We explain Sweden
Unemployment does not have to be hard, but it is not easy. It messes with your mind and self-confidence and makes you doubt yourself. I was unemployed for the first 1,5 year after my move to Sweden, until recently when I finally found a job. My experience hardly makes me an expert in unemployment, but looking back I […]
I, myself, think I am really good at job hunting. I have had three unemployment periods in my life. One was some sort of existential crisis after graduation, the second was deciding to have a career shift and the third one is now in the Swedish job market. So you think you will rock finding a […]
I met a friend this weekend. For some years, he wanted to find a job as an accountant but was struggling. All companies wanted someone that spoke Swedish and he didn’t know Swedish. This is a hard position to be in for anyone, you have the skills needed but the only thing that he felt short […]
The national employment service – Arbetsförmedlingen has several initiatives specifically for Newbies. Some are open for all Newbies while other initiatives are limited to Newbies in a certain life situation. Remember that you are entitled to all services that Arbetsförmedlingen provides (not just the Newbie stuff), so make sure to check out their other services too. Access to an interpreter (for all Newbies) Validation of […]
The Public Employment Service – the so called Arbetsförmedlingen is an important authority in the Swedish welfare system, but they have lately struggled with their tasks and goals. You may hear some unflattering stories about them and some of them may be true, but nonetheless – there are plenty of reasons for you to sign up with Arbetsförmedlingen anyway. Arbetsförmedlingen’s main tasks matching jobseekers […]
Academic Newbies is a growing group in Sweden. The number of foreign-born graduates in Sweden increased from 180 000 to 310 000 between 2006 and 2013. This means that one in five graduates are born abroad. This is good as there is a real need for qualified workers in Sweden. Yet this group is having a hard […]
Most jobs are found within a person’s own network. You know someone; who knows someone; who has a friend that is looking for someone just like you. The probability of finding a job through your network is significantly bigger than through work agencies. People in your network are people who know and trust you. They are […]
How are employers going to find you if they don’t know that you exist? Making yourself visible on the Swedish work market is a crucial step in your job search. Register with the public employment agency – Arbetsförmedlingen Your first step should be to register with the national work agency – the so-called Arbetsförmedlingen, AMS. You will enter the whole official “job-seeking-process” by doing […]
There are some basics things that you can do to increase your attractiveness on the Swedish work market. Learn Swedish To work is to give, take and process information in spoken and written form. You must interact with Swedes – on their own terms – in order to work here and that means speaking Swedish. Learn more about where and how […]
Work laws in Sweden are quite evolved and as a worker, you have many rights but there is a lot to keep in mind in order to get a good job situation. Minimum Wage Unlike most countries in the EU, Sweden doesn’t have minimum wage. Wages are regulated by agreements – kollektivavtal – between employers and the […]