The Newbie Guide to Sweden

We explain Sweden

Sara Costa

Why do Swedes take off their shoes at the front door and other Swedish oddities

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Why do Swedes take off their shoes at the front door? Well, let’s look into that. Our surroundings influence our culture and what’s normal to some, is odd to others. Places, people, objects, and relationships, all contribute to who we are and what we are used to. We are all born and raised in a certain way. Not all ways are the same, so when we move abroad, we are confronted with habits and traditions that we find odd. Oddities to those who haven’t seen them before, but regular to those who grew up with them.

Asking the locals why they do things the way they do, is not always helpful, as most oddities are so deeply rooted in the culture, that no one knows why they are done anymore. It’s like this because it has always been like this. Some of them, however, do have a reason and history behind them. Here are some Swedish oddities that you might find when moving to Sweden.

Leaving the shoes by the door

Swedes take off their the shoes at the entrance in many places: at home, their own or someone else’s, in their children’s school, in the gym, and even in some doctors offices, beauty parlors, and other similar public spaces. Even at work, many Swedes have a different pair of shoes that they can change to during office hours.

Why?

A cleaner floor and improved hygiene help prevent diseases. Think of how much dirtiness there is on city sidewalks and other walkways: dust, garbage, animal droppings, food leftovers, snow and so much more. All of that can be collected in the shoes and spreads bacteria and dirt wherever we walk with them. Including our homes if we don’t take off the shoes at the entrance.

At the same time, having our feet inside a pair of winter boots the whole day might not make for very happy feet either. That’s also why you might see some Swedes changing to indoor shoes at work. Higher hygiene and more comfort.

History

At the end of the 1800s, governments of different countries started a campaign throughout Europe to improve people’s hygiene habits in order to get cleaner houses and better health in the population. In 1936,  Sweden created a housing inspection under the health care boards whose responsibility it was to make sure that Swedes moved away from unhealthy living habits, such as over crowdedness, dirty living spaces and shoes indoors and got better habits around airing, cleanliness and bathrooms. This lead to a wide spread change in the 1930s, where Swedes started taking off their shoes and leaving them at the entrance of their homes. This helped prevent diseases and made them literally stay outside the door.

Swedish Licorice

Swedes are big consumers of candy, with their tradition of lördagsgodis (Saturday candy), filling a paper bag with diverse loose candy, bought in any corner shop, supermarket, or larger candy store. What as a kid I could only dream of, in Sweden is a reality, for both adults and children.

This alone is an oddity, but we can dig deeper in the subject. One of the most popular candy types in Sweden is Salmiak or salty licorice (the black candy). Licorice is a candy flavored and colored with a vegetable extract found in the roots of Glycyrrhizin glabra. Glycyrrhizin is very very sweet, more than sugar, and to balance that sweetness almost all Swedish licorice candy contains ammonium chloride, giving it a salty flavor. This combination of flavors makes Swedish licorice quite special with many people describing its taste as a “love it or hate it” situation.

Why?

It is hard to know exactly why Swedes (and other Nordic countries) enjoy licorice so much, but there are some guesses, as described by the bloggers at Scandi Baking. In general, Scandinavians like strong flavors and the combination of sweet and salty exists even in other traditional foods, such as pickled herring and fermented fish. Another possibility is that salty foods might keep the blood flowing, which helps stand the cold winters. At the same time, strong flavors entertain the brain and keep dark evenings more interesting. A more obvious reason might be that Swedes love licorice, because they grow up eating it! Who doesn’t like to go back to the flavors of their childhood?

History

The history of the licorice root goes way back to the Egyptians. Pieces of licorice root were even found in Tutankhamun’s tomb! However, it is not known if it was there for decoration or as food. Historically, licorice was used for medicine, both by the Egyptians and the Chinese. The licorice candy, however, appeared much later, in the 1760s by George Dunhill, an English pharmacist. He wanted to make cough tablets tastier and started adding licorice root and sugar, creating this odd black-colored candy. Don’t be fooled though! Licorice might have been used to cure diseases in the past, but its excessive consumption leads to some serious side effects. Read more about it and other weird Swedish foods here.

Family is a wide and many coloured concept

Sweden is known throughout Europe (if not the world) for being well ahead of the times in many ways. One of them is the concept of family, which can be many different things. When living in Sweden you will meet many divorced people, as separating is normal, whether the couple has children together or not. It is also normal for the parents to keep having other partners and healthy relationships.

In this way, a family might not be composed of two parents and a few children. Instead, you might find a parent, his/her new partner, and some siblings from the previous marriage. The siblings might also be a lot older and have their own boyfriends/girlfriends, making a family dinner table a big fun mix of ages and generations.

Same-sex families are also a fairly common occurrence and it is therefore not too unusual that a child may have two mums/one dad, two dads/one mum, two mums, two dads or two mums and two dads – or any other variation for that matter.

Why?

Swedes are practical beings and have a big respect for people’s rights and freedom. Everyone is free to love and to build a family with whomever they want. If someone is not happy in a relationship, they should end it. Two adults might grow in different directions over the years and decide to part ways when being together no longer makes sense. Believe it or not, many adults find new partners for the sake of their children and their happiness.

History

In 1915, Sweden passed the Act on Celebration and Dissolution of Marriage. Under this act, married couples could get a divorce but both partners had to agree on it. In 1975 the law was reformed and since then it is enough that one spouse wants a divorce. The current Marriage Act is from 1987 when modifications were made to include clauses on child custody and maintenance.

More recently in 2009, Sweden adopted a gender-neutral marriage law, giving same-sex couples the same rights as opposite-sex couples. Later that same year the Church of Sweden joined and allowed its priests to wed same-sex couples. These rights include members of the Royal Swedish Family. Same-sex couples can adopt children since 2003 (both joint adoption and stepchild adoption). Since 2005, lesbian couples can also access IVF treatments with both spouses becoming automatically parents after birth.

Swedes fear badgers

Have you ever seen a Swede walking in the forest with crackers inside their socks? Swedes found this solution long ago to survive an unfortunate encounter with a badger. Badgers do live in Swedish forests, but they are shy animals and prefer to run away from humans than to fight them. They only bite in rare cases if surprised or feeling very threatened.

Nowadays, all Swedes probably know that all of this is a myth, but they still have a big respect for these animals. The truth is that badgers seek quiet places to build their nests, and underneath a wooden cabin out in the woods might just be one of their favorite places. Moreover, they can destroy gardens and veggie pods, which doesn’t help their popularity among humans.

Why & History

There’s a popular belief in Sweden that badgers will bite onto your leg and not let go until they hear the bone crack. Swedes, being the smart inventive creatures they are, found a solution to this. They started using other crackling things inside their socks. This way, if facing an unfortunate encounter with a badger, the cracking sound would come from something else instead of a human bone. Smart! 

Swedish students scream at night

Every evening around 10pm, university students in the neighborhood of Flogsta, in Uppsala, throw the windows of their student houses wide open and let out a primal scream. This started as a local Swedish oddity that is now spreading to other Swedish cities.

Why?

Studying can be stressful and sometimes you need to let off steam. While some might have a night out with their friends, or go to the gym, Swedish college students like to scream. It’s called an exam scream or anxiety scream, and it’s supposed to release stress before an exam.

History

The tradition of the “Flogsta scream” dates back to the 1970s, but no one really knows how it started. Rumors say it was originally a tribute to a student who committed suicide, but no one really knows. The tradition, however, is popular and it has slowly spread to other cities, such as Lund, Linköping, and the Lappkärrsberget student residence area in Stockholm.

If you find yourself in Uppsala go and listen to this odd tradition. Until then, you can watch it on diverse videos on youtube.

The list of Swedish oddities does not end here, and there are certainly other things you might find odd in Sweden. Some of these oddities are easier to adopt than others, while we might never embrace some of them at all.

 

How about you? What are your favorite Swedish oddities? Have you spotted other ones? Let us know in the comments!

10 things to do to protect against unemployment in Sweden

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Unemployment in Sweden often makes headlines in the news, either during election campaigns or when large companies lay off a large number of employees. The truth is that unemployment can affect all branches, all ages, and anyone. It can be devastating and worrisome, but its effects can also be mitigated if you are prepared for it. This article is not only for those at risk of being unemployed but everyone with a job can make use of it.

Is unemployment in sight? Do not panic!

Firstly, remember becoming unemployed is not the end of the world. According to a report from the Swedish National Bank, 25% of unemployed people find a new job in less than 4 weeks and 70% do it in less than 6 months. And who knows, you might even find a better workplace than the one you had before. Fingers crossed or as the Swedes say “I’ll hold my thumbs for you”.

Make saving a priority

Having a savings account for emergencies is a lifesaver during a layoff. Ash Exantus, a financial educator, recommends setting aside 10% to 30% of our paycheck into such an account. Keep it in a separate account in your bank, to make sure you won’t dig into your savings unless you really need it. You can set it up at your home banking or ask for help at the bank if needed.

This way within a year you will have enough saved to live without an income for a few months. If you end up not becoming unemployed and not using the money, you can save it for other emergencies or put it into your retirement fund.

Extra tip: keep yourself motivated by calling your account something inspiring, like “Financial Freedom Fund” (as recommended by Ash Exantus).

Double-check that you have the right to unemployment benefits.

Having unemployment insurance, the so-called A-kassa, is highly recommended and about 80% of the Swedish working population has it. Hopefully, you are one of them, as receiving some unemployment money will help you economically until you find a new job. Besides checking that you are registered with A-kassa, you should also check how much financial help you would get if becoming unemployed today.

Extra tip: you can increase unemployment benefits by being a union member as well. This Newbie article explains it all.

Review your budget and analyze your costs

How much of your income do you spend every month? If you replace your current income with unemployment benefits, will you still be able to cover all your costs? Which costs could you possibly cut?

These are some of the questions that you should be asking yourself. Start by writing down all of your costs, with the help of your bank statement to make sure you won’t forget anything. Compare the total spending with the total earnings, both when employed and unemployed. This will give you an idea of how much you will have to cut on your costs or how much you will have to use from your savings account.

Extra tip: Looking into cutting costs? Food is often an area where we can reduce our spending. Read here for some tips.

Think and plan for new forms of income

What could you do to get some extra income? Perhaps you have a special talent for something and can freelance for a while. Or maybe you need to get rid of some clothes or furniture that you can sell online. Any extra earnings will help keep your finances afloat while giving you enough time to search for work.

If free-lancing, make sure you report all of your earnings, especially if you are also receiving unemployment benefits. Some freelance work now and then might not affect your benefits, but a part-time job will certainly do it. Consider all of your options and weigh their pros and cons before you make a decision.

Extra tip: try free-lancing on a small scale while you are still employed (if possible). That will give you good feedback on time demands and possible earnings so that you know what to count on.

Grow your network strategically

A lot of job positions are only advertised internally, so having good personal contacts in your branch will give you an advantage. Sure, having a good-looking and updated LinkedIn account helps but it’s not enough. Having a thousand contacts in your profile is not of much help if they don’t even remember who you are. Now, I’m not saying you should keep in touch with everyone on your account but keep good relations with some key people. Making long-life professional relations might be more easily said than done, but try to identify people in your network, who you think would be helpful in the future. Focus on people who have had a positive influence on your career.

Extra tip: if you do get unemployed make sure your key contacts know that you are looking for a job. Email or send private messages letting them know you are on the hunt for a job.

Keep educating yourself

The job market is in constant change and new skills are always a plus. A few decades ago, everyone wrote their computer skills on the CV, and being able to work with Word and Excel was a big deal. Nowadays, those are basic skills and it’s a given that everyone has them. Times change and we must keep up with them.

Nothing can guarantee that you won’t be laid off, but learning new skills and keeping yourself updated in your field will make you as valuable as possible in your branch.

Extra tip: check if your company offers some courses or educational programs. Many do, as it benefits the company if the employees are on top of the latest advances in the field.

Get inside information on CVs and interview skills

If you do get unemployed, you will need an updated CV and good interview skills. While you still have a job you have access to precious inside information on these. What are your employees looking for when hiring someone new? Why did they choose one candidate over the other one? Even if your company is not hiring right now, which is likely if there are rumors about layoffs, you can still talk to HR or other colleagues and get information on this.

Extra tip: this makes a good fika or lunchtime topic. A relaxed conversation might provide more useful information than a more formal meeting.

Keep your CV updated

Keeping your CV updated and on hand is good even if you are not thinking of changing job. You never know when a great opportunity shows up or even if someone unexpectedly headhunts you. In those cases, it is better to have a well-thought-through CV ready on hand, instead of writing one down in a hurry.

And don’t forget to update your CV according to what you have learned within your current company, as suggested by point number 8.

Extra tip: Happy with the text of your CV but not so much with its looks? Google CV templates and get inspired.

Consider a bigger change

Have you ever considered changing fields? Many dream of working with something else, but leaving the safety of decent employment is too scary. Whether you took a wrong turn when you took the job, or you were forced to take it when you moved country, or any other reason is valid. At times, unemployment is a blessing in disguise and is the push we need to step outside of our bubble and finally try working on that area we have always wanted to.

Consider it. If you got unemployed today and had the chance to do anything else, what would that be?

Some branches might be more susceptible to a constant change of staff while others are steadier. No matter what, and in the current financial crisis, no job is 100% safe and it’s good to be prepared no matter how secure you think your job is. I’m not saying we should worry for no reason. No thank you, modern life is stressful as it is already. However, it won’t hurt having that savings account we talked about or keeping an eye on the job market and its demands for your profession.

It’s like being a scout – always be prepared. It’s just common sense.

Swedish summer vacation

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Summer is upon us and soon enough most of the Swedish working force will be parking their work tools and computers in their desks for 4 or 5 weeks – the summer vacation.

After midsummer and for the whole month of July the tempo all over the country changes. Many workplaces become empty, services get slower if open at all, and many cities decrease in population while small coastal towns peak during these weeks. It’s summertime!

Historical background and your rights

The first vacation law in Sweden dates to 1938 (turning 85 years old this year!) and gave the workers a full 2 weeks of paid vacation. In 1963 this was increased to 4 weeks and 10 years later to the current 5 weeks of vacation (you can read the whole text here). That is a full 25 days of paid vacation as a minimum for full-time workers. Depending on the workplace and its contract with the union, kollektivavtal, an employee might get more vacation days than that.

Good to know

When to take vacation – Most people get to choose when to take their vacation, but the rule of thumb says that you should take at least 20 days off during June – July. This may, however, vary from workplace to workplace. For instance, in my own workplace, this period has been extended from May to August.

Sickness during vacation – If you get sick during your vacation, the days you are sick should not count as vacation. This must be reported by the employee and the vacation days can be used later during the year.

Saving vacation days – Employees with more than 20 vacation days (working full time and for the most part of the year) have the right to save 5 vacation days for the year after. Other rules might apply as well, on how fast you are supposed to use your saved vacation and how many saved days you can have.

Vacation-salary increase – During your vacation, you have the right to a small increase in your salary, so-called vacation salary or semesterlön in Swedish. This can be counted in different ways, but it must be paid within a month of your vacation.

You can find other frequently asked questions related to vacation in this page (in Swedish).

Additional benefits

Age as a bonus – Some Swedish employers prize their more experienced employees with extra vacation days. In my workplace, one gets 31 days when turning 30 and 35 days when turning 40. Sounds good to me!

Compensation days – in some workplaces you can get some extra days off, that you can use connected with another day off, as the day before midsummer eve, or a Friday/Monday in between a weekend and a red day.

Shorter working times in the summer – there are workplaces that shorten their working hours during summertime. These might be rare nowadays, but there are still a few cases where people work 7 hours a day during June and July (if not on vacation).

Work/life balance

The foundation of the Swedish summer vacation is a good work/life balance. This is a well-discussed subject in Swedish workplaces, and you might even fill in a survey every year, used by the management to get an overview of the company’s work environment.

Although, it is not very clear where this habit of taking a very long summer vacation started. Since summer in Sweden is relatively short, weather-wise, that might have led to the habit of a long summer vacation. Some claim that this is the only way to fully relax and completely disconnect from work, but the few existing studies on the subject have not been able to prove this. The opposite has been pointed out by for instance Jessica de Bloom, who found out that the vacation good feeling disappears within two weeks of work. This means it is probably better to have a few shorter vacation spread throughout the year.

The truth is that the subject has not been studied very deeply, probably because to be able to do it, the researcher would have to NOT take their own summer vacation and that’s something unthinkable in Sweden.

What if I prefer a shorter vacation?

Most Swedes do take a long summer vacation, but not all. The ability to disconnect from work is very individual and some people prefer to take shorter vacations, multiple times during the year. It might feel stressful at the end of a vacation to think that it will take a whole year until your next vacation. Or maybe after 2 or 3 weeks of vacation, the days get boring and resting gives way to a restless mood instead.

I find myself in this category and I usually save a few days to spend in the autumn, when work is more intensive, the days shorter, and without any days off (red days). That way I always have something to look forward to at the end of the summer.

If it’s not clear that you are allowed to do this in your workplace, go ahead and talk to your employer. Most of them are open to different options, although it depends a lot on the type of work you do.

What to do with this long vacation?

That’s a question one might wonder – what to do with all this time?

Valuable time at home – How Swedes divide their vacation time varies widely. I would guess that most spend at least some days at home, maybe fixing things, re-organizing, cleaning that little extra or simply spending time with the family.

Daily trips – Swedish lakes and beaches are quite popular during the summer, especially when the weather is good. Reading, bathing, and sunbathing are my favourite activities. Eating ice cream is also quite popular!

Summer cottage – many Swedes own cottages or summer houses, sometimes passed on from generation to generation. Gathering the whole family in a countryside house is not uncommon, especially for families living apart who might not see each other often during the year.

Cycling – active vacation is another favourite of many Swedes. You might have already seen people passing by on their bikes fully packed with bags. This is a fun way to travel and see new places. I have myself turned to one of them and have cycled most of the west coast on my summer vacation. You can read about it here.

Hiking – forests and mountains are full of cosy trails and beautiful views. Hiking is slow, relaxing and usually includes a lot of fika, which sounds like a pretty good summer vacation. Sweden is full of well-marked and organized trails and one can even sleep in small cosy cottages along the way. Check here for more information.

Abroad – there is also a part of the population who chooses to travel abroad. It might be to visit relatives or simply to explore new places. Although going abroad is popular, it might not be that popular in the summer when the weather is actually decent in Sweden.

Tips for a successful summer vacation

Do not have too high expectations

Many people make plans to do all the things they haven’t had the time for during the year. They want to deep clean the whole apartment, re-organize the pantry, paint a wall, train every day, and visit friends on the other side of the country. At the same time, they also want to lay by the lake, read a book and relax. You see the problem here right… 5 weeks feel long, but if we make plans that would take 9 weeks, we will be disappointed at the end.

Don’t demand too much of yourself during your vacation. We are supposed to do things slower, so do leave your super-efficient self on the shelf for a little while.

A good trick can be to set a day of the week to work on things. Or a part of the day. For instance, every Tuesday I’ll work on the cleaning. Or every morning I’ll do a 30-minute workout because then I’m done and can enjoy the rest of the day.

Find your own balance

Spending entire days without goals or ideas can be just as stressful as being at work. Find activities you want to do and fill your vacation days with fun things. If you are the kind that could spend the whole vacation on a sun chair looking at the sky, you might find out that you enjoy that even more if you take breaks for doing something else. Visit a museum, go for a walk in a new place, rent a bicycle and explore a pristine beach. If on the other side, you prefer an active vacation and enjoy being on the move the whole time, break that with a day or two of stillness. Or maybe balance an active morning with a lazy afternoon occasionally. Balance is the keyword here.

Be physically active

It is no secret that physical activity is beneficial for our body and mind. On vacation, we have more available hours during the day, which means there’s time for both being physically active and relaxing. You can be active in many kinds of ways, and you should definitely choose an activity that makes you happy. Take walks with friends. Dance with your kids. Play with your dog. Go for a swim. Play ball on the beach. Move!

Make memories

If you lay down on a chair every day of your vacation, you will most likely not remember it afterwards.

Do at least one memorable thing this summer. It doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming, just memorable for you so that when you look back to 2023 you remember it. Perhaps it’s the summer when you finally made a picnic in that park. Or when you visited that open-air museum outside of the city that somehow, you missed for years. Or maybe the summer you finally dared to swim in the dark waters of a Swedish lake. Your choice! How would you like to remember this summer in 10 years?

Whichever type of vacation you prefer, the important is to use it wisely, take time for yourself and disconnect properly. Turn off your job muscles and do something completely different.

And most of all, enjoy your summer!

14 things to do after layoffs in Sweden

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There’s a lot of noise about layoffs in the Swedish news right now. Maybe it has already happened to you. If so, try not to worry too much… there’s life after a layoff and in this article, you can find some help.

A layoff happens when an employer needs to discharge one or more employees due to economic problems or a shortage of work. This solution can be temporary or permanent. There’s a difference between being laid off and getting fired. The later usually occurs due to the employee’s fault. The last couple of years have been economically challenging for many businesses and many people were laid-off.

In Sweden employers must warn the employees, and the public employment service, that there may be layoffs. That means the employee usually hears about the possibility of a layoff even before the company makes an actual decision. That gives you some time to prepare for it. Here is a list of useful things to consider if you think that you might be laid off.

1. Breathe. It’s not the end of the world

Getting to know that you are being laid off is not easy news to accept. That being said, you can rest assured that there is life after a layoff.

The good news is that if you are in a work permit kind of situation, you won’t be kicked out of Sweden the minute you lose your job. There is a three-month grace period. That means you have 3 months to find a new job and apply for a new work permit (visit Migrationsverket for more information). You might not even need a new work permit if the new job you get happens to be within the same branch.

2. Double check your rights after layoffs in Sweden

Read the contract you signed when you started working at the company that’s laying you off and go through all documents you received then.

If the details of your layoff are not clear, make sure you and your employer are on the same page. Here are a few valuable questions you should ask:

  • Will my layoff be temporary or permanent?
  • If my layoff is temporary, will I be laid off 100% or only part-time?
  • What is the time frame or when will my last day of work be?
  • Am I supposed to use my vacation days until then or will they be paid?
  • Will I be paid a compensation package?

3. Ask for a letter of recommendation

This is a key point! Ask your manager to provide a recommendation letter explaining why they hired you in the first place and why should other employers do the same. The letter should describe your professional character, work ethic, and skills. Including such a letter in your coming job applications will make it clear that you were discharged from work due to the circumstances and not due to a lack of abilities.

4. Check your unemployment insurance

Having unemployment insurance, or so-called A-kassa, is highly recommended. In Sweden about 80% of the working population has A-kassa. Hopefully, you are one of them, as receiving some unemployment money will help you economically until you find a new job.

Apply for unemployment payments as soon as you know your employer is laying you off. Register for the unemployment agency Arbetsförmedlingen as well. You can read more about this and find a full list of providers here.

5. Contact your union

Unions are also an important clog in the Swedish labour system (read more about unions here). Therefore, unions are a great source of information on labour-related matters and a place of support if needed. If you are unsure about your layoff or if you think you are not being handled fairly you can always get in touch with your union to get some advice. Unions can even provide juridical guidance and help in case the employee needs to negotiate with the employers.

6. See over any extra benefits you may lose

Sweden is a great country that provides healthcare for everyone, but some employers do provide extra benefits. If so, be aware that these will most likely cease with the termination of your employment.

7. Update your CV

When your layoff is confirmed, it is time to start working on your next steps and prepare for a job search. The first step is to update your CV and adapt it to the current market (when was the last time that you update CV? Maybe years for some). It is not uncommon that other companies in the same branch to hear about the layoffs and go hunting for new talent among the newly laid-off workers. Make sure then to keep your CV at hand and ready to go.

Get some tips and CV templates here.

8. Re-evaluate your skills after layoffs

Take a moment to reflect on your skills and write them down on a piece of paper or journal. What made you good at your job? What was most appreciated by your managers and colleagues? Make sure you include all kinds of skills, from accomplishments to job-related, communication, adaptive, and basic skills. Don’t be modest here, the list should contain everything you are good at. This will give you a bigger perspective on your skill package and as a bonus, it will also boost your self-confidence.

9. Get new skills

Look at the list you made in point 8. Is there anything you would like to include in the list that you can’t right now? What could you add that would make you even more attractive to new employers? Perhaps there’s something you can work on now that you will have more time available. Improve a language (hello Swedish!), learn new software, get to know the Swedish job market better (check our online courses) or simply work on your inner strengths.

10. Start a job search

If you followed the previous list until now, you should have a recommendation letter, an updated CV, and good knowledge of your own skills – the essential tools for a successful job search.

Searching for a job can be overwhelming but take one step at a time and you will be fine. A good starting point is the Newbie’s chapter on how to find work and where to start.

Don’t be afraid of stating your layoff in your job application. New employers will eventually ask you why you left your previous job anyway, so it is good to make it clear from the start. Honesty is usually appreciated.

11. Get interview ready

A job interview is a nerve-wracking moment. Preparing for it will help you keep your nerves in check and focus on the most important: getting yourself a job.

If you think your interview skills are a bit rusty, ask a friend to do a mock-up interview with you. Or practice in front of a mirror. You should also do some research on the company where you are doing the interview and prepare to explain the cause that made you leave your last job: your layoff.

Read this article to learn more about interviews in Sweden and don’t forget to avoid the 3 most common mistakes done by internationals when interviewing in Sweden.

12. Turn your hobby into a business

Another option if you are hit by layoffs in Sweden is to see that as an opportunity to start something new. Perhaps you have always dreamed of doing your hobby professionally and this might just as well be the right time to pursue that. Do you have a special talent? Or a brilliant business idea? Explore that! You can open your own small business or become a freelancer. Sweden is a country with many international entrepreneurs and even more one-member companies.

Having a regular job and then a side activity for a bit of extra income is very common in Sweden. My bank teller is a coffee importer, the PT in my gym is also a psychologist and one of my colleagues is an economist that sells seedlings.

If would like to explore this theme go to the Newbie Startup Guide here.

13. Assess your finances

Perhaps the most important point of all. Write down all your expenses, estimate how far you can come with your new income (unemployment benefits and possible side activities), and make the necessary adjustments. Having a sudden income drop is not easy to handle, but it is ok to dig a little in our savings sometimes. You can also find ways to save a few crowns here and there, which altogether might make a difference.

Food is one of the largest expenses in Swedish households, so here and here are a few tips to reduce your expenses in the supermarket.

14. Stay positive!

No matter what, stay positive and keep in mind that your situation is temporary. The situation might feel unique to you, but you are not the first person to suffer a layoff and you won’t be the last. Face this phase as an opportunity to experience something new and grow with it.

Good luck!