A strong job application starts with preparation
Good Preparation Is the Key to Successful Job Hunting
A strong job application doesn’t come out of nowhere. First, you need to understand what the employer is really looking for and how your skills match that.
As a job seeker, you often focus on your own perspective: what you can do and what kind of work you would like to have. But the employer sees things differently. They are looking for someone with the right skills to fill a specific role. Your application will only get noticed if the skills you describe match the employer’s needs.
To talk about your skills in a way that interests the employer, you need to do some proper background research. Taking time to prepare helps you target and tailor your application and stand out from other candidates.
The Recruiter Wants to Quickly Find the Skills They’re Looking For
When you put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes, you start to see why clarity, focus and keeping things concise are so important in job applications. A recruiter is looking for skills that match a specific need.
That’s why simply listing everything you can do is not enough. You need to highlight the skills that are relevant for the job you’re applying for.
Employers don’t have time to guess who might be the best candidate. They may have dozens – or even hundreds – of applications to go through. Make their job easier by clearly and concretely showing the skills that make you a good fit for the position.
Targeting Your Job Application
Targeting your application means that you write it specifically for the job and employer in question. You don’t send the same message to everyone – instead, you take a moment to reflect:
- What is this employer looking for?
- What skills are emphasised in the job advertisement?
- What kind of words, tone, and values does the employer use in their communication?
- How do my skills match what they are looking for?
Tailoring Your Job Application
Tailoring your application means that you:
- adjust the content of your application based on what is mentioned in the job advertisement
- highlight the skills, experience and examples that are relevant for this particular role and the skills it requires
- leave out skills that are not needed right now
How to Tailor and Target Your Application in Practice
Before you start writing your job application and tailoring your CV, take a moment to do proper background research. This helps you understand what you’re applying for and what kind of skills the employer is looking for. With this understanding, you’ll be able to target and tailor your application more convincingly.
Begin by gaining a clear understanding, this will help you shape a convincing application.
Before you begin writing your application, read the job advertisement thoroughly. Look for answers to the questions below. You can underline key information, collect it in a separate document, or use an AI tool to help with the analysis.
On the page AI in job hunting and recruitment, you’ll find example prompts you can use to guide AI in analysing job adverts.
Job description
- What kind of tasks are included in the job?
- Which of these tasks are already familiar or interesting to you?
- What would you like to learn, even if you don’t yet have experience?
Skill and experience requirements
- Which of the listed skills or experiences are essential for being selected (such as qualifications, work experience, language skills)?
- What skills are desirable, but not absolutely necessary?
Tone and between-the-lines messages
- What kind of atmosphere does the advert create? Is it relaxed, formal, enthusiastic?
- What can you guess about the company and the work environment based on the language used?
- What makes you feel that this could be the right workplace for you?
Keywords
- Identify the key words and expressions the employer uses when describing the tasks and skills needed (for example teamwork, customer-oriented, project skills).
- Think about how you can naturally include these words in your own application.
Employers often repeat the things they value most, sometimes directly, sometimes between the lines, so pay attention to repetition and tone.
- Visit the company’s website, especially the sections on values, vision, news and recruitment. What can you learn about their customers, ongoing or upcoming projects, or focus areas in their operations?
- Check the company’s LinkedIn page and other social media channels. Can you find active staff members or social media presence? What kind of tone do they use in their posts? What does the staff write about? What might this tell you about the company?
- Look for media coverage or other current news about the organisation.
Finally, pick out the things that interest you from these sources and think about how you could refer to them in your job application.
If the job advertisement mentions that you can call or email a company representative or recruiter to ask for more information, this may be a good opportunity to stand out.
Why and when should you call?
- You might get additional information that isn’t mentioned in the advertisement, which you can then use in your application.
- It shows your interest and initiative – but don’t try to “sell yourself” at this stage. Use the opportunity purely to gather more insight.
How to prepare for the call
- Think carefully in advance about what you want to ask.
- Never ask about something that’s already clearly stated in the job ad.
- Write down the information you receive – you can refer to it in your application.
Examples of questions you can ask the recruiter
- Why is this position currently open?
- What kind of team would I be working in?
- What kinds of tasks would I be handling at the start?
- How do you measure success in this role?
Do you know someone in your network who works (or has worked) at the company or in the same field? Could you reach out to them and ask what it’s like to work there? You could ask, for example:
- What is the company culture or leadership style like?
- Do you know anything about the team that is hiring?
- What has your experience been like working at this company?
- Do you have any tips for applying?
Tip: On LinkedIn, you can also search for new contacts and find out more about people currently working at the company. What kind of roles do they have? What are their backgrounds? How do they describe their jobs and talk about their workplace? You can find more information and tips on networking on page Using your network in job searching.
- Based on your background research, decide which skills and strengths you want to highlight in your job application.
- Choose concrete examples from your previous work or studies. You can also include skills gained through free-time activities, such as involvement in organisations, coaching, or volunteering. Use examples that demonstrate the kind of skills needed in the role, or that complement them.
- Think about: What motivates you about this role or this company? Why would this job suit you?
- Use keywords from the job advertisement in your application, but explain them using your own examples.
- Reflect on what you bring to the role. How can you benefit the employer? What makes you stand out from other applicants?
If you are applying for similar roles within the same field
- Update the introduction and adjust your reasoning for applying to match the specific role
- Make sure you highlight the skills that are most relevant for this position
- Remove or edit any sections that don’t match the job description
- Check the tone and make sure all names and details are correct
If you are applying for very different roles or across different fields
- Write a new application from scratch, but feel free to reuse previously written examples if they match the required skills
- Don’t use a generic application. For example, you shouldn’t apply for a project manager role using a letter that only describes your technical skills as an electrical engineer. A project manager position highlights different strengths and qualities.
You can find more tips on the page Writing a cover letter.
What Does Tailoring and Targeting Mean in Practice? Case: Amina
Amina is a first-year International Business student at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. She studies full-time during the day and is now looking for a part-time job in the evenings and on weekends to support herself financially.
Before moving to Finland, Amina worked part-time in a coffee shop in her home country, where she learned customer service, teamwork, and how to stay calm under pressure. Now she would like to build on these skills and gain work experience in a Finnish environment.
Let’s start by reading the job ad that Amina decided to apply for.
Sales Assistant – Grocery Store, Evenings and Weekends
We are looking for a Sales Assistant to join our evening and weekend shifts in a central Helsinki grocery store. This is a customer-facing role where a positive attitude, flexibility, and the ability to work in a busy environment are key.
Your main tasks include checkout work, stocking shelves, assisting customers, and keeping the store tidy and welcoming.
Previous experience in retail or customer service is a plus, but not required. We value willingness to learn, a helpful mindset, and the ability to serve customers kindly, even when it’s busy.
We provide a full orientation in English and a supportive team environment. Some Finnish skills are helpful, but not mandatory. You’ll have the chance to learn and use Finnish at work.
Hi,
I would like to apply for the position because I enjoy working with people. I have worked in a coffee shop before, where I learned how to serve customers and work as part of a team.
In the job ad, you mention customer service and being accurate at the checkout. These are things I have done before and received positive feedback from my manager. I would be happy to continue learning in your team.
Best regards,
Amina Example
Why this version doesn’t work so well
Too generic – not directed at the employer or position
“I would like to apply because I enjoy working with people.”
This is a vague sentence that could be used for nearly any job. It doesn’t explain why this specific role or this grocery store is of interest.
Experience is vague – no concrete examples
“I learned how to serve customers and work as part of a team.”
These are good themes, but the description is too general. What kind of customers? What situations? What exactly did she do in the team?
No strong link between skills and the job
“These are things I have done before and received positive feedback…”
This could be a great point, but it lacks specifics. What feedback? When and from whom? How would these skills help in this job?
Lacking motivation and future direction
The application doesn’t explain why Amina wants to work now, how this job would support her career goals, or how long she’s hoping to stay.
Hi,
I’m a first-year International Business student at Metropolia UAS. I’m looking for a part-time job during evenings and weekends, and I was excited to see your opening for a Sales Assistant. I enjoy working in fast-paced environments and I bring with me three years of hands-on experience in customer service.
Before coming to Finland, I worked in a coffee shop in my home country. I was responsible for taking orders, handling payments, preparing drinks, and keeping the café clean and welcoming. During busy hours, I learned to stay calm under pressure, and I often made small talk with customers to create a friendly atmosphere. These situations helped me become more confident and proactive in my role. My supervisor regularly praised my positive attitude and ability to take initiative, especially when handling demanding situations independently.
Now, I would like to bring this experience to a Finnish workplace and continue developing my skills. I’m especially interested in working at your store because you offer full orientation in English and encourage learning Finnish on the job. I have basic Finnish skills and I’m motivated to improve them while working.
I have also completed the Hygiene Passport training in Finland, which has strengthened my understanding of food safety and cleanliness—skills that are essential in a grocery store environment.
I would be happy to contribute to your team with my previous customer service experience, eagerness to learn, and commitment to doing my best in every shift. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this role further with you.
Best regards,
Amina Example
[phone number]
[email address]
Summary of tailoring and effectiveness
- Concrete experience: Instead of listing personal qualities, Amina shows her skills through clear examples (e.g. managing rush hours, receiving supervisor feedback).
- Targeted to the job ad: Mentions key themes like fast-paced work, food safety, learning Finnish, and English-language orientation—directly responding to the employer’s values.
- Cultural awareness: Balances international background with a willingness to integrate into Finnish work life.
- Language skills + certifications: Brings added value by mentioning the Hygiene Passport and motivation to improve Finnish skills at work.
Practise the Skills That Help You Tailor and Target Your Application
Task 1: Analysing a Job Advertisement
In this task, you’ll go through a job advertisement step by step. Carefully analysing a job ad is an excellent way to prepare for writing your application. You can do the analysis yourself or, if you wish, use AI (such as ChatGPT) to support you. Instructions for using AI can be found further down the page.
- Choose a job advertisement that genuinely interests you or one you are considering applying for.
- Alternatively, select any advertisement from a job search site (such as LinkedIn, Oikotie, or Duunitori).
- Read the advertisement carefully and look for answers to the questions below. You can underline key points, collect them in a separate file, or use an AI tool to help.
Job description
- What kind of tasks are included in the job?
- Which tasks are already familiar or interesting to you?
- What would you like to learn, even if you don’t yet have the skills?
Skill and experience requirements
- Which requirements are essential for being selected (e.g. education, experience, language skills)?
- What skills are desirable but not absolutely necessary?
Tone and between-the-lines messages
- What kind of atmosphere does the ad create? Is it relaxed, formal, enthusiastic?
- What can you guess about the company and the work culture based on how the ad is written?
- What makes this feel like a suitable job for you?
Keywords
- Identify the key words and expressions the employer uses when describing the role and skill requirements (e.g. teamwork, customer-oriented, project experience).
- Think about how you could naturally include these words in your application.
If you wish, you can copy the job advertisement into an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, and use the following prompts:
Prompt 1:
“Analyse this job advertisement and tell me what the key requirements are and which skills are emphasised. Make a list of keywords that should be included in the application.”
[Insert the job advertisement]
Prompt 2:
“Summarise the content of this job advertisement: what is the role really about, what does the employer seem to focus on, and what kind of person would be the best fit for the position?”
[Insert the job advertisement]
Prompt 3:
“Examine the following job advertisement. Look for hidden messages – what can be inferred about the organisational culture, expectations or the nature of the work from between the lines?”
[Insert the job advertisement]
Task 2: Visualisation Exercise – Imagine You Are the Recruiter
When you’re applying for a job, you naturally view the situation from your own perspective, what you can do and what kind of work you’d like to do. But it’s important to remember that the employer sees things differently: they’re looking for someone for a specific team and role. This exercise helps you shift perspective for a moment and understand why tailoring your application for each job really matters.
Step into the employer’s shoes for a moment and imagine that your task is to choose the right person for an open position.
So far, you have:
- Noticed a need for a new employee in your company
- Carefully considered what kind of skills the company needs, and what kind of person would be a good fit for the team
- Written a job advertisement describing these needs as clearly as possible and published it on job search sites
Now you’re sitting with 80 applications in front of you – and you only have a few minutes to look through each one. You still have other tasks waiting on your desk.
Reflect on the following questions:
- What kind of information would you want to find quickly in the applicant’s documents?
- What would make an application stand out in a positive way?
- What kind of things might cause you to reject an application right away?