What are the ways of looking for a job?

When looking for a job, it is a good idea to take more than one approach, as you will be more likely to find most of the vacancies you are interested in and your prospective employer will be able to find out about you. Quite a large proportion of employees are recruited through open competitions (job search portals, company websites, recruitment and employment agencies), but many employers also turn to people they know (personal and professional network), follow social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), organise in-house competitions and make direct offers.

On job portals, you can do a general search or a detailed search, for example, by specifying the field of interest, a keyword, specialty, location, the way of working, working hours, language, salary, company or organisation, and the expiry date of the job offer.

Create an account in a job-sharing environment. Then use it to describe your interests, motivation, experiences regarding studies and work and your strongest competences. Update your profile as you develop yourself over time.

You can find job offers on

Every spring, job, career or internship fairs are organised by the faculties and institutes of the University of Tartu (see information on the institute’s or faculty’s website) as well as, for example, by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.

At fairs, you can meet employers face to face (sometimes online), gather information about job vacancies and career opportunities, employers’ expectations and what is happening in the field. You have the chance to introduce yourself to employers and ask them questions to show your interest and motivation – in other words, to market your knowledge, skills and experience. For their part, employers are at the fairs to find and attract the best and most motivated talent.

In order to be seen and remembered positively by a potential employer, it is useful to be well-prepared. To do this, think it through, make a plan and follow it.

  • Find out in advance which companies, institutions and organisations are taking part in the fair.
  • Take a closer look at the information on the websites of employers of interest.
  • Think about the questions to ask. For example, you might want to look at the work culture and arrangement of the workplace, the expectations and development opportunities for new employees, the application process, etc. Your questions should help you understand if this is where you want to work. At the same time, remember that your questions will show the company’s representative your preparedness, interest and motivation.
  • Think about how you introduce yourself to the employer. Be prepared to talk about your field of expertise, your educational and professional experience, your interests in the field, your immediate and longer-term goals, your expectations of your future employer, etc.
  • Take notes as necessary, both in preparation and when talking to your employer. The information you get (including contact information) may help you in future application processes.
  • Feel free to contact employers, communicate openly and show your interest and curiosity in the opportunities on offer.
  • If starting the conversation seems daunting, remind yourself that employers attend fairs precisely to find new, motivated talent and make useful contacts.
  • Remember that every conversation is a good opportunity to practise your contact establishing, communication and information gathering skills.
  • After the fair, feel free to get in touch with employers who you have spoken to and realised you would like to work for. Remind them of yourself, ask about job opportunities, etc.

Recruitment and staffing agencies offer their services to both employers and jobseekers. When you are looking for a job, you can contact them or join their talent bank to find out about jobs that match your expectations and experience. When you apply, they will give you feedback on your prospects and the recruitment process.

Many (larger) companies, institutions and organisations have a careers section on their website where you can find information about vacancies, traineeships, competitions and events. Keep an eye on the websites of companies of interest, look for job vacancies that match your expectations and apply when you find them. For example, the annual survey of job expectations and employer attractiveness by the research company Instar provides information on attractive companies.

Explore the potential employer’s website and social media carefully. Based on this, think about your own goals, expectations, skills and experience. Consider what you can offer and how you can be useful for the employer, what business goals you can help achieve or what problems you can solve, why you want to work for them, what benefits you hope to gain from the work relationship, etc.

When contacting an employer, you can, for example, ask them what job vacancies they have coming up, what tasks they need extra staff for, what kind of knowledge, skills and experience they need, etc. You could also send your CV to the employer with a cover letter. Even if your employer has nothing to offer you at the moment, your details will remain in their database and they will be able to contact you if they need to.

Talk to your course or group mates, lab or research group members, research or traineeship supervisors, family members, friends, acquaintances, someone involved in a project, choir or gym mates, and others about looking for a job. Describe what the job could be like and ask them in turn to spread this information. They may not always have exactly the information you are looking for, but there may be people in their circle who can help you find a job.

Sometimes when you ask other people for help, you may feel uncomfortable, frustrated, like you are taking advantage of others. But we all interact with people every day, personally and professionally, taking an interest in each other, sharing ideas, knowledge and suggestions, and helping each other when needed. Sharing information about your job search is part of this.

Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc. are well suited for building and expanding your professional network, exchanging information, self-promotion, joining professional associations or groups, accessing job offers, etc. Take a conscious look at your social media accounts, because they are like your business card. For example, think about what channel you mainly use and for what purpose; what you want to show the world; what you want people to know about you, both at work and in other areas; what you are really good at; what you are proud of; what content and photos you share, etc. Based on this, you can build the right image for yourself on social media. Among other things, make a thoughtful post on your account(s) about what job opportunities you are looking for and what skills and experience you have to offer the employer.

Companies use LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms to promote their culture, values and development efforts. Follow the social media posts of companies and leaders that interest you.

You can take part in debates, share your thoughts, show your motivation and interest, ask relevant questions on the social media channels of professional associations. You can keep an eye on what is happening in the job market through job groups and platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Voluntary or compulsory traineeships broaden your horizons, give you the opportunity to acquire and apply knowledge as well as professional and generic skills. A traineeship is a great way to see whether and how a particular job, company and environment suits you.

What is more, getting to know and working in a traineeship organisation can offer valuable prospects for the future: quite often, an employer will offer a job to a good trainee based on their attitude and work, skills, teamwork and development needs.

If you have had a great traineeship and would like to work for the same company, feel free to contact your employer and see if they have a job for you after you graduate.

Including a description of the traineeship you have completed in your application documents shows employers that you are active, curious, motivated and eager to learn, and can increase your chances of finding a job.

Volunteering offers positive emotions and broadens your horizons, allows you to develop and challenge yourself, gain new skills, knowledge and experience and make new friends. In addition, the people you meet and the people you work with during the volunteering process may be able to tell you about a suitable job vacancy or be a valuable reference when applying for a job.

When looking for a job, it is useful to record your volunteering experience in your volunteer passport. You can use it with your CV to prove your experience.

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