When Haminan Pallo set out to hire a new Executive Director, they chose to run the recruitment process together with Jobilla, using modern digital marketing methods. One of the candidates reached through the targeted campaign was Jani Ahonen — who ultimately turned out to be the perfect match for the role.Ahonen says he came across the ad while scrolling through Instagram.

“I saw the ad, and it immediately stood out. It was exactly the kind of job that interested me — and it appeared at exactly the right moment.”

Although he had occasionally browsed job postings through traditional finnish sites like TE Services and Duunitori, this process made a lasting impression.

“The process was modern and comfortable from a candidate’s point of view. It was respectful and straightforward — just the way recruitment should be.”

The collaboration between Jobilla and Haminan Pallo resulted in more than just a successful hire. It gave the candidate a genuine sense of being seen and respected. Today, Jani Ahonen serves as the new Executive Director of Haminan Pallo — proof that the right person and the right job can meet when recruitment is done smartly.

A Chairman’s Perspective: “We reached the right people”

Rami Orola, Chairman of Haminan Pallo, also considers the recruitment process a success from the organization’s perspective.

“We contacted 12 candidates and conducted short video interviews with each. It was great to see that the targeted campaign reached exactly the right kind of people — those with the relevant skills and background. We had applicants from non-profits, the sports sector, and other related fields.”

He emphasized how critical the job description and screening questions were in attracting suitable talent.

“The way the job text and questions are written has a huge impact on who the message appeals to — and that directly affects the quality of applicants we bring into the process.”

Recruiting with Jobilla didn’t just offer a technically smooth process — it brought a great new leader on board and delivered a positive candidate experience.

As a final touch, Jobilla’s Founder Tommi Siro and Global Head of Sales Janne Suomi, along with their team, visited Haminan Pallo’s home opener against Sotkamon Jymy at the Vallikenttä Stadium. There, they met with Chairman Orola and the newly hired Executive Director, Jani Ahonen, to reflect on the successful collaboration.