THE WAY the employment market has developed up until today, it has become increasingly common for people to have periods of unemployment on their records. In job hunting, there are some general truths. If you are occupied with some kind of work activity or employment, it is easier to get a new job. This way you will also get to know more people, which is especially important with regard to a second, more striking truth about job hunting. The majority of available jobs are not openly advertised. Landing a job you do not even know exists is tricky. Networking and general activity are key. Talk to everyone around you: friends, relatives, study companions, people you meet at your hobbies, at meetings, at parties, contact a former work place. If you are not going to meetings and maintaining a hobby, start one. Or, literally, go for an Operation Door Knocking or make a direct call to the HRperson at a company and send off open applications. Just generally spread the word that you are looking for a job.

You will find the actual advertised vacancies in newspapers, on the webpages of the Finnish Employment Services, or the webpages of recruitment firms as well as those of companies you are interested in. And these might very well be advertised nowhere else, so check those websites. Find out more about the workplace, the position as such, give the potential employer a call, providing the ad does not specifically instruct you not to, and display genuine interest. Prepare well for this talk. Ask about things that are good to know, but not explicitly mentioned in the ad. The importance of this call cannot be stressed enough. It will help you to write a better application, it is the first impression of and for your potential employer, and will mean that this person remembers you when he/she is going through the dozens and dozens of applications. It will make your application stand out and if you go for an interview, you will already have some important background information and a general feeling for the position, the workplace.

Make a real effort with your application and make sure it is sent off in time. Then comes the waiting part. One of three things will happen. The most common by far is total silence. Or, you will actually receive the thanks but no thanks. Usually after some months and you have already forgotten all about that place. Or then the most wonderful, joyful and well, unusual, thing will happen. You get a call for an interview. Start checking lists of standard interview questions found on the internet, ask people about interviews they have had. Work hard to come up with really compelling answers. Going to more interviews will give you more confidence in answering the questions. Find out more about the work place, check the internet. Ask people if they know about that workplace, the work culture, the attitude. Be on time for the interview, be organised. Remember there is only one chance at a first impression and you should be prepared for everything.

Maybe the hunt continues after the interview. That is the hard part, but at the same time it is the only way. It is The Job between the jobs. Among all the job hunting, the single most important thing is: Take care of yourself! Go for walks, eat healthy, see your friends, even when you feel horrible and less of a person, be active in associations, volunteer for charity organisations, treat yourself; have a coffee once in a while at your favourite café. And who knows, with all the activities or the volunteering you may get to know the people who can let you in on all those hidden jobs!