How to get a job in Estonia, Europe? Have a look at these 10+ useful tips that help you get your dream job.
In case you are still wondering where to look for a job in Estonia, we have compiled a list of channels for you.
How to get a job in Estonia – all you need to know
CV
First impressions matter. CV and cover letter help companies to make their first assessments of whether a candidate fits the job. It is your first chance to highlight your professional history for potential employers and show your interest in their companies.
The steps are:
- Learn about the job. You should always go over your CV when applying for different positions. For example, if you are applying for both a software engineer´s job and a team leader’s job, then obviously these roles have different requirements and the CVs should be adjusted accordingly. Draw attention to the skills the potential employer emphasised in its job offer.
- Keep your CV short and simple. In today’s jungles of information, keep your CV as short as possible, focusing on what matters the most. We strongly advise you to think about your CV as a single page that gathers the most important information. It definitely should not be more than two pages long. Your CV should start with your work experience. Always remember to include your name, email, education and language skills.
- The devil is in the details. Avoid misspellings, and check for grammar repeatedly. Remember to review it once more just before sending.
- Be honest. For example, clearly specify your language abilities. Do not be too generous with the truth when you do this. Should you be invited to an interview and tested on your German, if all you can say is “Hello!”, this will not go down well.
- Think about the visual. Recruiters get hundreds of applications every week and it is important to stand out from the crowd. The content of your CV needs to be clear, correct, easily readable, and logically structured, so pay attention to its design (Have a look at some nicely designed CVs). It is also wise to save your CV as a PDF to avoid changes of formatting that can occur when sending a Word file.
Tip! If you have lived, worked or studied in more than one country, say so in your CV. Today’s employers often specifically look for employees with international experience.
Cover letter
In most cases employers also like to receive a cover letter, to understand how your skills and previous experience could be useful to the company.
The steps are:
- Write a cover letter. This is your chance to draw attention to your greatest strengths.
- Keep it short. About 10 sentences emphasizing the most important reasons should be OK.
- Tell why you are interested in a job in Estonia. If you have a previous connection with Estonia or Estonians, it would be clever to mention this in the cover letter to make you stand out from the crowd.
What to avoid:
- When you send your application, don’t jump right into questions on salary, residence permit, citizenship etc., because this might give a wrong impression of your motivations. These topics will anyway be discussed in later rounds.
- No need to mention your age, sex or number of children. According to Estonian law, recruiters are not allowed to discriminate between candidates using such information.
Interview
Preparing for the job interview means you are one step closer to the job you want. Here, you should emphasize your strengths and capabilities to succeed in the position offered. The company, in turn, would like to tell you why their company is a good place to work and also introduce you to the role and their expectations.
