Dear Job Seeker: A Poem of Encouragement

Allison is our Volunteer Coordinator and employment specialist. As a career designer, Allison has dedicated her work to empowering job seekers in Finland, offering guidance and support to those navigating the job market. But beyond her professional expertise, Allison has a hidden talent: poetry. 

​In this blog, she shares a powerful poem dedicated to all international job seekers who are struggling to find work or integrate into the labor market. This poem is not just for those who have met her—it's a message of strength, resilience, and empowerment for everyone facing these challenges.

Dear Job seeker 
I know you are exhausted  
Time loses its meaning  
when weeks turn into months  
and sometime even years 
 
Dear Job seeker 
I know you are frustrated 
Trying to constantly change and 
Mould yourself into somebody 
Someone would want to hire 
 
Dear Job seeker 
I know you start to question 
Yourself, is it me? 
What am I doing wrong? 
Not even a single reply 
 
Dear Job seeker 
You are doing all you can 
Your CV and application are faultless 
You match every requirement 
Sometimes you even managed to 
Puhuu suomea sujuvasti 
 
 Dear Job seeker 
It's time to address the elephant 
In the room, to name and shame  
To call out and shine light 
On every immigrant’s job seeker 
Number one Obstacle 
 
The EMPLOYERS 
Those refusing to make any 
Accommodations not even the slightest 
Change 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 
Nothing more than a phrase 
 
Dear Job seeker 
It's not you 
You are Enough!