Playing hide and seek with hidden job markets
A hidden job means an open position that has not been made public. Instead, potential candidates are found for example via headhunters or networks. Sometimes the employer is not even actively looking for a professional to join his/her team but a new position is created when a capable person offers his or her expertise at a suitable time. As many as 70-80% of employment opportunities in Finland are not advertised publicly but remain “hidden”. (1) According to Sitra’s survey 2016, less than a quarter (23%) of Finns found their current job by applying for a vacancy, while around 70% found work through other channels. (2) But where to find these hidden job markets? This blog will give you practical tips on where to start looking. Why Finland has hidden job markets? From the employer's point of view, the recruiting process via open job markets often is lengthy and expensive. It requires a lot of resources: advertisement, going through the applications organizing the interviews, and communicating the process status for the applicants. From the company's point of view the new hire is also always a risk. It’s easier to hire personnel internally. If the right person for the job can be found inside the company, it minimizes the risk of making a bad hire. Some companies prefer that their open positions and periods of hiring aren’t public knowledge. Perhaps the company is opening a new branch, for example, but does not want to share this information with the public and the competitors just yet. In these cases the company uses silent recruitment by looking for the suitable canditates through their networks, social media or with the help of a head-hunter. Where to look for a hidden job? Hints and tips for the jobseekers 1. Media and news Follow the media. Decide which media you wish to monitor. What are the most important regional newspapers, what are the most notable publications in your profession, which websites you should follow online and which social media networks are worthwhile to participate in? 2. List of fastest-growing Companies in Finland Look for growth companies. Growth companies often want and need to recruit new employees but they have very little time or money for the lengthy recruitment processes. Follow the news and check out startup companies (3). 3. Company expansions, reforms and news about designation Relocating to new premises, establishing new functions, winning bids or outsourcing projects often result in a need for new employees. Appointment news is always a source of opportunities. If a company is replacing its management it often results in changes at other levels of the company as well. On the other hand, many people who start in a new job leave behind a vacancy that probably has not been made public yet. 4. Social media Be present on social media. Many recruiters use channels such as LinkedIn when scouting for professionals. Be bold in your networking and be active in various groups. If a job seeking campaign on social media seems like a natural thing for you, give it a go. By sharing your home page or video-cv you gain visibility that may lead you to the right employer. 5. Networks Networking (4) is not just for social people but in today's world, everyone can find a suitable way to network. Networking takes on very diverse forms and it can be done even from your couch at home. Use the channels of networking that suit you: LinkedIn and other social media, exhibitions and conferences. Expand your network boldly and be active in different kinds of professional discussions, either in person or online. Remember to use your own professional networks and circle of acquaintances. Let your network know what you can do and what you are looking for. 6. Direct contact You should directly and boldly contact employers that interest you and send them an open application (5) and CV. Choose the targets you approach carefully before making contact. Think about why you want to work for that particular company. Think of yourself with the company, find a contact person to approach and think about what additional value your expertise could give them. Always tailor your application and CV to match the company or position you are applying for. 7. Headhunters, recruiting and HR companies and their recruitment platforms You should regularly update your information on the pages of different recruitment and headhunting companies and maintain active open applications in the electronic systems of the target companies. 8. Recruitment fairs and events Events and fairs (6) are a good and easy way of meeting interesting employers. 9. Universities' and UAS’s Career Services Career services at different universities/UAS offer support for job seeking and career planning. The services can vary slightly depending on the university/UAS. Check the possible career services of your home uni/UAS. 10. Open-minded attitude Don’t give up. A hidden job is always an open opportunity. Keep on trying with an open mind. Feeling embarrassed to ask for a job. Why? Psychologist and career coach Päivi Montgomery highlights in her latest book “ Työnhaun psykologia” that your jobseach and contact message is an advantage for the company. (7) You are offering your professional expertise to the employer. Be proud of yourself and your expertise. And remember to show it to the employer! Sources: 1. TEK (2020) Hidden jobs - what are they. https://www.tek.fi/en/news-blogs/hidden-jobs-what-are-they 2. Sitra (2016). Only one in four Finns finds employment by applying for a vacancy https://www.sitra.fi/en/news/only-one-four-finns-finds-employment-applying-vacancy/ 3. Startups in Finland Open Data Storehouse https://tietopankki.businessfinland.fi/anonymous/extensions/Startups/Startups.html 4. Riia Hoppania, Metropolia (2022) The Art of Networking – where to start if you don´t know anyone in Finland? Blog post. https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2022/08/25/the-art-of-networking-where-to-s 23.tart-if-you-dont-know-anyone-in-finland/ 5. TEK työkirja (2022) Tools for job-search. Top tips: Application letter. https://www.tek.fi/sites/default/files/attachments/tek_tyokirja_2022_online_spreads-1.pdf 6. Events by Helsinki Employment Services: https://tyollisyyspalvelut.hel.fi/en/current-matters/events 7. P. Montgomery (2022) Työnhaun psykologia. Helsinki. Readme.fi Bloggers: Timo Luoma works as a Career Coach in Metropolia SIMHE services supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. They are working in a collaboration project with the employment services of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa-Kerava to increase employment among international professionals in the Helsinki region. In addition to career coaching, Timo’s responsibilities include coaching of students in Metropolia’s ICT Career Boost programme. Jaana Vaittinen works as a Career Coach in Metropolia SIMHE services supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. They are working in a collaboration project with the employment services of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa-Kerava to increase employment among international professionals in the Helsinki region. Her responsibility is to guide business accounting professionals in Metropolia’s Career Boost programme.
Make sure that your CV is as professional as you are
Companies that recruit for expert positions expect to receive professional CVs. The time that is spent reading one job application and CV might be even less than one minute, says Hanna Sirot, HR Business Partner at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (1). In this time, the applicant's core competence, work experience and education are quickly browsed. The more compact and clear the CV is, the better chances there are of getting it shortlisted. This is one fact that I have become to know as Business Coordinator at SIMHE (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education). And my question to you is: Is your CV as professional as you are? To get invitations to job interviews you must first make a good CV. What you need is a high-quality general version of your CV that you can revise to match the position you are applying for. So, take some time to get your CV up to date. 1. Find a template that reflects your professionality A convincing CV is clear, brief and preferably sent as PDF format. You may start your CV updating process by choosing one of the ready-made CV templates you can find from the Internet. You can also find templates on Word: open a Word document, select File and choose More templates. Whatever template you choose, make your CV fit in 1 or 2 pages. It is easier for recruiters to get a quick understanding of your competence when you have listed the content clearly and briefly. 2. Create a general version Writing a general CV based on your professional background helps you to later modify it to meet the needs of a position you are interested in. When you have listed all relevant job experience, degrees and other expertise you have, you can use the same CV with small updates when sending it to different companies. Update this general version when it is necessary: when you start at a new job, your duties at work have changed, you have finished a study module, etc. This helps you to react fast to interesting job offers and submit your application in time. 3. Start with a brief introduction In the upper part of the CV, describe with a few sentences who you are, what you do for your profession and most importantly, what are your plans for the future. Explain why you are interested in this particular company and positions. Let your motivation shine! The purpose of this introductory section is to raise the recruiter's interest to read the rest of your application documents. It also helps keep your career on track. When your goals are written down it is more likely that you will follow your goals and accomplish them. 4. List only relevant experience Start updating your CV by filling in your professional and educational background. Mention only relevant degrees and job experience that add value to your profile and show the milestones in your career. List them in chronological order starting from the newest. This makes it easier for the reader to follow your latest achievements. Mention job titles, companies and units where you have been working. If there are many short periods at the same employer, is it possible to squeeze them together in a brief summary? 5. Add the important skills and strengths Strengths vary from field to field: punctuality is appreciated at accounting, creativity at game design. What are your strengths related to the work tasks you are applying for? Take a moment to identify and reflect your strengths. There are multiple free strength tests on the Internet. Try for example this Via Institute of Character’s Strengths Survey (2). Or check the Indeed Career Guige’s list of 36 strengths (3). Describe your language and IT skills. Have you accomplished modules or courses on your professional field? Determine your levels of language fluency: native, fluent, advanced, intermediate, beginner. Check the definition from Indeed Career Guide’s blog How To Include Language Skills on Your Resume (4) if you are unsure about the difference between native and fluent for example. 6. Add a professional photo to your CV Last but not least, attach a professional-looking photo of yourself. Photo is not compulsory but it helps recruiters to remember your application. It also creates a feeling of trust. Remember to keep the CV brief. Mention only relevant matters. Don’t forget your contact details: full name, telephone number and email address. Place them on a front page of the CV. If you are looking for more detailed instructions watch this 3 minutes video by Guardian Jobs (5). The quality of the CV is crucial: the better CV, the more invitations to interviews you will receive. And that is the first step in getting the job you prefer. Sources: 1. Sirot, Hanna. HR Business Partner at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. 2. The Via Institute of Character. The Via Character Strengths Survey. https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register 3. Indeed Editorial Team (2022). 36 Strengths To List in Your Resume (With Examples) https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/strength-in-resume 4. Indeed Editorial Team (2022). How To Include Language Skills on Your Resume https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/resume-language-skills 5. The Guardian Jobs (2019). How to write a CV - a Guide. https://jobs.theguardian.com/article/how-to-write-a-cv-video- Blogger: Maria Osamitsu works as Business Coordinator at SIMHE project. Her aim is to smooth the path for international talents to Finnish labor markets by creating relevant networks and strengthening customers’ job searching skills.
The Art of Networking – where to start if you don´t know anyone in Finland?
If you have ever been job hunting, I´m sure you have been told to network. If you have tried to find a job in Finland, you have probably heard that most jobs here are “hidden” and found via networks (1). You might even have first-hand experience that knowing someone has opened the doors for you. There is no doubt that networks are hugely important when looking for work. But where to find these important networks if you are new in the country and feel like you don´t know anyone? When I talk about the importance of networks with my career coaching clients, I quite often face a belief that networking means contacting random people and asking them to help you, or even to give you a job. If this has been your method too, you have probably faced mainly silence in respond. Networks build on trust (2) and in general people are more willing to help someone they already know. If you are too direct with your requests for help, it can turn against you (3). Building personal networks that are based on trust takes time (4) and unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. However, there are ways to start, even from the scratch, and here are three steps for you to get started. Step 1: Get involved Even if your main goal for networking is finding a job, don´t be too focused on purely professional networks (or the lack of them). All personal networks matter, so get involved with people also in other areas of life. If you are new in the country, it can sometimes be easier to start with other social networks, than the professional ones. It´s good to remember that everyone you meet, new friends, neighbors, the girl from the Finnish class, the guy from the cooking class or football team, has their own personal and professional networks. You never know who they might be able to connect you with. A study done by Rolle Alho showed that international students have formed important networks to the majority population for example by volunteering, attending networking events and meeting people in their hobbies (5). So, start with finding something meaningful to do, volunteer, study, find a hobby and participate social events. Read more about different study possibilities in Metropolia and elsewhere Course selection in adult education centers in capital area - Ilmonet Sportsnetwork connects people organizing sports & activities with those searching for groups to join. Find a mentor from Luckan´s Fika programme Step 2: Find ways to help others As mentioned before, networks are built on trust and the key ingredients of social networking are trust and reciprocity (7). Instead of focusing on how others can help you, think about ways you could help others. What skills, knowledge, and expertise do you have that could be beneficial to someone else? Could you use your professional expertise to help someone? Helping others can also be a great way of getting references that you can use in your job search later. You may even find potential future customers! Volunteering for NGOs and other associations can also be a great way of networking (6). General information about volunteering in Finland by InfoFinland Finnish development NGO´s on Fingo Facebook group: Volunteer Finland Step 3: Be interested in others I think we all agree that it feels quite nice when someone is showing genuine interest towards us. When they ask questions and pay attention to what we say. When they want to hear about our career stories or the tips or advice we can give. You just simply get a nice feeling about a person who is nice to you. When building networks, be that nice person! Pay attention to others and show interest. Instead of asking for direct help, ask how they did it. Listen and learn from the experiences of others. Whenever you have a chance, say something polite and encouraging. Forbes Councils Member Paul Schaut summarises it well in his blog post: The art of networking is about following the golden rule — treating others how you want to be treated. “ Sources: Sitra (2017). Työelämätutkimus 2017: Somen kautta voi löytää töitä tai tulla löydetyksi https://www.sitra.fi/uutiset/tyoelamatutkimus-2017-yli-puolet-suomalaisista-vahtanut-ammattia-tai-alaa/ Poutanen, M. (2011). Verkostot väylänä työelämään. Master’s Thesis. Helsinki University. https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/26098/Verkostot%20vaylana%20tyoelamaan.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Schaut, P. (2021) The art of networking: It Comes Down To The Golden Rule. Forbes Technology Council. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/12/08/the-art-of-networking-it-comes-down-to-the-golden-rule/?sh=2c824d7b7d54 Finnwards (2020) Job hunting In Finland: the importance of networks in job hunting in Finland. Blog post. https://www.finnwards.com/working-in-finland/job-hunting-in-finland-the-importance-of-networks/ Alho, R. (2020). ‘You Need to Know Someone Who Knows Someone’: International Students’ Job Search Experiences: Array. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.v10i2.120817 Alho, R. (2020). ‘You Need to Know Someone Who Knows Someone’: International Students’ Job Search Experiences: Array. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.v10i2.120817 Finnwards (2020) Job hunting In Finland: the importance of networks in job hunting in Finland. Blog post. https://www.finnwards.com/working-in-finland/job-hunting-in-finland-the-importance-of-networks/ Blogger: Riia Hoppania works as a Career Coach in Metropolia SIMHE services supporting highly educated immigrants with their employment and study paths in Finland. She is working in a collaboration project with the employment services of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa-Kerava to increase employment among international professionals in the Helsinki region.
Blog introduces information, tips and insights that help international talents with a higher education background to integrate and find their study and career paths in Finland. The blog is part of Metropolia’s #talentboost actions.
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