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Why Being Fully Qualified Isn’t Enough to Get Hired — 3 Surprising Reasons.

You have the appropriate qualifications and you are applying for the relevant positions. You keep hearing that even though you were a finalist, someone else was chosen because they "the found a better match" Or perhaps you receive no response at all. The good news is that you can easily alter how you approach that particular step of the process if you're already in the interview stage. Here's how to figure out what's stopping you and how to improve here.

1. You're competent, but may be dull

You feel positive when you think about your given interview. Every question was answered rationally by you, and you didn't make any significant errors. Nothing particularly stands out, yet you know that you did a great interview. Unfortunately, that usually isn't sufficient to receive an offer.

Sometimes back-to-back or multiple interviews are conducted by hiring managers each day. If the interviewer needs to refer back to their notes just to recall your name or your skills, it means you did not leave a strong enough impression and there is a high chance you may not make it onto the offer list.

Consider it this way: If a candidate had great interpersonal skills but lacked specific technical abilities, he would need to develop those abilities to complete his application. Although you are on the other side of the situation and have expertise, you should work on improving your ability to connect with the interviewer. Practice is your best bet for achieving it. Therefore, don't merely mentally practice your speech. To rehearse your responses, ask a good friend to meet you for coffee.

2. You're competent, but you lack interviewing skills

Do you know anyone who is incredibly intelligent but struggles on exams for whatever reason? The same phenomenon can happen in interviews where candidates become anxious, feel confined, and choke.

If you have enough experience to begin tomorrow, it might not seem fair that you must "play by the rules." But you do, in actuality. Accepting this is the first step, just like admitting that you need to get better in interview and that you need to study more about interviews. Step two is to determine if there is a particular section of every interview when you always feel lost. Do you feel awkward bringing up salary discussion? Perhaps you still find it difficult to respond when asked, "What's your worst weakness?" Step three: After determining where you can improve, make the necessary corrections. Reach out to a friend or an interview coach for assistance if you need it.

3. You're competent, but you're desperate

When asked why you want the job, you tell the truth—the whole truth. Perhaps you gushed about how this is your dream company. Maybe you get real about how you'd do almost anything to leave your current job, and hey, you're perfectly suited for this role. Similarly, you can demonstrate your enthusiasm for a company by providing thoughtful responses to what drew you to apply

Keep in mind that if you focus solely on why you want the job, it's likely that you won't give it enough thought as to why they would benefit from hiring you. Therefore, mention one way you may help the company support, innovate, or expand anything for every positive attribute you listed about it.

What Engineering Managers Look for in a Software Developer.

When hiring, engineering managers aren’t just looking for someone who can code. They’re looking for someone who can think well, work well, and grow well. Here are three qualities that often separate good candidates from great ones:

1. Problem-solving over programming

It’s not about how many languages you know—it’s about how you think. Managers pay close attention to how candidates approach real-world problems. Can you break down a messy challenge? Ask the right questions? Find a simple, effective solution? Coding is important, but strong thinking is what truly stands out.

2. Positive impact on the team

Great developers don’t just ship features—they lift the whole team. Managers value people who help others, give thoughtful code reviews, share what they learn, and make the team better just by being on it. Quiet collaboration and consistent support often matter more than flashy individual achievements.

3. Curiosity and a growth mindset

Technology changes fast. The best developers keep learning. Whether it's trying out a new tool, asking thoughtful questions, or reflecting on mistakes—curiosity signals long-term potential. Managers often look for candidates who aren't just good now, but who are eager to keep getting better.

In a nutshell, Think clearly, Collaborate well, Keep learning. These are the qualities engineering managers are quietly and actively looking for—often more than a perfect resume.

Two Business Roles That Are Growing Fast in Tallinn.

Over the past few years, Tallinn has changed a lot. The city feels more international, more digital, and full of new opportunities. For people with a business background, this growth has opened doors in areas that didn’t even exist a decade ago. From what I see around me, two roles stand out as especially promising for the next few years: Finance & Compliance Specialist and Project & Product Manager. Both offer good career growth, solid demand, and a chance to build skills that will stay relevant for a long time.

Finance & Compliance Specialist

As more companies in Tallinn handle global transactions and digital payments, the need for finance and compliance professionals keeps rising. These are the people who make sure everything runs smoothly — that money is tracked properly, reports are accurate, and companies follow all the right regulations. It’s not just about numbers or rules. In this role, you’re helping a company build trust — with its partners, customers, and regulators. The work often involves preparing financial reports, reviewing budgets, transactions and making sure the company’s operations meet international standards and compliance. You might not always be in the spotlight, but you’ll be the person who keeps things stable behind the scenes.

To do well here, you need a mix of careful thinking and curiosity. A background in finance, accounting, or economics helps, but so does the ability to spot small details that others might miss. Communication is important too — explaining complex financial or compliance topics in simple, clear language is a real skill. If you look around Tallinn, many well-known companies are hiring in this space. Wise continues to grow its global compliance and finance teams. Bolt has regular openings for Finance analysts and specialists. You’ll also find opportunities with Wise, Luminor, Monese, Hitachi, Swedbank and SEB, all of which have strong teams in Tallinn. If you’re early in your career, even an online certification in AML or risk management can help you stand out. The good thing is, Tallinn’s job market is quite open to international professionals who are eager to learn and grow.

Project & Product Manager

The second role that’s growing quickly is project or product management. Almost every company — whether it’s a tech startup or a large consulting firm — needs people who can bring ideas to life and keep teams moving in the same direction. In simple terms, project and product managers make sure things actually get done. They plan, organise, and coordinate work between different teams — from marketing and design to development and operations. The job also involves solving problems when things don’t go as planned, which, let’s be honest, happens often.

To succeed here, you don’t need to be the loudest person in the room — but you do need to listen well, communicate clearly, and stay calm when things get hectic. Being organised, practical, and people-focused matters more than being perfect. Knowing how to use agile or scrum methods can also make your work smoother. Some of the most interesting roles right now are at companies like Bolt, where managers lead global projects, or Nortal, which handles big digital transformation programmes. Pipedrive, Wise, Twilio, ABB and Ericsson also have strong teams where project and product managers play a key role in driving results.

Both of these roles — finance & compliance and project & product management — show how business careers in Tallinn are evolving. They give you a chance to grow your skills, make an impact, and work on projects that really matter. If you’re curious, willing to learn, and enjoy solving problems with others, these roles can take your career to the next level.