- Basics
- Find your organisation
- Prepare a perfect CV / cover letter
- Create an attractive LinkedIn profile
- Prepare for a job interview
Basics
I want to work in Lithuania during my studies. Are there any restrictions for international students?
For EU and EFTA citizens
If you are a citizen of a country which belongs to European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA), you can choose and apply for part-time as well as full-time jobs in Lithuania any time during your studies and you do not need to get any work permits. However, do consider your capabilities to balance work with studies (you can get career counsellors’ advice on time management and also discuss other related issues during career consultations).
For non-EU and non-EFTA citizens
If you are not a citizen of a country which belongs to European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and if you have Lithuanian temporary residence permit (TRP) for your bachelor or integrated studies, you are allowed to work in Lithuania 20 hours per week during the autumn and spring semester, and you do not have to get any work permit for that.
The only exceptions are the University’s officially announced summer break (usually 1 July – 31 August), the internship period included in your study programme and 3 months after the graduation (a temporary residence permit for studies is usually still valid for 3 months after the actual end of studies). In the aforementioned cases, you are allowed to work full-time (40 hours per week) and you do not have to get any work permit for that.
If you are a doctoral (PhD) student and you have a temporary residence permit, you are allowed to work full-time (40 hours per week) throughout the entire time of your studies. Since the 1st of March, 2021, master students are allowed to work full-time, too. If you have a national visa (D) for your studies, you are not allowed to work during your studies.
Make sure to check all the requirements: Work in Lithuania or Migris.
What should I know before starting to look for a job or an internship?
As employers choose the right employee, they look whether the candidate:
- has enough skills and knowledge to perform future tasks,
- is sufficiently motivated for future work in the organization,
- will be able to adapt to the organization and their team.
Therefore, most employers are primarily interested in a candidate’s specific accomplishments, looking for evidence that the person has the skills, interests, values needed for the organization and the job, and will be able to create value for the organization.
So, to self-assess your abilities, interests, and values, capture and carefully analyze specific examples of your past and personal achievements in various activities - work, social, study, leisure or other. Remember that employers expect students to acquire and improve the competencies needed for work not only in university classrooms, but also by participating in a variety of activities. Past examples and achievements can be described and analyzed as follows:
1. Situation - the nature of the activities carried out (for example, preparing a project, writing a bachelor's thesis, participating in research, etc.).
2. The steps you took to make the activity a success (for example, I made 30 calls a day, prepared 20 slide presentations a week, read and analyzed 60 scientific articles a month, etc.).
3. The results you have achieved (for example, I have increased the budget for educational events by 30%, I systematized the database, defended my bachelor's thesis project very well, etc.).
4. Conclusion - what skills were needed to perform the activity and achieve the result, what skills, interests and values were revealed in this situation, why this achievement is important to you, why it makes you happy.
This analysis will help you to:
- become more aware of your abilities, interests and values,
- be more self-confident,
- see your weaknesses, i.e. mismatch between the available abilities and the skills required for the desired job, then you will be able to purposefully look for ways to change the situation (for example, engage in project activities, find some training in order to gain the skills you need),
- prepare evidence-based CVs, cover letters or other introductions,
- prepare for a job interview,
- be ready for negotiations on working conditions.
Do I need to speak Lithuanian to find a job in this country?
Lithuanian business world becomes more and more internationally diverse every year. So finding a job without speaking Lithuanian fluently is really possible especially in international companies. Of course, in this case, employers will expect you to speak English or other languages.
If you know any additional languages, it might be a huge advantage, especially in call centers, customer service positions or organizations that have international partners.
Some companies might prefer those, who can speak at least some Lithuanian, as it is much easier to become a part of the team when you understand what they talk about during a coffee break.
Vilnius university offers Lithuanian language courses for degree students.
Where can I find job and internship offers?
There are a few websites - some of them are for non-local candidates and others offer vacancies for everyone interested.
Workinlithuania.lt is a site where international companies and potential employees can meet.
It is an initiative of the foreign direct investment promotion agency "Invest Lithuania" that aims to encourage professionals from abroad to build their careers in Lithuania.
If you would like to get the newest job offers from "Work in Lithuania", sign up here.
AIESEC is a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. Youth (up to 30 years) can search for internship (both paid and unpaid) positions around the world, including Lithuania.
MeetFrank is a career app that tells you who wants to hire you and how much they are willing to pay. It is anonymous, so in case you don’t want your present employer to know you are looking for a new job, it might be a good start. You can look for a job in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and remote job offers. Registration needed.
Glassdoor is a website where current and former employees anonymously review companies. It is an international job-search platform as well. Registration needed.
LinkedIn is a social network, connecting employees with employers and provides tools to communicate between groups with common professional interests. You can search for job and internship offers as well.
Lithuanian job search platforms
In these platforms some of the offers might not be available if you don’t speak Lithuanian or if you are a non-EU citizen. However, if the position is posted in English and you meet the requirements, go for it!
For EU and EFTA citizens
European Job Mobility Portal: website maintained by the European Union to find jobs in Lithuania and in other EU member countries.
EURES is the European Employment Service. Its mission is to ensure the free movement of workers within the European Economic Area. The consultants provide free consultations regarding the work abroad, inform about job vacancies, help to write applications, curriculum vitae (CV).
If you would like to get more advice on job or internship search, sign up for a career consultation.
What if there are no positions available for me in the job-search websites?
Sometimes, if you have very specific career interests, there might be very few or no offers available for you publicly. However, this does not mean, that your career in Lithuania is doomed. This just means that you will have to be more proactive. Try one of the strategies below, to reach the employers directly:
Use your personal contact network. Other people are especially important for a successful job search. They can provide both support and information on employment opportunities. Evaluate the contacts you have, think about what people can help you find a job, and make an effort to connect with them. Your contact network might include friends, professors, your previous co-workers, relatives, etc.
Google it. Really, sometimes you can find the company you need, just by using keywords, such as your area of interest or position and “job”, “internship”, “career” “organization”, “business”, etc.
Apply to the company directly. If you know a company or organization you are dreaming to work for, be brave – contact them! Usually companies have a “Career” section somewhere on their webpage, where they post available vacancies. Even if they are not hiring now, you can contact their HR (or administration, if it is a small company). Let them know why you are interested in them and what you can offer.
Check associations’ web-pages. There are national and international organizations that unite companies working in the same field. They might be called networks, associations, societies or federations. Look for your area, e.g., the European Biotechnology Network, if you study biotechnological sciences. On their websites you can find a list of the companies you can apply for.
What should be included in an employment contract?
The employment contract is an agreement between the employee and the employer by which the employee undertakes to perform a job function for the benefit and under the subordination of the employer, and the employer undertakes to pay remuneration therefor. An employment contract is concluded in writing in duplicate, it has to be prepared or translated into the language employee understands.
More information here.
What is the difference between work and internship? Why is an internship important for my career?
During university time, you have three options: concentrate completely on your studies to gain a deep theoretical understanding of your study area, work on your financial independence and get a job (any job) or gain experience necessary for your future career by searching for an internship. Your decision might depend on your future goals. In depth theoretical knowledge is important for seeking an academic career. Being paid for a job sometimes is a necessity, because you might not be able to get enough financial support from your parents, or having money for fun during your studies is your primary goal. However, internship might be a great advantage if you are planning your future. Let's see when.
You have a clear idea of your future job, but no experience to get it immediately after your graduation. In this case, internship would allow you to get inside the organization you are dreaming about as employers are more willing to accept a candidate without any experience if he is willing to work without being paid. Then, you will be able to show your best and prove that you are exactly what they need. Companies start to look for new employees in their internship pool first.
You need to develop some skills or learn some methods that are not thought at the university in order to take your planned career path. Although the university does its best to fulfill the needs of the market, it still can’t give you everything that you need as there are just too much of everything in this world. An internship gives you a chance to find an organization, laboratory or project, that uses the method you are interested in, or can help you to develop a skill you want – e.g., project writing.
You have no idea what you would like to do after graduation. In this case, internship is a great way to feel in practice how different jobs, tasks and responsibilities feel like, to understand what you would like to do and what you would not. You can use your free time to get in touch with different organizations, that are hiring the students of your study program and doing an internship there, in order to learn about your possible careers.
What if you can’t afford to work for free? If you need money, you can at least choose carefully internship that is included in your study program. Make sure, that you thought about your plans after graduation. If you are not sure, consult a career counselor. You can get a part-time job and still have a couple of hours per week to volunteer for an organization of your interest.
What are the types of internship?
During your studies you can do both - compulsory and voluntary - internships.
Compulsory internship is a part of your study program, therefore, its legal basis is a tripartite internship agreement between the university, the student and the internship organization. The duration of the compulsory internship is individual and based on the number of ECTS, but in most cases compulsory internship duration is about a few months. If you are either EU or non-EU citizen, during the compulsory internship period you are allowed to work full-time (40 hours per week) and you do not need any work permit for that. Compulsory internship usually is performed individually.
Voluntary internship is not a part of the study program, so the agreement is concluded only between the intern and the internship organization. The duration of a voluntary placement is limited - it can be done in one organization once a year for a maximum of 2 months (in total, a voluntary internship can be done no more than 3 times per year i. e. 6 months). If you are non-EU citizen and your country does not belong to EFTA, you are allowed to take a part-time internship (no more than 20 hours per week) and you do not need any work permit for that. Voluntary internship usually is performed individually.
Vilnius University also offers the opportunity to do an internship in a team, thus developing hard and soft skills and competencies (teamwork, creativity, non-standard thinking, adaptability, problem-solving, etc.). Such internship is called Smart internship and it is organized in interdisciplinary teams of 5–7 students solving real-life organizations' problems. Smart internship duration is up to three months. Throughout the Smart internship, the whole process is led by the internship supervisor from the University and a mentor from a company. Students can do a smart internship voluntarily or as their compulsory internship if it corresponds to the requirements. A note about the performed internship is included in the student's diploma supplement. What is more, every student gets a smart internship diploma confirming gained competence, and a recommendation from the company.
Both compulsory and voluntary internships usually are unpaid, but some companies offer remuneration. Internships can only be paid if the host organization concludes an employment contract with the student in accordance with the law.
If you would like to get more advice on choosing an internship, get in touch with our internship coordinator.
I am an exchange student (Erasmus+ or other). How can I find a short-term internship during my studies in Lithuania?
Erasmus+ students can do both compulsory and voluntary internships and participate in the Smart internship program (see the question “What are the types of internships?” above).
If you have an internship, included in your study plan at your home university and they expect you to have it while you are in Lithuania for Erasmus or other part-time studies, you should try to find a place before you come to Lithuania.
For employers, internship quite often is a way to choose the right candidates for a full-time job, so it might be difficult to find an internship for 2 months or so. However, you can still try to look for an internship using the same sources as for a job search.
If you know a company that you would be interested to work for in your own country, check their own website. Maybe they have a branch in Lithuania? If yes, you can ask them if they have an internship place, with the possibility to continue it when you come back to your home country.
If I want to get a job after I graduate, do I need to get a work permit?
For EU and EFTA citizens
If you want to work in Lithuania, you do not need a work permit for that. Find a job and employer you like, get an employment contract and start working. If you want to get good advice on how to get a job, read the answers to other questions (see above), write us (see the online enquiry form below) or get an individual career consultation (free of charge).
For non-EU and non-EFTA citizens
In general, after completing the studies, if you get a job, you and your employer will have to go through some necessary procedures in order to get you a work permit (more information about the employment procedures).
If you have recently graduated from a university in Lithuania, you have the possibility to apply for a temporary residence permit (TRP) for 12 months for a job search or starting self-employment. If you want to get this TRP, you need to apply no later than 3 months after graduation (check the question I am a foreigner who has completed studies...). If you get a job during those 12 months, you can work with this TRP until it ends, you do not need to apply for a work permit immediately.
If your occupation is on the list of professions-in-need and you get this type of job, you can apply for an EU Blue Card (residence and work permit for up to 3 years) (Expedited Blue Card procedure).
If you have an employment contract with a Lithuanian company and you plan to work online (living outside Lithuania) all the time, you do not need to get a work permit.
Find your organisation
Set your job search goals
It is worth looking at a job search as a job itself, that involves specific tasks and actions. Manage this process to make your job search effective:
Name the criteria: what job are you searching for?
Set the job search criteria, i. e. what is the time period that you are willing to devote to job search and what kind of job is it that you want.
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Position, job tasks
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Place: geographical place, economic sector, type of company (private, public, non-governmental, etc.)
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Conditions: salary, part time/full time, career opportunities, team, expectations for the manager)
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Start date
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Prepare a job search plan
Create a plan for your job search: decide on the days you will perform specific tasks, how much time you will devote to each task, what tools (books, conversations, career counseling) you are going to need. Make sure to include the following tasks:
| Task | End date | Tools | When you will do that (days and times) |
| Self-assessment | |||
| Creation of a contact network | |||
| Analysis of employment opportunities | |||
| Creation of CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile |
Regularly monitor how well you are staying on track. Organise the information you gather about organisations, work places, contact network on paper or in the computer, save and organise correspondence with organisations.
IMPORTANT: If you do not yet know what kind of job you want, start with self-assessment. Identifying your interests, career values and competences will make it much easier to make sense of the opportunities offered by the job market.
Create your contact network
Contact network includes all your friends and acquaintances who work or know someone who works in the professional field that you are interested in. These people might help you a lot to find a job. So, it is important to put effort into creating this network and so you could use it in the job search process. Here are a few ways to create your contact network during your studies and later:
Be noticed by the teachers
During your studies you have a unique opportunity to make contact with true experts of your field – your teachers. They were chosen to teach specifically for their deep knowledge and quite often for their vast experience in the field. However, it is not enough to be on the student list to expect their help in job search process. You will need to put effort in order to be noticed by your teachers: well-prepared homework, active participation during the seminars, active interest in their field of research may help. If you are interested in working in a field other than your studies, take the opportunity to choose a free subject from teachers in your field of interest. Try to engage in scientific or other projects coordinated by them.
Stay in touch with classmates
After the teachers, classmates are the second most important part of your contact network. They are all interested in the same field as you, so after graduation you should all be interested in helping each other by sharing information about existing opportunities, organisations and events in your professional field. Here are some ways to be visible among classmates:
- take part in discussions and group tasks during lectures and seminars. Try to show initiative and join group projects. Cooperate.
- add them to your contacts on social networks: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
- meet face to face online or live, maintain not only formal but also informal relationships.
Most importantly – share your ideas, interest and help each other to develop them. This will allow you to be visible and willing to cooperate. Meanwhile, they will be informed about your fields of interest and, if possible, will be more motivated to share useful information with you.
Make contact with alumni
It is the third group with which it is worth maintaining a relationship. Senior students will sooner or later become alumni. So, stay in touch with your tutors, take part in defense of the final year theses. Also, do not be afraid to write to those who you are interested in working with in the future, invite them to a business lunch. Another way to connect with alumni is through mentorship. Mentors are the graduates who want to share their experience. Therefore, they can be a great source of information about your professional field and its opportunities.
Be active after classes
Join after class activities: student organisations, scientific societies, non-governmental organisations, projects. The professional contacts established there are strengthened through informal communication and reaching common goals. So, the connections you make here can become the strongest part of your contact network. Also, do not forget to attend events, conferences, career fairs, which are also a great source of contacts. Speakers can also be added to your professional contact network on LinkedIn; you may thank them for a report or an interesting conversation. Information on events for professionals in your field can be found on various websites, such as your faculty's or those of professional associations', as well as on social networks.
Search for employment opportunities
When you can already answer the questions: why am I searching for a job? What kind of job do I want? In what organisation? And when you already know your interests, values and skills, you may turn to the job search. For that step we advise using one of the following techniques:
Use your contact network
Take a sheet of paper and write down:
- all the people you know who work in your field;
- everyone, who knows people working in your field of interest (teachers, alumni, classmates, acquaintances, relatives, etc.);
- organisations you are interested in.
Mark the most accessible contacts in your list: those, whom you know directly and get on well with, and those, who can help you get connected with the organisations that you are interested in. Next to each marked person put down their contact details or the way you can get in touch with them (e.g., LinkedIn, VU Career Fair). Illustration of a contact network
This is one of the most effective job search methods – thanks to your contact network you can find out about the "secret" job market and how to better introduce yourself to employers, even if they published their job offers publicly.
Contact organisations directly
Direct contact means self-initiated contact with employers for work or other opportunities (e.g., internship or volunteering). These methods can help you find out about unadvertised job vacancies. Different methods require different amount of time and effort, and their effectiveness also depends on personal ability to communicate, to make a first impression. To assess which of these methods are appropriate, consider the specifics of a particular organisation and position. Below you can find several ways of direct contact:
- sending "massive" or targeted CVs;
- "massive" or targeted calls to organisations;
- visits to organisations;
- filling in job forms at organisations;
- internships;
- participation in contests, projects; short-term jobs;
- participation in career days, job fairs, open days at organisations.
Take advantage of job search services
Another way of searching for a job is to contact counselors and intermediaries who can provide information on employment opportunities (both public and "secret"). If you decide to take this approach, the most important thing is to choose reliable and successful intermediaries. Keep in touch with them and take interest in employment opportunities. This is where you can find them:
- HR companies;
- career centres;
- governmental organisations (Employment Service, etc.);
- professional associations.
Search for job proposals
- Usual job search portals: cvonline.lt, cvbankas.lt, cvmarket.lt.
- International job search portals: Glassdoor; MeetFrank, EURES, etc.
- Social networks, like LinkedIn and Facebook;
- Organisations' web-sites;
- Career days.
This is the most popular way for jobseekers, but it only covers the public (advertised) job market, so you have to compete with a large number of candidates. Remember, some employers do not use job advertisements to find new employees, so be attentive and proactive!
After completing these four steps, you will be ready to move on to the next step – preparation of CV and cover letter. You may find out more about this in section "How to prepare a perfect CV / Cover letter" and "How to create an attractive LinkedIn profile".
Useful services
If you encounter challenges at this stage, take advantage of these Career Centre services:
Career Counseling
Career Centre provides career counseling online every work day. University career counselors are professionals in the field ready to help you with any issue. You can sign up for a counseling session via or by phone +370 5 236 6253. Follow this link for more information.
Working hours:
I-IV 8:00–17:00
V 8:00–15:45
(other time that suits you may be suggested as well).
A consultation usually lasts up to 1 hour. No advance preparation is needed.
Training
We also offer training on this topic, where you can get practical advice and directly ask any questions you have! (Training and Events Calendar)
Prepare a perfect CV / cover letter
While reading your resume (CV) and cover letter, an employer seeks to find out 3 main things:
1. Whether you can perform the job. Employers expect you to have the competences, skills, qualities and experience necessary for the job.
2. Whether you are motivated for the future job in the company. Employers expect that your interests and values match the job, and that you will be eager to learn new skills and improve in the chosen career field.
3. Whether you will manage to adapt to the company and the team. Employers want your priorities and worldview to relate to the company's philosophy, its position towards employees and clients.
The resume (CV) mostly covers the answer to the first question. The cover letter in part answers the second and third questions. Below we will go through both of these documents.
Resume or CV (Lat. Curriculum Vitae) is an abstract of your skills, achievements and interests. Sometimes employers and HR managers spend less than 5 seconds looking at a CV. So, it is crucial to make sure that it attracts their attention and the necessary information is seen at a glance. Read further and learn how to do that.
Most important recommendations
Be concise
- Limit yourself to one, mostly two pages;
- Structure all information in the form of bulleted lists and paragraphs;
- Avoid adding too many details and long descriptions.
Include only what is important
The aim of the CV is to be invited for the job interview, not to get the job. Therefore, mention only those aspects that would make the employer want to know more about you.
- Responsibilities;
- Achievements;
- Competences that you would add to the team.
Do not send the same CV to all companies. Adapt your resume to every company and every job that you are applying for. Pay attention to job requirements, company values and the keywords used in the job offer. Only the matching experience should be mentioned in the CV.
Justify the experience with evidence
- Describe your responsibilities to prove your skills;
- Mention your achievements using numbers, percentage (e.g. every quarter the sales increased by 10%; I was third in the course).
Aim for clarity and order
- Clear font, not smaller than 10pt or 11pt; leave spaces between text blocks; keep margins;
- Avoid slang, general statements (e.g., I contributed to different projects), abbreviations;
- Do not mention that you do not know or cannot do something. CV is a place to show your strengths rather than weaknesses;
- Ask someone to check your resume to avoid mistakes;
- Use active verbs (e.g. "led", "organised", "planned", "evaluated").
How to prepare a structured CV
Select the most important experience and achievements
- Write down all your work experience, achievements and the main dates. Include not only your work experience but also your academic achievements, prizes, voluntary activities, sports, extra-curricular activities and other skills and hobbies (e.g. languages, web or IT skills). Write down the main skills that you employed and developed in every experience or that helped to gain certain achievements.
- Name skills and competences needed for the desired job. You can do that by reading the job offer or company's website. Pay attention to the company's mission, vision, strategic goals and values.
- Choose the most suitable achievements and work experience from your list.
- Select a CV type – chronological, functional or mixed (read more about those – in the fourth step).
Include these parts in your CV
CV consists of these obligatory parts:
Personal data
Name, surname, city and country of residence, phone number, e-mail (note that only a formal e-mail address should be provided, e. g. ), and a LinkedIn link).
Education
- If your work experience is modest, first describe your education;
- If you are studying at the university, do not mention your secondary education;
- Include information about awards, participation in contests, final thesis topic, most important study projects;
Experience or competences
- Include not only paid jobs, but also internships, volunteering, projects;
- Describe your experience starting with the latest (newest) one;
- Mention the name of the company, position title, responsibilities and the skills developed.
Additional optional parts that may help you to stand out:
Desired position. It is mentioned right after the name and surname, at the top of the first page of your resume. Indicate what job you are searching for and in what company e. g. "Project manager in X company".
Abstract. Include 2–3 sentences about your career, your main strengths, what you are searching for.
Hobbies. Mention those only if they are exceptional, uncommon.
Publications. Mention the name of the article, the journal and the year of publishing. Shortly describe the publications or scientific research.
What should NOT be included in the CV
Remember that the aim of the CV is to get invited to the job interview. So you do not have to include all the details. Here is a precise list of what should not be mentioned:
- Words "Resume" or "CV";
- Date of birth or age;
- Marital status, disability, race or nationality, religion;
- Home address (it is enough to indicate the city);
- List of referees – if necessary, their contacts will be requested during the interview;
- Basic IT skills: nowadays everyone can use the Internet and MS Office package. On the other hand, if your skills in these programs go far beyond basic, it should be mentioned;
- Religious beliefs, political views;
- Soft skills like "communication with people", "cooking", etc. If you have specific interests, provide more details, e. g. "Interwar Lithuania history".
Three types of CV
| Chronological | Functional | Mixed | |
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| Weaknesses |
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CV examples and templates
You may find many CV templates and examples on the Internet. They will help to keep the structure of the documents and to deliver the information in a clear way. Here are some examples:
www.wozber.com
www.freesumes.com
https://templates.office.com/en-US/Resumes-and-Cover-Letters
If you would like to make your resume even more personalized, especially if you need to show creativity skills for the desired position, you may use the graphic design platform Canva.
Academic CV
Academic CV will be necessary when applying for a job at a scientific institution, PhD or other degree studies at universities abroad, or applying for scientific projects. It focuses on the academic experience and achievements. There is no page limit for an academic CV. Nevertheless, it should also be clear and concise.
As well as non-academic CV, the academic one includes an overview of your skills and competences. However, here most important are the ones oriented to academic activities:
- scientific works;
- research experiences;
- publications;
- work and internship at scientific institutions;
- attendance at conferences;
- skills and competences required by the position / project (e. g. if part of the job duties involve teaching, the employer may ask for experience in this field).
Read the requirements carefully. A cover letter or an application might be required together with the CV.
Common parts of academic CV
- Personal information. Name, address, phone number, e-mail.
- Fields of scientific interests. Either list or shortly describe conducted research.
- Education. Provide the information about your education, final thesis topics and thesis supervisors.
- Honors and awards. Indicate any prizes, awards, scholarships or supported projects.
- Teaching experience. Indicate all subjects you taught, the educational material you prepared, any thesis supervision, mentorship, maybe even non-academic teaching experience (if you have a lot of experience in teaching, indicate only most relevant to applied position). You may also describe the level of the courses, group sizes and topics you have taught.
- Administrative experience. Note any conferences, seminars, research groups that you have organised, as well as any committees or projects that you have led or attended.
- Relevant training. Highlight the courses and seminars you have attended, as well as the licenses you have, etc.
- Relevant research and technical skills.
- Patents (licenses). Indicate the name, inventors, patent number and the date of issue.
- Affiliations and memberships. Only mention those that are related to your areas of expertise and the applied position.
- Publications. Provide all details that you would indicate when quoting. Make sure to unify the style of listing each publication.
- References. They should all be academics and all people you have worked with.
Most important recommendations
- Limit yourself to academic activities. Mention your non-academic achievements only if they are relevant to the position you are applying for. You may also include foreign languages and IT skills.
- If you consider your nationality as an advantage, you may indicate this information, e. g. if your country is the EU member and the candidates who are EU citizens are given the priority.
- In case you have any unfinished projects and research, you may list them as well, indicating their status as "planned...", "submitted for publishing...", etc.
- If you participated by giving a speech, delivering a lecture or seminar, provide this information in a separate section.
- Try to find out who will be assessing the application and what is his / her degree. Make sure to use only the terminology and abbreviations that will be clear to the assessor.
- Read the "Most important recommendations" provided in the first part of the section "Prepare a perfect CV", as they are also relevant for an academic CV.
Cover letter
A cover letter might help to stand out, express your aims and demonstrate your suitability for the specific position. It is always recommended to send a cover letter together with the resume, as well as to adapt the cover letter to every single employer.
Before writing the cover letter consider the following:
- Who the letter is addressed to? While writing, try to imagine what the addressee might be expecting to find in the letter.
- Why should the employer hire you?
- Which of your competences, experience, achievements are of the most important to this employer?
- Why is it important for you to work in that company and to do that job?
- What additional information could you provide, which is not yet included in the CV?
Most important recommendations
- In case you do not know, who to address the cover letter to, call the company and ask for the name, surname, position and e-mail.
- The cover letter has to be unique, attractive, well-structured (the letter should be up to one page in length). You may highlight the keywords.
- The letter has to be easy to read, positive, without any grammar or stylistic mistakes.
- Do not talk for others, e. g. "Our team has achieved...". Only mention your own achievements.
- Avoid generalizations, inaccuracies, groundless statements and clichés, e.g. "Like all young people...", "I have a lot of valuable knowledge...", etc.
- Use active verbs, e. g. "I communicate...", "I am dealing with..."
- Do not start every paragraph with "I" – such writing style might annoy the reader, look arrogant and self-centered.
- A cover letter may be sent in a form of an e-mail message.
- Make sure to clearly indicate the "Subject" of the e-mail naming the position that you are applying for.
Structure
Usually, the cover letter consists of these parts:
- Your personal information (name, surname, address, phone number, e-mail).
- Date.
- Information of the addressee, who the letter is addressed to (name, surname, position title, company address).
- A polite salutation (Dear Name Surname).
- Main body. Usually not less than three and not more than five paragraphs:
- the opening paragraph reveals why you are writing;
- middle paragraphs describe your motivation and skills (it usually takes 1-2 paragraphs to cover main aspects);
- closing paragraph (if needed shortly summarize the information presented above and provide your contact details).
- Closing (e.g., "Sincerely" or "Kind regards").
- Signature.
- Annexes (if you are attaching the CV or other documents).
Create an attractive LinkedIn profile
Social networks can not only help to maintain connections with your friends, but to also find a job. That is exactly what LinkedIn was created for. There you can find companies working in the field of your interests, contact employers, search for job offers and apply, as well as create a resume (CV). Below you may find recommendations for how to do that.
Profile and cover photos
Profile photo
- Professional. If you are working, choose a photo where you look like on any working day. If you are studying, choose a photo, where you look like going to a job interview. It is better to look "too serious" than unprofessional.
- Natural. LinkedIn is a social platform aimed to create contacts. Therefore, your profile should look like you are inviting others to get in touch with you. It will be easier to feel relaxed while taking photos if you do that in a good mood.
- Demonstrating your whole face. Avoid photos, where you are wearing sunglasses or ones where your hands are partially covering your face. Take photos from a short distance in order to be clearly seen.
- Recent. On this social platform, it is better to upload a photo not older than 1–2 years.
- High quality. There should not be too many details behind you on the photo. It should be high resolution.
Recommended size of the photo – 400 x 400 px.
Cover photo
Cover photo will add solidity to your account. Below you will find several ideas for how it could be used for your self-presentation.
- Use a cover photo of your work place or higher education institution.
- You may use this space for the products, services or equipment sold by your company.
- If you are self-employed, it might be a great place to share your latest creations, events, products.
- If you work in an exceptional building, use a photo of that building, office or work place.
- If you work from home, take a photo of your desk, equipment that you work with.
- If you work with a graphic design program, you may share the screen view of that program.
- If you are a lecturer, professor or speaker, upload a photo, where you speak to the audience.
- When your work equipment is not as common as a camera, for instance, you may use other details that would "speak" about your work.
Recommended photo size – 1584 x 396 px.
There are many programs that will help you create a really attractive cover photo. If you lack ideas, you may turn to graphic design program canva.com and the templates there.
Headline and "About"
Anyone who will enter your account will first see two things: the headline (right under the name and surname) and "About". Below you will find recommendations on how to fill in these parts:
In the Headline present your field of occupation, your skills and/ or what you are searching for in one concise sentence.
- If you are working, name your position, you may also add your field of interest or achievements, for example, expert in R, Python and Data analysis. If you are doing something additional to your main job, include that position, too, for example, Lecturer.
- If you are searching for a job, make sure to include words "opportunity" or "challenge". It will help HR specialists to find your profile easier. Apart from these key words it is important to indicate either the desired or current position, for example: Data analyst | Lecturer | Looking for new opportunities in biotechnology sector.
In the part "About" present yourself from a professional and a personal perspective. Mention important skills, your values, unique qualities and career direction. For example,
I'm a health psychologist, working as a trainer and counselor. In the past 5 years I:
- did over 2000 hours of trainings;
- created or co-created more than 20 training programs;
- have been working as a counseling psychologist (4 years).
My areas of expertise are:
- Stress management;
- Mindfulness;
- Behavioural change;
- Emotional first aid.
I am known for being compassionate, self-driven, and always eager to learn!
Positions and experiences
When you start filling in the name of the position, LinkedIn may provide you with the choice of the Title of the position. So, you may use this opportunity and choose from the ones that are proposed, if it corresponds to your job. It will help the algorithms to recognize you as a potential candidate. A few more important things:
- If you are already working, your work experiences should be listed chronologically starting from the current position.
- If you are currently searching for a job, provide your work experiences starting from the last job you had.
- If you do not have any work experience, go ahead and include your other experiences in this part, e. g. volunteering.
When describing a job, include as much information as possible about the activities you perform at that position. Devote 1–2 sentences to the description of what you do, then point out your main responsibilities, achievements and results. If you have a lot of work experience, describe the last 10–15 years period. Think about the impression that you want to make about yourself.
Skills, recommendations, etc.
Skills and Recommendations are two other parts that you will be suggested to fill in when completing your profile.
- Skills: put down the skills that you already have. Ask the people in your contact list to evaluate them.
- Recommendations: ask you managers, colleagues, professors or other students, whom you were working with, to write you a recommendation. It is an additional proof of your strengths and skills.
LinkedIn language: the main language on this platform is English. There are many more job proposals in the English language than in Lithuanian in our country, and you can easily check that simply by searching for any position in one language and then the other. Therefore, even though you may use Lithuanian to fill in some parts of your profile, still most of the information should be provided in English.
Be active: as with any other social network, if you want to be visible, you have to be active. There are several ways to do that:
- Create your contact network. Search for other students and alumni of your higher education institution, friends, colleagues of your parents, employers that you are interested in – anyone who might be interested to help you, find you or that you want to follow.
- Make contact. If you are searching for a job or internship, write private messages. Tell what you are searching for, ask whether anyone has any proposals in the field you are interested in. Devote some time and effort to maintain personal relations, and others most probably will be willing to help you.
- Apply. In the section "Jobs" search for companies in your field in Lithuania and abroad using keywords. There you will also find information about the open job and internship vacancies that you can apply to.
- Comment and share. If you come across any interesting information from your field of interests, do not be afraid to share this information on the platform. It will show that you are active and truly interested in the field.
Prepare for a job interview
In this section you will find the information that will help you to prepare for the job interview and hopefully even achieve your career goals. Before we go into the details, remember – job interview is a two-way process when both you and the employer collect information about each other to make the right decision.
| Company aims | Your aims |
|
- present the company and the job position; - evaluate the candidate; - ensure the selection process is carried out properly. |
- present yourself; - demonstrate your value to the company and the job, reveal your skills and achievements; - assess your compatibility with the company and the job; - receive a suitable job offer. |
Prepare for a job interview
There are few things that need to be done before going to the job interview to feel more confident.
Analyse the company and the job
Gather the information about the company (products or services, company's philosophy, culture, values, needs and problems), the position (place in the structure of the company, aims, functions, requirements), and the selection process (whom you will meet, how the selection process is organized).
- Read the job ad again. What are the requirements for the candidate? How does your personal experience match those requirements?
- Try to imagine yourself in the place of the interviewer. What would you ask? What would you expect?
Prepare questions for the interviewer
Consider questions about the company, the job, the work atmosphere. Keep in mind that the questions you ask will also influence the impression that you make on the interviewer. They will show whether you understand the work field, what your priorities are, whether you are curious, enthusiastic and proactive.
Examples:
- Why are you searching for a person for this position?
- What does a typical work day look like?
- What are the short-term and long-term plans for this position?
- What biggest challenges might arise in this job?
- What freedom (in terms of duties, work tools) would I have if I was accepted for this job?
- How is the work evaluated in this position?
- What biggest challenges might the company face in the upcoming three years?
Make a good first impression
Do not forget to smile, your handshake should be strong and mind the eye contact. Also, use other recommendations listed below:
Clothes
- Think in advance what you are going to wear. Make sure your clothes are clean and neat. Find out the common way of dressing in the company for its employees. You can do that by analyzing their website, passing by their office, asking people who work there or even by looking at how their representatives are dressed for career fairs.
- If that type of clothing is unusual for you, wear it for a couple of days to get used to it.
- Avoid intensive perfume.
- Have a spare pair of tights / socks in case yours tear.
Arrival to the job interview
In order to arrive to the job interview on time, make sure to have:
- Precise place and hour of the job interview (arrive no more than 15 minutes in advance)
- Invitation to the job interview and the name of your interviewer
- Phone number of the company
- Copy of your CV
- A list of the most important things that you want to say and questions that you want to ask
- Your personal ID card, work permit or any other documents, if the employer asks to bring those
- The route to the place of interview. If you travel by car, make sure there are no collisions or traffic jams on your way. In case you take public transport, check the schedule in advance; leave at least one bus or trolleybus earlier
- Find out where to park your car
- Have a charged phone – especially if any of the above information is in it.
In case your plans suddenly change, make sure to inform the interviewer. They will understand if your studies or family issues cannot be postponed. Also, inform the interviewer in case you are not going to show up – you never know whether you will have to communicate with those people in the future!
Body language
Not only what you say is important but also how you say it. You may record yourself while rehearsing for the job interview in order to see your body language. If you do not have such an opportunity, remember the following:
Sit down. Even though in other situations it would be polite to wait until you are invited to sit down, during the job interview, the interviewer usually expects that you will sit in front of them.
Relax and listen. Demonstrate that you are actively listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding your head, smiling and agreeing when that is appropriate.
Posture. keep your back and shoulders straight, because then you will look more self-confident. If you sit closer to the ledge of the chair, this will help to keep a good posture. Try not to slouch and cross your legs or arms as it may be perceived as defensiveness.
Keep your hands in place. When we are stressed, we may start touching the accessories, rub hands or twisting our hair. It will be easier to control your hands if you keep them in front of you or on the table. On the other hand, if your gestures are moderate, they may help to better express yourself.
Maintain eye contact. Eye contact is essential if you want to show your interest and engagement. If there are few interviewers, it is normal to maintain eye contact with the one asking questions and occasionally look at others. Also, it is quite normal to sometimes look away, for instance, when thinking what to say.
Psychological preparation
Most people feel stress before a job interview, but remember that it is a normal and encouraging reaction. It proves that this interview is important to you, and also encourages you to get prepared. Remember that a job interview is not an interrogation. The interviewer does not aim to make fun of you or to ruin your image. The interviewer is on your side, willing to help you reveal your best qualities, to make sure they do not miss a great candidate. Also, the interviewer does not expect perfect performance. A job interview is a conversation between two equal parties when both seek to find out whether they meet each other's expectations.
Ways to relax
Breathing. Start with breathing out. Then take a deep breath and exhale so that the exhale is longer than the inhale. Slowing down your breathing will help you to calm down.
Visualization. Relax, close your eyes and imagine yourself participating in the job interview enthusiastically and successfully. Visualization of success increases the chances to have a successful interview in reality.
You may find more exercises for stress management in our Stress management toolkit.
Frequently asked job interview questions
It is impossible to foresee all potential questions, but you can prepare for the most common ones:
Introduce yourself shortly (talk about yourself)
This question opens the opportunity to create a positive impression about yourself and to clearly present your career goals. Before going to a job interview think about a short self-presentation (1–2 minutes). Possible structure:
Introduction: who you are and why you are applying for this job.
Education and training: directly related to the company and the job, career interests and how they are being developed. Mention the achievements and skills maintained during your studies.
Work experience: most important to your current career goals, responsibilities and achievements.
Work and career goals: why you are interested in this job and the company, what your career goals and interests are.
Your added value: how you can contribute to the company.
Short summary.
Example: "I am... During my studies in Business Management and Administration (degree) I have acquired knowledge on how to organize company's work processes. My BA final thesis on the topic "..." got the highest score (achievements). I did my internship at the company "...", where I successfully fulfilled my goals: I improved customer service standards. Due to this, the customer satisfaction index increased by 10 percent (achievements). Because of my knowledge and work experience in customer satisfaction management, I would like to work in this company – here I could... I am highly interested to work in your company, because... Here I would employ..."
What qualities describe you best?
When answering this question, provide examples where your qualities were revealed.
Example: "I am result-oriented. I always try to see the bigger picture in my mind. This helps to concentrate on the goal and make decisions to achieve that goal. For example, when I was working as a Customer Manager, I imagined how I could increase sales and was always searching for ways to reveal product's best qualities to customers and to achieve better results every month. I also like planning and tracking the progress toward my goals; this motivates me to move forward. “
What are your strengths?
When speaking about your strengths, you should mention three or four that correspond to company's requirements.
Example: "One of the most important qualities as a cyber security specialist, is my curiosity. I like analyzing scientific literature related to the newest technologies, which helps to keep the existing IT systems secured. I deepen my knowledge not only by reading magazines on cyber security, but also by participating in IT conferences every quarter. It is important for me to keep my knowledge up to date. Besides, it also helps to connect with other people from the field, many out of whom are real IT security experts and leaders. Therefore, now I can take advantage of that social network whenever I need advice or information."
What are your weaknesses?
When revealing your weaknesses, you should speak about your advantages (strengths) that may be perceived as disadvantages in certain situations. It is very important to point out how you are dealing with that quality.
Example: "At the beginning of my career I noticed that my enthusiasm at work made me always say "yes", even when I should have said "no". Consequently, due to the high workload I even worked in the evenings and on weekends. That caused a lot of stress and negatively influenced the quality of my work. I realized how unproductive that was and started using a few workload management tools to set proper expectations for myself and for my colleagues, and to objectively evaluate how much work I can take without burning out."
What are your long-term career goals?
When answering this question, it is important to decide whether the employer will help you to achieve your goals.
Remember that this question is asked to see your motivation and potential added value to the company in the future, i. e. whether this job is connected with your future goals.
Example: "I value stability. My goal is to find a job where I can be both loyal and valued, gradually increasing the level of responsibilities and competences. Credit Union Analytics specialist position is very interesting to me as you have a training program for new employees. My long-term goal is to become the head of the department, after I develop my team-management skills and my analyst competences."
Which of your skills and competences would ensure your successful work in our company?
Name several skills and competences, as well as the achievements connected with them and their value in a new job.
Example: "My problem-solving skills allow me to work under stressful circumstances, which, as far as I understand, are common in this position. In my previous position as Procurement Manager, in a limited time I had to decide what resources to order within a given budget. I quickly created a calculating system that helped to save around 50 000 Eur while I was working for the company."
What do you know about our company?
The answer to this question should demonstrate that you know precise facts about the company and its activities. Remember to always show your knowledge about the company whenever you have such an opportunity, do not wait until you are asked this question.
Example: "I speak Danish fluently. I have noticed that you are going to develop your business in Denmark. Therefore, this language might be very useful."
What are your salary expectations?
If you are asked about your salary expectations during the first interview and do not want to name the precise numbers, you may say that first you would like to know more about the skills and the experience needed for that job. On the other hand, when you prepare for the job interview, find out the average employee salary in this field and think what salary would satisfy you.
Example: "As far as I know, the salary for this position varies from ... to ... euro. It is acceptable for me for this job."
If this is not your first job and you would like to get a higher salary, justify your request by pointing your competences and added value to the company.
Illegal interview questions
There are questions that are illegal to ask a candidate, e. g.: are you married? Do you plan to have children? Where were you born? How old are you? Have you been hospitalized in the last five years? When you hear such questions, you may choose whether to answer them or not.
If you decide to answer, first of all, ask yourself what is the purpose of this question for the employer. Answer the question in a comfortable way for yourself, providing work-related information and facts, e. g.:
Question: "Do you have any children?"
Answer: "I realize that this job involves many business trips. However, I can perfectly balance childcare and work. My former employer would confirm that, if you contacted them."
If you decide not to answer such a question:
- Ask: "How is this question related to work?", "Why are you asking this question?".
- Say: "I do not think this question is related to work and the requirements for this position."
- If you are rejected because your answers to such questions do not satisfy the employer, contact the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson and report this incident.
Behavioural questions
In order to select the best employees, some employers use behavioral questions. These are the questions that ask you to describe how you behaved in the past in situations similar to the ones occurring in the new job. Behavioural questions are based on the assumption that your behaviour in the future is best described by the examples in the past.
Examples of behavioural questions:
- Could you describe in detail how you performed similar work in the past?
- What was the most complex problem that you had to solve during the last 6 months? Tell us about it.
- Describe how you solve conflicts with the customers. Provide a real-life example.
- Could you provide an example of a situation when you did more than it was required and expected from you?
A proper answer to behavioral questions consists of three parts:
1. Description of the situation: shortly describe the situation.
2. Actions: describe what you did do to solve the problem.
3. Result: say what the result of your actions was.
Do not tell what you usually do. Remember and describe just one precise situation, your actions, behaviour and the results that you achieved. If you were a group member in that situation, still try to accurately tell what your personal input was.
While preparing for the job interview, pay attention to the job offer and the competences required. Remember and think through your past experiences, for example the ones that would best reveal to the employer that you have the required skills and, therefore, will be able to solve their problems.
Example
Question: What was the most complex problem that you had to solve during the last 6 months?
Answer: "It was the first day of my manager's two-weeks holiday. Our biggest client started threatening us that they would leave for our competitors because they did not feel like they were getting any tailored services as they were promised. I spent my lunch hour speaking to their representative on the phone, trying to understand their concern. We searched for ideas for their next campaign together. He was very happy with the personal approach and eventually signed a six-month agreement with our agency. "
After the interview
After the interview you can do a few things that will help you to prepare for other job interviews and to make a good impression about yourself.
Evaluate the results of the interview
- Remember the interview and consider your impression, the information you received about the company and the position.
- Evaluate whether this company and this job suits you and whether you want to work with these people.
- If you are not content with some of the questions, ask yourself how you could perform better next time. It is fine to make mistakes and you can make the most of them if you learn from them, instead of criticizing yourself.
Within the 48 hours of the interview send a thank-you note
In this note you can once again remind the employer the most important information about yourself and prove your interest in the company and the position. If the job in the company does not interest you anymore, send a polite rejection note.
Prepare for the further interview
If after the first interview both you and the employer want to continue discussing your candidacy for the position, get ready for the second and further interviews. Usually, these interviews are more specific, all aspects are discussed in more detail: the tasks, the environment, and the challenges. Candidate's competency and motivation are evaluated deeper – sometimes certain tests or homework assignments are given.