too much compensation, you will have to pay it back later.
Your employer, on the other hand, must inform the TE Office without delay if there are significant changes in the employment of the substitute for the person on job alternation leave. This is the case, for example, where their employment ends before the job alternation leave does.
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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
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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 job alternation or 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.
Job alternation leave is an arrangement where you and your employee agree upon a longer period of leave. You can use this leave to study, for example.
Policies on study leave vary from workplace to workplace, so discuss them with your own employer.
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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. It is worth taking a look at our Unemployment security section and asking Information and guidance about unemployment security.
Are you interested in entrepreneurship?
Explore the entrepreneurship content at Job Market Finland.
Entrepreneurship section
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