How do you leverage Finland’s love affair 💓 with networks to land your dream job? It’s all about using virtual and IRL spaces and events to ensure that you show up in Finns' mental mind maps, says People and L&D expert Mark Hayton.
Hayton sat down with FTTLG host Denise Wall to share a number of handy hacks to progress professionally, based on decades of experience and close observation of corporate life in Finland. He noted that it's especially difficult for adults to form new friendships and connections in Finland, but he says there are workarounds, such as engaging in sports and cultural activities.
"Sports is a good leveller, right? You turn up, you don't have to talk about anything, you just play the game. And then as time goes on you build a relationship and meet people who work in interesting companies, interesting domains, places where you also want to connect."
Use LinkedIn tactically
Hayton said that unlike professionals in the UK, Finns value industry events, which often prove to be fertile ground for developing new contacts. And of course, used tactically, LinkedIn is not to be dismissed as a solid networking tool, he added.
"You can literally put the thing that you want, the job that you want, your dream job…on a board and then you can work out how many people you are from that job. All you have to do is convince enough people that are close to that company, close to that job, that you're a good fit."
After several years working in HR and professional development functions, Hayton said he's able to share a few insights about the recruitment process that some people may not know. For example, jobs may already be "taken" even before they make it to the recruitment ad.
"In my experience, if you can see a job that's posted online, you're already quite late because someone has probably got a few people or candidates in mind for the job as it's posted."
Recruiter calls aren't always what they seem
By the same token many job applicants get excited when they receive a call from a recruiter. But according to Hayton, that's not always the slam dunk it may seem to be.
"The first job is to knock out all of the candidates who don't match the description…So if you have a call with a recruiter, not the hiring manager, and they want to get to know you a bit more, all they're doing is looking for a reason to knock you off the pile."
Listen to the full discussion on S2 E2 of FTTLG with Mark Hayton for loads of eye-opening insights about the quirks of corporate life in Finland. You can follow and subscribe to Finland: Through the looking glass on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor.fm). Remember to like, share and rate the show and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Audio production was provided by Travis Glossop and the podcast was recorded at Enchanté Café in Helsinki.
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