w w w. h a m k. f i career planning: work search salla niittymäki project manager / pajatso project...

w w w . h a m k . f i

Career planning: Work search

Salla Niittymäki

Project Manager / Pajatso Project

HAMK University of Applied Sciences

[email protected]

0400 127 815

mailto:[email protected]


Work search in general

• Getting a job is about matching your expertise with employer’s needs – the company is looking for talent and personality that meets their needs.

• Make sure your sales strategy (what are you applying) and the marketing material (CV, application, Linked In profile) are appropriate.

• Job hunting skills:– Job advertisements, knowing how to read them– CV– Application– Interview


“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and

expect to win”

Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar,

an American author, salesman

and motivational speaker


Job hunting skills

JOB HUNTING SKILLS

Documents and interview skills

DECISION MAKING AND ACTION PLANNING

SELF-ASSESSMENTSkills and knowledge,

areas of interests, goals, values, personality

OPPORTUNITY AWARENESSCareer life expectations and requirements, trends, employment and employability


Where to start - knowing yourself

• What kind of work are you interested in? • What kind of companies are you interested in?• What kind of work experience do you have? • What are you good at? • What are you interested in? • What skills have you got? • What are your career goals? • What skills and experience do you need to

achieve them?


To prepare for work search• Know the company and the position you are applying for:

– See the company website – Search for other information online, see released news of the

company– Call for more information about the position and let them know

you are interested and will send your application

• Practical tips:– Create a work search e-mail account and use your own name in

it (e.g. [email protected])

– Use your complete name in the file name of your application and CV (e.g. CV_lastname_firstname.pdf)

– Save all the files as pdf!

mailto:[email protected]


Work search documents

• CV / resume• Cover letter / application letter• Online applications• Portfolios• Online profiles and other social media


Prepare your documents: CV

• Customize your CV for each position: – Read the job advertisement carefully – Figure out the arguments why you should be the best person for

the job

• Each country has its own specific forms of application papers that are expected from job applicants – make sure you know the “code”

• Do not copy the adjective list from job ad, but answer to these requirements in different words (use e.g. skill and adjective listings) and with examples

• Max length: 2 pages


Content of a CV, part 1Personal Details / Contact Information

Name, Address, Phone number, E-mail address, LinkedIn profile link, Date of birth, Nationality, Gender

Objective / professional summary / career goals / profile / areas of effectiveness

One paragraph (3-5 sentences) of text summarizing your skills and competences / describing your goals or objectives / telling why you would be the best applicant to meet the needs of the employer. The text should get the reader interested in you and convince to read more.

Education • Most recent first• Name of the degree, educational institution and major• If degree not completed, write the stage of studies and estimated graduation time• If your theses work is related to the applied job, describe the key elements of it• Mention also studies abroad; dates and gained experience & know-how


Content of a CV, part 2

Work Experience • Most recent first• Name of the company (if a foreign one, describe the business area

briefly), the time period, title and duties (if relevant for the applied job)

• Describe also e.g. competences used/achieved in the job, achievements, areas of responsibility etc.

• Remember to focus on what is relevant considering the job you are now applying for

• If you have long work experience you may outline your experience under subtitles, which helps the employer to find the information he/she is interested in. For example customer service work, project work, office work…


Content of a CV, part 3

Other Professional Skills / Qualifications• Language skills (use a scale that the employer can understand, e.g.

native-basics-good-excellent)• IT skills• Työturvallisuuskortti (safety at work, occupational safety) and date• Tulityökortti (hot work card) and date• Hygieniapassi (hygiene card) and date• Ensiapukortti (first aid card) and date• Other courses / education (supplementary education, short courses)• Positions of trust / organizational activities / voluntary work

– If your work history is short, you can emphasize skills and know-how gained in these kind of positions

– Note that positions of trust can also raise prejudice (e.g. political)


Content of a CV, part 4Activities and interests

Always tell about your hobbies and volunteer activities -it gives a more personal touch of you. You also may have gained special skills and competences needed in working life also in your hobbies. Pay attention to issues like ’what do your hobbies tell about you…’

References / recommendations• Reference is a person who has promised to give further information about

you to potential employers. Always make sure in advance that you can use someone as a reference.

• Give the person’s name, company, title and the contact information. Tell also how the person is related to you.

• If you have not gained work experience related to your education, you can ask your professor, theses instructor, mentor etc. to give recommendations.

• If you do not have any references / recommendations, leave this section out.


Introducing yourself in CV summary

• Purpose: to allow the recruiter to see your expertise and skills at one glance

• Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) immediately after personal information

• Describe the recruiter why would you be the most suitable person for the position, why should they hire you

• Use action verbs (Alberta material, p. 54)


Example summariesMarketing oriented business graduate with intercultural awareness ready to take responsibility for business results. Passion for marketing, especially digital marketing and social media. Excellent negotiation skills and ability to lead the group as well as work as a member of team. Experienced in event planning and organizing based on activities performed during study time.

Creative marketing specialist with a passion for innovative marketing and communications. A social media enthusiast experienced in the field of content based marketing, conceptual planning, integrated media operations and brand management. In addition to facts and figures my way of marketing is story telling and creating emotional impressions. My greatest professional ambition is making innovative and memorable digital marketing with a feeling. Professionally I'm a marathon runner rather than a sprinter. However, I enjoy occasional pace intervals.


Example summaries

I have experience working as a site supervisor for a construction company. During my experience, I developed a fascination to the construction and management world. Now I want to make a career in the similar position and field with expectation of advancement.

Results-oriented, professional software-skilled and a great understanding of mechanics and physics. Successful working experience in building in various constructions. Completed work placement in YIT in Helsinki, participated different renovation projects in school and few test experiences in Rautaruukki. Major strengths include strong leadership, excellent communication skills, competent, strong team player, attention to detail, dutiful respect for compliance in all regulated environments. A clear vision to accomplish the company goals.


Exercise: Introducing yourself in your CV

• Write a short introduction paragraph (3-5 sentences) to your CV

• Use e.g. phrases like:– Experienced in…– Skilled / competence / expert in…– My professional goal is…– Interested / passionate in…


School projects in your CV

• How to benefit from projects done during studies

• How to assess the skills acquired during the projects and present them in CV

• Remember to ask for project certificate of each project from the company


Different CV types

• Chronological– Use when applying to a position similar to a current or previous

position or when applying for a position in a more traditional field

• Functional– Use when changing career or industry– Emphasizes strong skills developed in unpaid settings such as

volunteer work and school projects

• Combination– Balance the emphasis between relevant skills and employment

history


CV checklist part 1• First Impression:

– Does the resume look original and not based on a template?– Does the design look professional rather than like a simple typing job?– Is a qualifications summary included so the reader immediately knows the

applicant's value proposition?– Is the resume's length and overall appearance appropriate given the career level

and objective?• Appearance and writing style

– Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, polished presentation?– Are there design elements such as bullets, bolding and lines to guide readers' eyes

through the document and highlight important content?– Is there a good balance between text and white space?– Are design elements like spacing and font size used consistently throughout the

document?– Is the content flow logical and easy to understand?– Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or spelling, grammar or

syntax errors?


CV checklist part 2• Resume Sections

– Are all resume sections clearly labeled and in right order?– Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)?

• Career Goal– Is the career objective included toward the top of the resume in a headline,

objective or qualifications summary?– Is the resume targeted to a specific career goal and not trying to be a one-size-

fits-all document?• Accomplishments

– Does the resume include a solid listing of career accomplishments?• Relevance

– Is the information relevant to hiring managers' needs?– Does the resume's content support the career goal?– Is the resume keyword-rich, packed with appropriate buzzwords and industry

acronyms?– Is applicable additional information, such as awards and affiliations, included?


Professional looking photoIf you

decide to use a photo in your CV,

make sure it is a

professional one!


Visual resume / CV examples

• http://www.sourcecon.com/news/2013/04/09/who-will-win-the-war-for-resume-2-0-ten-visual-resume-tools-reviewed/

http://www.sourcecon.com/news/2013/04/09/who-will-win-the-war-for-resume-2-0-ten-visual-resume-tools-reviewed/





Prepare your documents:application (in general)

• Your contact information• What position are you applying for and in which company (use the

reference number or title of the job advertisement). • Briefly introduce yourself and tell, why the open position and

employer interest you and why you are a good fit the position.• Describe clearly and compactly your relevant competence. Use

examples, tell where and how you have gained the skills.• Emphasise the skills and experience the employer will have use of.• Your personality and the way you work. Use examples. • Your current situation and when you would be able to start working.• Salary request only when specifically asked for.• Length: 1 page (3-5 paragrapghs)


How to make your application stand out

• Use personal-branding elements: – A slogan should compactly present the value you bring to an

employer. A slogan for a sales manager: "Meeting challenges, overcoming obstacles and closing sales“

– Testimonial adds credibility: excerpts from letters of recommendation, performance reviews, internship summaries and other commendations

– Mission statement can describe what you plan to do or have done, what you believe in or why your profession is important to you - it is another statement that demonstrates the value you'll bring to the employer. An example of a sales manager: “If the customer is happy and you are making a sale, it's a win/win. I believe in making customers happy."


Be creative - brand yourself!

Good examples:• http://satuolkinuora.wordpress.com/• http://

www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=11565124&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=tas%3Avesa%20vil

• http://vimeo.com/57227879

http://satuolkinuora.wordpress.com/

http://satuolkinuora.wordpress.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=11565124&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=tas:vesa%20vil




http://vimeo.com/57227879

http://vimeo.com/57227879


Applying online • When applying online, remember to:

– Be prepared - have all the information needed at hand (work experience, education information)

– Allow enough time to fill in the form - it might take several hours – Fill in all the fields carefully– If there is a space for own comments, add a personal statement / summary of

qualifications / presenting yourself text– If it is possible to add attachments, add your tailored CV and application

• Many companies use their own application forms for the applicant to fill in online.

• When you are applying online, you most often have to register for the application system.

• Some companies have started to use LinkedIn, they have a “Apply with LinkedIn” link in their websites and applicants are supposed to apply there and also to link their own profiles to the application.


LinkedIn

• An important ”Career Channel” for professional networking nowadays is LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/

• LinkedIn is…– Your online CV and portfolio– The world’s largest professional social network– A place to network and find open positions – Networking Tool – a place to meet those who are where you want to be – The most important recruiting channel for many companies – recruiters

use search words, so make sure you have the right kind of key words in your profile!

• In LinkedIn you can get connected with all the people you know and want to know professionally

http://www.linkedin.com/




LinkedIn Profile• Professional headline / Tagline

– This is the line under your name. If you are working, it can be e.g. your title. If you are looking for a job, it can be e.g. your best skills.

• Picture – a professional looking one!• Summary

– Sum up your skills / experience / personality / objectives

• Experience– Your work history with description of tasks / things learnt / skills gained / achievements

• Education – You can also add e.g. your major, minor, significant school projects and other details

• Skills & Endorsements– List your skills and experience, and your connections can endorse them and propose new ones. Your

connections can also give you recommendations.

• Languages• Interests – to give your profile a personal touch• Groups – join professional groups• Following – follow interesting companies on LinkedIn to see their updates and open

positions


Contacting the employer• Think in advance what you want to ask. Don’t call just for calling, and don’t

ask for information, which is found in job announcement or is otherwise useless. Short and punchy questions!

• Remember to take notes about most important issues during the conversation (also name of the person you are speaking with)

• Also note that the person you are speaking with might take notes • Be prepared to tell about yourself. Make a list of the things employer should

know about your skills and know-how, and the things that might raise employer’s interest

• Try to find out about things that are meaningful to you (how much travelling is required, who are you reporting to etc.)

• Avoid both excessive self-confidence and excessive humility • Sell your competence!


Exercise: Elevator SpeechWhat would you say if you met a person who could lead you to your dream job and you had only 2-3 minutes to state your case?

• Prepare to describe briefly:– Who are you? What is your

background?– What has been the focus of your

studies? (major, minors, key topics)– What other experience do you have

(work, volunteer work, hobbies& activities)?

– What do you have to offer?– What are you looking for? What are

your future goals?

http://www.prepary.com/how-to-create-an-elevator-pitch/


After applying for a job

• In Finland, thank you notes are not sent• Keep a record of your sent applications, dates

and contact persons• If you do not hear anything from the employer by

the date they have promised, you can always call and ask for information. If you are not chosen for interview / position, you can ask for feedback of your documents and the interview.


Principles and Finnish customs• Be active and creative in your job search • Let people know that you are looking for work • Show interest in the job you are seeking • Job seeking is a full-time job, it requires time and energy • Application periods can be very short, so you need to react quickly • Fill up several applications • Make more than one plan – if one does not work out, move to the

next one• Employers are used to applicants contacting them directly • Don’t be shy – be active! • Networking is the key • Punctuality is extremely important – be on time, always!


Top 10 tips to boost your job seeking skills

1. Spell-check all documents

2. Make sure that your telephone number and email address are correctly written in your documents

3. When you email your cover letter and CV, name the files lastname_firstname_company_date.pdf. You want the recruiter to see and remember your name in the file title.

4. If you decide to include your photo in the CV, make sure it is professional quality and that you are dressed professionally in the picture.

5. If you must apply for a job through the company’s own computerised system, always attach your carefully thought out, personalized CV and cover letter to the file.

6. Keep a detailed log of all your applications, and notes of all contacts and discussions with various companies.

7. Tailor your CV and cover letter for the specific position.

8. Know your strengths and weaknesses, but always think about your competence through your strengths. Make a strategy on how to answer questions concerning your weaknesses.

9. Practice your interview and communication skills.

10. Don’t be afraid to make telephone calls to those companies that you are interested in. But make sure you contact the right person, at the right time and with the right attitude and marketing arguments.


Excercise: create a plan

• Next steps in my career – what am I going to do next to get a job for next summer / after graduation:– Step 1– Step 2– Step n


Finding a thesis placement

• What it is that you like to do?• What it is that you can do?• What it is that you want to learn more?• What could be beneficial to know really

well considering your future jobs?• What could be the company and what

could be the topic of the thesis?


Applying for a thesis placement

• Get to know the company• Give examples and suggestions about

what it is that you could do as your thesis• Justify why you would be the one to be

chosen to do the project - how can the company benefit from having you as a person doing his/her thesis


Good luck with job hunting!