Different ways to look for a job

• Recognise your skills: If you have not tried any skills recognition exercises yet, start with those. 

• Update your basic CV: Get your resume ready even before you find a specific job opening. 

• Define your goals: Are you looking for a job in your own field or a part-time job alongside your studies? You can prepare a few different versions of your CV for different purposes. 

• Record deadlines: Write down the closing dates for open applications. 

• Keep a list of your searches: If you apply to many positions at once, list where you have sent applications and update the list when employers contact you. 

• Modify your texts: Do not send the exact same application to every employer. However, you can reuse good descriptions of your skills for similar roles. 

• Save the job advertisement: Save a copy of the job description. If you get invited to an interview, you can easily review what the employer was looking for. 

• Utilise your best hours: Plan your job search activities for times when you are most alert. If you write a cover letter late at night, wait and send it the next morning. 

• Check the exact closing times: Note that some application periods end at a specific hour, not at the end of the day. 

• Take regular breaks: Breaks clear your mind. When you return to your text after a break (or read it aloud), it is easier to spot mistakes or awkward sentences. 

You can find open jobs in Finland on many different websites:

• Work placement and summer jobs for students are published, for example, on Metropolia’s JobTeaser and, for social and health care, on Jobiili. 
• You can look for open positions on Työmarkkinatori and Duunitori. 
• Public sector jobs can be found on Kuntarekry and Valtiolle.fi. 
• Many professional unions collect jobs from their own field on their websites, so remember to check these as well. 
• Specialist jobs are also published on LinkedIn.

• Make it a routine: Check the sites regularly, for example, every morning. Many employers process applications during the application period, so be quick. 

• Use broad keywords: Search using job titles, locations, company names, or degree titles. 

• Try searching without filters: Job titles can be vague. By browsing widely, you see which employers are hiring. This also gives you good ideas for finding hidden jobs. 

• Set up job alerts: Save your search criteria and subscribe to email notifications about new openings. Remember to check the sites manually too, as alerts do not always pick up every position. 

Be proactive and reach out directly to employers, even if there are no jobs advertised. Network actively at events and on social media.

Follow discussions in your field, join professional groups, and keep up to date with the news and needs of employers in your area.

Not every job is advertised publicly. Some are filled through networks, previous applications, or recommendations. Sometimes there’s an urgent need for a new employee, and employers do not have time for a formal recruitment process.

Sometimes, even the employer doesn’t realise yet that they need a new staff member – but a timely approach from an applicant can result in a real job opportunity.

With hidden jobs, there is no specific opening to apply for – you offer your skills to the employer. You could think of hidden job search as selling your skills and abilities.

Sometimes the job finds the jobseeker. Are you visible to employers? This means, for example, updating your LinkedIn or JobTeaser profile and actively sharing about your skills and the kind of job you would like to do. For more help in describing and recognising your skills, check this section of this guide.

Sometimes, hidden jobs are found through your networks. Fellow students, Metropolia staff, and people you meet during work placements and projects are all part of your professional network. Sometimes, job opportunities can also be found in completely unexpected contexts. Make sure as many people as possible know you are looking for a job and what skills you have to offer.

This phenomenon is not limited to Finland – worldwide, networking and the “hidden job market” are well recognised. For example, a LinkedIn global survey in 2016 found that 70% of people hired joined a company where they already had a contact (source: news.linkedin.com). This means the employee either knew someone or had a member of their network at the company, which often helps to ‘get your foot in the door’. In the same study, 80% of professionals considered networking important to career success. These figures show that hidden job markets and personal networks are key parts of finding a job at the international level, too. Many jobs are filled through relationships or internal recruitment, even if the position is not secret – often, news of an opportunity is shared through networks before an official advert appears.

Note that in the United States and elsewhere there’s also discussion about the “myth” of the hidden job market: some recruitment experts point out that, nowadays, most positions are published in some form (for example, on the company’s own career page or in recruitment systems), and the percentage of truly hidden jobs may be less than the outdated “80%” cited in legends. However, the power of networks is visible, as even if a job is advertised, most hiring decisions are still made through networks, recommendations and internal candidates. According to one international recruitment survey, almost 40% of jobseekers found an opportunity specifically through networking.