Network boldly and expand your job search opportunities

Topics

• Competence development
• Job seeking

When job hunting, it’s important to have the courage to make yourself visible and heard so that others know what you’re capable of and recruiters can find you. Which channels should you use to make yourself visible, and what should you share about yourself? And how do you get started if talking about yourself and networking feel difficult?

“When you dare to be visible and make yourself heard, you gain access to so-called hidden job openings – that is, job opportunities that never end up in a public search. Your network also grows,” says recruitment consultant and communication coach Kirsi Ståhlberg.

Many people still think that good work speaks for itself. However, job hunting isn’t always just about who is the best expert. In practice, your skills can easily go unnoticed if you don’t know how to talk about them. That’s why articulating your own skills is one of the most important professional skills.

“If no one knows about you, no one can offer you a job,” Ståhlberg sums up.

Personal branding isn’t about pretense

In practice, talking about yourself and your expertise is what building a personal brand is all about. Many people are wary of the term “personal branding,” but Ståhlberg points out that it’s not about creating a contrived image. Quite the opposite.

“The goal is to make your expertise easy to understand and authentic – in other words, to highlight your own expertise in an honest way.”

She summarizes a personal brand into four elements:

me + expertise + motivation + goal

When your professional direction is clear, any uncertainty diminishes, and you dare to take up space in conversations without downplaying yourself.

LinkedIn is the most important tool for job hunting

These days, LinkedIn is increasingly becoming the platform where people establish their professional presence. Kirsi Ståhlberg describes it as the most important social media channel for professionals, used by an estimated two million Finns.

“On LinkedIn, people are either working, job hunting, or thinking about their careers. People are open to professional discussions. You can follow industry discussions, identify changes in the job market, and see what kind of skills are valued right now.”

Ståhlberg encourages users to keep their profiles up to date and to fill out the Skills section carefully.

“Recruiters and headhunters look for talent based on skills. It’s also worth using the ‘Open to Work’ tag. The so-called green circle tells recruiters that you’re open to new opportunities.”

Networks are built in everyday life

Networks offer many benefits when job hunting. However, many people find networking difficult or awkward.

In the YTK Unemployment Fund’s Member Pulse survey*, only 15% of respondents felt that utilizing networks came naturally to them and reported taking advantage of all the opportunities they offer. Nearly 30%, on the other hand, said that utilizing networks does not come naturally to them and that they do not use them when job hunting.

“Networks are often perceived as merely a way to contact people, even though in reality, networks are constantly forming in the midst of everyday life,” says Kirsi Ståhlberg.

A good starting point is the people you already know:

• Current and former colleagues
• Supervisors
• Classmates
• Clients
• Old acquaintances

Networks also form during training sessions, webinars, hobbies, in organizations, and on social media. The most important thing is that you build connections.

“Building networks isn’t a one-time project; it’s a lifelong process. A broad network increases opportunities and brings visibility, while a small network can offer deeper trust and more personal recommendations.”

You can showcase your skills even in small ways

Visibility doesn’t mean constantly being in the spotlight or putting yourself first. Often, even small things are enough.

“You can showcase your expertise by, for example, sharing insights from your work, talking about projects or training, reflecting on trends in your field, or highlighting lessons learned and successes in your daily life. For instance, a LinkedIn post doesn’t have to be long or polished. Even short comments and participating in discussions increase your visibility.”

If getting started feels difficult, begin writing very simply:

• “People often ask me how…”
• “Guess what I realized today…”
• “I attended an interesting webinar today where…”
• “I came across an article on topic X and it got me thinking…”

Kirsi Ståhlberg reminds us that we shouldn’t set the bar too high.

“Remember, a single post doesn’t define you. Courage grows with practice.”

In interactions, what matters most is often the impression you leave.

“Remember that you’re enough just as you are. It’s okay to show that you’re still a work in progress. You don’t have to have everything figured out yet.”

Ståhlberg’s key message boils down to a simple idea:

• Being active creates visibility.
• Visibility makes you memorable.
• Being memorable opens up opportunities.

*The response period for the Member Pulse survey was 12.3.–19.3.2026. A total of 13 636 people answered the survey.