What happens next?
You have registered as a jobseeker with Helsinki Employment Services. When starting your job search, you may have many questions on your mind: what should I do next, who will contact me, and where can I get help?
Once you have registered as a jobseeker, your job search will usually proceed through the following phases:
- Apply for unemployment benefits.
- Respond to any clarification requests.
- Wait for us to contact you.
- Attend an initial interview.
- Draw up an employment plan together with a specialist.
- Create and publish a jobseeker profile.
- Utilise services and events to support your job search.
1. Apply for unemployment benefits
If you are unemployed or laid off, you can apply for unemployment benefits to support your finances. Students may also be entitled to unemployment benefits under certain circumstances.
Unemployment benefits are not paid automatically. Instead, you must apply for them yourself with Kela or your own unemployment fund.
As a jobseeker, you are entitled to services and support for your job search. At the same time, you are obligated to keep your jobseeker status valid, take part in any agreed-upon services and report any changes in your situation.
Read the instructions on how to apply for unemployment benefits
Read also about jobseekers’ rights and obligations
2. Respond to any clarification requests
During your job search, we may need further information about your situation. In this case, you will receive a clarification request in Job Market Finland’s E-services.
The clarification request may be related to matters such as your studies, entrepreneurship, work or other matters affecting your situation.
Always respond to any clarification requests within the specified deadline and provide the requested attachments. You can find more detailed instructions on the page about unemployment benefits.
Read more about clarification requests
3. Wait for us to contact you
Once you have registered as a jobseeker, you do not need to contact us to schedule your initial interview. We will be in touch with you as soon as possible after you have started your job search.
How we will contact you
We can contact you by telephone, by email or via Suomi.fi messages. If we call you, the call will usually come from a number starting with 09 310.
Check Job Market Finland’s E-services and your Suomi.fi messages regularly. Through them, you will receive information about matters such as meetings and other things related to your job search.
If you would like to contact us
If your situation changes or you have any questions, please contact us primarily via Job Market Finland’s E-services.
For example, you can use the E-services to:
- send a message to your specialist
- keep track of your tasks and messages
- respond to clarification requests
- submit attachments related to a clarification request.
Go to Job Market Finland’s E-services(Link leads to external service)
Send confidential documents securely
If you have an outstanding clarification request, attach the requested documents directly to the request in Job Market Finland’s E-services.
If, in other circumstances, you need to send personal data or other confidential documents to Employment Services, please use Securemail.
Using the Securemail service requires strong authentication. For security reasons, the message can only be opened on one device. Send your message to
tyollisyyspalvelut@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program).
Go to the Securemail service(Link leads to external service)
4. Attend an initial interview
The initial interview is one of the most important phases of the job search process. Its aim is to help you make progress in your job search, and to identify any services and forms of support that could benefit you.
The initial interview can be held at an Employment Services office or remotely. Your invitation will specify how the interview will be conducted.
What happens in the initial interview?
In the initial interview, we will go through matters such as:
- your work experience and skills
- what kind of work you are looking for
- your job search goals
- any training needs that you have
- services that might be of help to you.
We will also agree on the next steps in your job search.
You will not need to prepare for the initial interview in any particular way; you only need to attend it to prevent your job search from being suspended. However, you can think in advance about what sort of work you would like to do, what skills you have, and in what areas you might need support.
If the scheduled time does not suit you, please let us know as soon as possible via Job Market Finland’s E-services or by calling the Helsinki Employment Services helpline
+358 9 310 36107(Link starts a phone call).
5. Draw up an employment plan together with a specialist
Your employment plan is usually drawn up during the initial interview. It serves as a shared roadmap for your job search, helping you understand the next steps and ensuring that your job search progresses in a goal-oriented manner.
What is included in the employment plan?
The plan sets out jointly agreed-upon objectives and measures, such as:
- the progress of your job search
- applying for education or training
- participation in services
- other measures to support employment.
Information about your job search obligation is also included in the plan.
Read more about jobseekers’ obligations
How long will the plan be valid for?
The employment plan is usually valid for three months. During this period, you must carry out the tasks set out in the plan and report on the progress of your job search as agreed.
What happens when the plan expires?
The expiry of your employment plan will not interrupt your job search, nor will it affect your entitlement to unemployment benefits.
You can continue your job search normally and wait for your specialist to get in touch to update your plan. You will not need to separately report the jobs you have applied for during this period.
Report any changes in your situation
Let us know if your situation changes during your job search.
Examples of such changes include:
- finding employment
- starting studies
- starting business activities
- a change in your contact details.
Go to Job Market Finland’s E-service(Link leads to external service)
6. Create and publish a jobseeker profile
Your jobseeker profile will help you showcase your skills to employers. Employers can search for suitable candidates via Job Market Finland and get in touch with jobseekers that they are interested in. Keep your profile up to date during your job search as well.
From 1 September 2026 onwards, every jobseeker will, as a rule, be obligated to create and publish a jobseeker profile. If you start your job search on 1 September 2026 or later, you will generally have 15 working days from the start of your job search to complete and publish your jobseeker profile.
If your job search started before 1 September 2026, this obligation will come into force the next time that your plan is updated following the entry into force of the legislative amendment.
In your jobseeker profile, provide information about aspects such as your skills and strengths, your work experience, your education, and the types of duties and fields that interest you. If you do not create a profile yourself, the authority will draw one up for you based on an AI-generated proposal.
Read more about the jobseeker profile and create one on Job Market Finland(Link leads to external service)
7. Utilise services and events to support your job search
You do not have to carry out your job search on your own. Helsinki Employment Services provides a wide range of services for the different phases of the job search process.
Frequently asked questions
The best way to get in touch with your specialist is to send a message via Job Market Finland’s E-services. You can also call the Helsinki Employment Services helpline +358 9 310 36107(Link starts a phone call).
Go to Job Market Finland’s E-services(Link leads to external service)
If you have an outstanding clarification request, attach the requested documents to the request in Job Market Finland’s E-services.
If, in other circumstances, you need to send personal data or other confidential documents to Employment Services, please use Securemail.
Go to the Securemail service(Link leads to external service)
You can view tasks, deadlines and messages related to your job search in Job Market Finland’s E-services.
Check the E-services regularly throughout your job search.
Go to Job Market Finland’s E-services(Link leads to external service)
You can look for jobs via sources such as Job Market Finland, employers’ websites, staffing agencies and recruitment events.
Helsinki Employment Services also provides support for job-seeking and finding work.
As a general rule, report what jobs you have applied for and other job-seeking activities via the ‘Plan’ tab in Job Market Finland’s E-services. The reporting obligation applies to jobseekers receiving unemployment benefits. You are required to report your applications if it has been agreed upon in your plan.