What to know about work and employers?

Labour market reviews and trends

When considering your career choices, make a conscious effort to take as broad a view as possible. It is useful to know what is happening in your field of study, in other fields and on the labour market in general. Searching for information will also give you an idea of your own feelings and preferences.

A moment of reflection: What do you already know about job opportunities in your field? What sort of information do you need?

Find out about various professions

Jobs with different job titles can be quite similar in terms of content, and vice versa – sometimes the same job title can have completely different job functions. Each job depends on the specific characteristics of the employer.

  • look carefully at job offers: whether you prefer project work, want to be responsible for your own work or work in a team, whether you are suited to part-time or full-time work, what the job duties are, the tools offered and the working methods expected, and whether they suit you;
  • check the information on companies’ websites and ask for more information if you need it;
  • get to know the specificities of different sectors on the education portal (in Estonian);
  • check the professional standard for the occupation you are interested in at the website of the Estonian Qualifications Authority;
  • attend career fairs and similar events, for example to meet current or former employees of the company you are interested in;
  • take part in traineeship programmes (e.g. university project traineeships, programmes of larger companies).

What skills do employers need?

In the field of career development, the following terms are used:

  • competence or expertise, which is a set of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values;
  • professional or field-specific skills needed to work in a particular field and to apply professional knowledge;
  • generic or future skills that can be used in all areas of work. These enable you to cope effectively with changing circumstances and support the successful use of professional skills. Employers often consider a range of generic skills to be important when recruiting new staff, such as creative thinking, problem-solving, innovation, information processing and analysis, awareness of global issues and cultures, self-management and responsibility, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, learning and adaptability. Also see the report on the working life general skills classification and future needs (in Estonian) on the website of the Estonian Qualifications Authority and the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report.
A moment of reflection: What are your professional skills and what are your generic skills? What skills do you want to develop further? Find out more about your skills.

When looking at different offers, carefully study the application requirements. Find out which skills are essential to get started and which you can hone and learn as you work.

  • What are the interests and expectations of the employer(s)?
  • What are the five main professional skills and five generic skills most often mentioned in job offers in your field of interest?
  • What skills are mentioned on the employer’s website?
  • What skills do you hear people in the sector talk about most often and in what context?
  • What skills and experience are required to apply for the post?
  • Which experiences and competences will best support you in the job you are interested in?
  • What are the jobs where your skills are essential?
  • Is there anything else you need to learn to succeed in the job you want? If so, what?
  • What are the opportunities for professional development in a job that interests you?

Find out more about the employer

The working environment can vary depending on the sector, field, company, organisation and sub-unit. It is therefore useful to look for information on this.

  • delve into the company’s culture, values and working environment;
  • be as clear as possible about the location, hours, team, company structure, background, credibility, business philosophy, financial situation, etc. of the potential job;
  • where possible, find out how people are involved, how new employees are supported, what the development opportunities and expectations are, how long employees usually work for the company, how they are rewarded, what the holiday opportunities are, bonuses, etc.;
  • use public sources to find information: job vacancies, company website and social media, articles and press releases. The education portal has an overview of the working environment and requirements for occupations and trades  (in Estonian);
  • talk to former or current employees of the company and people with relevant knowledge of the field.
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