job

Looking for a business development manager and part owner

23 February 2023 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

The Newbie Guide to Sweden is growing which means that we are looking for a business development manager and part owner to join the Newbie Guide to Sweden team. Are you the right person?

What we offer

Before you apply it is important that you are aware that the Newbie Guide to Sweden is a heart project. Every one involved in the Newbie Guide currently does this on a part time and volunteer basis. However, we offer part ownership and company shares to the person that joins our team in the role of business development manager with the goal that everyone on the team receive a salary within the near future.

Who we look for

The Newbie Guide to Sweden relies heavily on our partner collaborations so we are looking for someone with previous experience in the field who is eager to grow and develop our partnerships and business. Focus areas for you would be:

Research organizations and individuals to find new opportunities.
Increase the value of current customers while attracting new ones.
Develop and maintain client relationships.
Finding and developing new markets and improving sales.
Work with the marketing team to create good development and sales opportunities.
Generate new business leads and generate sales.
Be part of the the board and participate in the planning, focus and development of The Newbie Guide.
Negotiate contract terms with clients and partners.

Who you are

In order to be a good fit for this job you need to have some or all of the following:

A drive to seek new business.
Strong verbal and written communication
A good level of written English.
At least an intermediate level of Swedish as many of our clients and potential clients prefer to do business in Swedish.
Be comfortable working independently and hav strong organisational skills.

Some practical things

As this is not a paid job (apart from company shares), we do not expect you to work full time or to be able to work on all tasks simultaneously.
We work based on an OKR model which means that we set focus areas, tasks and goals on a quarterly basis which will impact and limit what tasks you have to work on at any given time.
Our work happens online so you can be live anywhere in Sweden.
As you will be part owner, you need to have a personal number and be already living in Sweden.

Interested?

If you think this sounds interesting, please send us a note using the form below. Tell us about yourself, your experiences and interests in regards to this position, your availability and a link to a CV and content produced by you.

If you have any questions regarding who we are, what we do and why we need volunteers, you will get answers here.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Will you be underpaid if you are not born in Sweden?

15 December 2021 By Sofi Tegsveden Deveaux 1 Comment

In my work, I meet many international professionals who tell me that they are being underpaid compared to their Swedish counterparts. However as this is anecdotal evidence, I thought it a good idea to start looking for something more substantial that could back up this claim.

The most recent statistics on the topic is from 2017, comes from Statistics Sweden (SCB) and shows the following:

Swedish born professionals between the ages of 20 to 64 years had an annual salary of 336 00 SEK-
foreign-born professionals between the ages of 20 to 64 had an annual salary of 237 000 SEK.

So what does that tell us? Basically that on average, foreign-born professionals are paid 30% less than their Swedish peers.

Are all underpaid equally?

Well, no. The size of this salary gap differs depending on how long the foreign-born professional has lived in Sweden.

The mean annual salary for someone who had been in Sweden for less than five years was 64 000 SEK. Which means a salary that is80% lower than the one of a Swedish-born professional.
However, foreign-born professionals who had spent more than 20 years in Sweden, were making only 10% less than their Swedish peers.

The country of origin also impacts your salary. For instance, if you are male and born in a European country, you are likely to have a higher income than a foreign born woman or a man from a country outside of Europe.

SACO made a similar study, also in 2017, where they looked more in depth at differences in pay between Swedish-born and foreign-born qualified professionals. It turns out that when you take essential factors into account, such as education level, type of position, etc, foreign-born qualified professionals have an income that is 8% lower than Swedish-born professionals with similar qualifications.

The difference seems to be the biggest within the field of economics and the smallest in medicine. Saco writes that this is the first time they analyse the difference in income between foreign-born and Swedish-born professionals, and they also say this is a question that deserves more attention. However, I can’t find any more studies or statistics on the topic since 2017.

Now I’m curious. What is your experience of this? Do you think you are being paid less than your Swedish colleagues? What do you think are the reasons for foreign-born professionals being paid less than their Swedish peers? What can we do to make this change? Let us know in the comments!

Want to make sure you are not underpaid?

Make sure that you get the salary you deserve. Head over to Newbie Learn and buy the online course Get the salary you deserve for 299 SEK. It is full of the tips and tricks you need to get your salary to a competitive level.

Get the salary you deserve.

International recruitment agencies

What is an international recruitment agency? Well, if you are interested in moving to Sweden but want to have a job before moving and wonder how you go about finding a job all over in Sweden when you are miles away? Then one of the answers is international recruitment companies.

These companies are specialized in finding the right talent for a specific position, no matter where the talent (for instance you) is in the world.

So what does an international recruiter do?

Well usually they do the following:

find talent globally for Swedish companies,
they handle the practicalities such as paperwork, visas, tickets, housing, insurance etc for the employee and his/her family. This can be handled by the recruitment agency themselves or via a relocation partner.
help and advice for up to a year after the move to Sweden.

Sign up with these international recruitment agencies

At the Newbie Guide we like to surround ourselves with experts in their fields and to collaborate with partners in the different areas we write about. Here are some international recruiting agencies that we really recommend.

Beyondo

Beyondo Recruitment Agency is a pioneer in recruitment of international business sector personnel in Sweden. They match multilingual talent with challenging jobs in Sweden. Are you fluent in languages other than Swedish? Are you seeking exciting career opportunities? Then you should definitely:

visit the Beyondo website,
sign up with your CV to their talent database
and check out their vacancies.

Want a bit of help with all the things you need to fix for your move to Sweden? Sign up to our digital course “Preparing your move to Sweden.”

Are you an international recruiter and want to talk about a partnership? Fill in the form on this page and let’s talk.

How to adapt your CV to the Swedish job market

19 November 2020 By The Newbie Team 1 Comment

Welcome to Sweden! If you have applied for international roles before, you will probably find that the recruitment process is very similar in this country. As for your CV, the structure and the content are common to many other nations, but there are a few local subtleties. In this article, I cover the main points to ensure your CV is best adapted to the Swedish job market.

Is your CV clear, easy to read and uncluttered?

In the country of minimalist design, ensure that your CV is pleasing to the eye. Avoid multiple colours and fonts, clearly mark the sections and make good use of the space. Swedes value simplicity and directness. Only keep experiences that provide relevant information for the position. Use bullet points instead of writing whole sentences. Make each word count.

How long should it be? If you have 10 or plus years of work experience, you can stretch it to 2 pages. Otherwise, try to keep it to one.

Are your contact details kept to the minimum?

At the top of the page, you need to state:

First name, surname (in that order)
Phone number (preferably a Swedish phone number to prove that you already live here)
Email address
Link to your LinkedIn profile
Website address, if you have one

Recruiters don’t need to know your nationality, if you are married and have children, your date of birth or age. You can add your residential address if you want to show that you reside in Sweden.

Photo or no photo? There is no rule. I recommend not adding a photo as your look shouldn’t be a criteria for recruitment. If the recruiter really wants to see your face, he/she can check your LinkedIn profile (or invite you for a video interview.)

Is your work experience relevant and to-the-point?

Swedes value practical experiences over education. So this section comes before your education (unless you have recently graduated or have little work experience). List your jobs starting with your most recent position. As for any CV, add dates, place and describe your tasks or accomplishments.

Keep it simple and easy to understand. Don’t use jargons or technical terms. Add details on the positions that are relevant for the role you are applying, and keep the others short, or remove them.

Many Swedish employers are looking for competences, but also for human skills. Personal projects and life experiences are valued in Sweden, a country that views work-life balance as a priority. Feel free to mention if you stayed home to raise your children if you took a break to travel the world if you volunteer or have taken outside work responsibilities.

What else?

Should your CV be translated in Swedish?
You should reply to a job ad in the language it’s written in. And you should only apply for roles in Swedish if you can speak it. So, don’t bother with a Swedish-translation if you don’t master the language yourself.

Should you add references?
No, only if it is specifically asked in the job ads. But usually, it is needed later on in the recruitment process.

Other sources of information

CV template with explanations from Unionen.
Free CV template in Swedish.
Tips from the Swedish unemployment agency (in Swedish).

Written by Christelle Pottinger
A career coach, always happy to help French and English-speaking Newbies fulfill their professional dreams.

5 Answers to Working in Sweden

28 March 2020 By The Newbie Team 1 Comment

Written by Christelle Pottinger

You are looking for a job in Sweden? Familiarise yourself with the Swedish job market and assess your chances of employment with these 5 answers to working in Sweden.

1. What is the current economic situation?

From 2014 to 2018, Sweden enjoyed a steady growth of 3%. However, in Arbetsförmedlingen´s report “Labour Market Outlook, Sping 2019”, Arbetsförmedlingen, the national employment agency, expects the economic activity to slow down in the coming years. Also, the number of unemployed will increase (from 6,4% in 2018 to 6,7% in 2020).

Unemployment is much higher amongst foreign-born than Swedes: 15,4% compared with 3,8% respectively. This is partly due to mass immigration in 2015. Although fortunately, as they integrate into Swedish society, the unemployment rate is lowering.

Unemployment rate by gender in Sweden 2009-2019 ©Statista 2020

2. What level of education is required?

As the employment of Swedish people has reached its full potential, to fulfill newly created roles and replace those retiring, the country will rely on foreign-born workers. Arbetsformedlingen states that industries such as education, training, and health will be largely dependent on new arrivals in the future.

In its report, the employment agency relates that “The level of education is of great importance for the possibilities of finding a job. (…) People with upper secondary education or higher accounted for almost 90 percent of the employment increase among foreign-born people in 2018.”

The demand for highly-educated professionals is constant and growing. Those with little or no education will struggle to find a job. “The most difficult labor market situation is found among foreign-born women with short education.”

3. What are the most in-demand skills?

Every year, Arbetsformedlingen reviews 200 professions and identifies forthcoming labor shortages:

Engineering professionals (in building and construction, building services / technical building; chemical, electrical power, heating, plumbing and ventilation, mechanical, mining engineers, metallurgists, and related professions).
Healthcare professionals (dental assistants and hygienists, dentists, doctors, life science technicians, medical secretaries, midwives, nurses, pharmaceutical technicians, pharmacists, psychologists, assistant nurses and nurses, specialist doctors).
ICT (IT) professionals (ICT architects, ICT testers, test analysts, Software and systems engineers, developers).
Education professionals (pre-school teachers, recreation instructors, special education and upper-secondary level teachers).

Future employment growth (in %) in Sweden in 2018-2030 across sectors

4. Is speaking Swedish required?

It is possible to live and work in Sweden if you master English. It is widely spoken and understood by the local population. Most international companies, and those embracing diversity, use English as their work language.

However, your integration and chances of working in Sweden will greatly improve if you can speak Swedish.

Integrating in Sweden job market — © unsplash

5. How long does it take to find a job?

There is no straight answer to this question as too many elements will affect the length of your search.

The Swedish job market is opaque. Around 80% of jobs are filled through relationships, not by advertising. In addition, to apply for roles, you’ll need to build your own professional network. It can take more than a year to find your first stable job. Many foreigners accept temporary roles, or more junior positions, and even volunteer before they land their dream role.

Recruitment via networking doesn’t favor foreigners. Moreover, a study from Sociological Science Journal states that Sweden is one of the most difficult countries to get an interview if you have a non-European sounding name (only France scores worse).

Sweden is a land of opportunities for educated foreign workers, especially for those who speak Swedish and have a profession in the ‘most wanted’ list. In all cases, finding work in a foreign country takes time, patience and perseverance, as well as the financial resources to sustain oneself during the search.

Good luck!

Hi! I am French and I have moved to Sweden in 2012 with my family. I enjoy writing and sharing my experience of living and working in Sweden. I am a career coach, always happy to help French and English-speaking Newbies fulfill their professional dreams.

Jobbsprånget – an internship program for newcomer academics

Ad by Jobbsprånget

Jobbsprånget is a nationwide internship program that connects newcomer and foreign academics in Sweden with employers in need of their competence. After completing the internship, 70% of the candidates get a job.

Do you have an academic degree in engineering, architecture, science or business/finance? Are you new in Sweden without a professional network and looking for a way to connect with Swedish employers? If so, apply to Jobbsprånget!

Jobbsprånget is a four-month-long internship program founded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). The program connects you with Swedish employers in need of your competence. Since the start of Jobbsprånget in 2016, more than 500 employers have participated in the program and internships are offered all over the country.

The purpose of the program is to speed up the entry to the Swedish job market and give you a chance to show your potential. The program gives you valuable contacts, relevant experience and a chance to meet Swedish colleagues and friends. 7 out of 10 get a job after the internship.

Applications are open twice a year: July 16 – August 16 for internships during the fall and December 16 – January 16 for internships during the spring.

Who can apply?

In order to apply to Jobbsprånget you have to fulfill the following criteria:

You have a degree in engineering, architecture, science, pharmacy or business/finance (bachelor, master or higher degree).
You are a college graduate born outside of Europe.
You have a residence and working permit in Sweden (please note, NOT student visa).
You have proficient English language skills, both spoken and written.
You are registered at Arbetsförmedlingen as a job seeker and have done your initial planning meeting with Arbetsförmedlingen.

Learn more about the internship program and apply at Jobbsprånget

You find more information and an application form at the Jobbsprånget web site.

Find a job before moving to Sweden

11 May 2019 By The Newbie Team 1 Comment

Are you planning to move to Sweden? Are you worried about the language barrier, cultural differences and looking for a job in a new environment? Moving to another country is not easy, but, as we know, possible. You can’t have control over everything that will happen, but you can actually do a lot to avoid long and frustrating searching for a job. Look at our checklist that will help you to find a job before moving to Sweden and save yourself a lot of stress.

Have you talked to your current boss and colleagues?

Do you have any network in Sweden? Does your company have offices here? Most of the people find their jobs through networking. Check the transfer options – that’s the most certain and easy way to find a job in another country. If your company has no connections with Sweden, ask for recommendations (in English) that will confirm your skills and experience. If your diplomas or any other important documents that could be useful during your job search are not in English, translate them into English (some of the employers will require a certified translation).

Have you Swedified your CV?

Swedish CV and CL are not so different from the ones from the other countries, but there are some subtle differences. If you want to improve your CV and CL, visit the website of the Swedish Public Employment Service. You’ll not only find useful tips there, but you can also schedule an online meeting to discuss what can be improved and receive individual feedback (unfortunately the interview part requires e-identification, but the tips are for everyone).

E-learning courses for your best job experience
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about finding work in Sweden? Or do you have a job and feel your salary doesn’t match your skills. Or, do you not quite get the unwritten rules at your new job? We’ve got you covered. We know how hard it can be to find a job, get the right pay and feel comfortable in your new Swedish job so we’ve created digital courses with all the information you need:
Get the salary you deserve
Make a good impression at your new job
After finishing these courses, you will be able to navigate your Swedish work situation with skill and comfort.

Have you started to study Swedish?

There are multiple companies that offer jobs for fluent English-speakers, but it’s good to show that you want to study Swedish. When you speak the language of the country you live in, it’s easier to enjoy and explore it. Once you know some basics words, it will make it easier and more efficient to search for a job as well.

Once you come here, you can attend state-provided classes (one of the most fantastic options for foreign professionals is SIFA), but there is also something that you can do before you move to Sweden.

Swedish is not a difficult language and you can learn some basics before you move here. For example here, here and here.

Are you sure that you can start working in Sweden?

As long as the employer doesn’t provide you support with getting a work permit and the accommodation, you have another thing to fix. Finding the apartment in Stockholm is not easy, as well as applying for visas and permits. But it’s not impossible! Just make sure that you will have enough time to settle everything. Also, don’t forget that the recruitment process in Sweden takes a long time, so be prepared for waiting. You’ll find all the important information in Just arrived section.

List of websites with job advertisements:

Malcolm Larri – Founder of Brave Personal Development

21 December 2017 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

This weekly interview blog by Barry O’Brien, aims to highlight the stories of those who have come to Sweden and shaped their business life, delivering new services, fresh ideas and professional standards to the Swedish market and beyond. We hope it helps to motivate you to achieve great things here!

#3. Malcolm Larri – Founder of ‘Brave Personal Development’ as well as ‘Leadership & Culture Consultant’ at Hammer & Hanborg

You can find Malcolm energising and motivating audiences – with or without his drums, at places like Hyper Island and Copperberg. He helps sales teams get results and private clients to overcome obstacles, build confidence and learn more about themselves. Here is his story:

Which country are you originally from?

Malcolm Larri talk — Malcolm brainstorming and delivering

I’m from Australia. Sydney, was my home for many years.

How long have you lived in Sweden?

7 Years

In one sentence, tell us about your current business.

I am a coach and motivational speaker – helping people and companies manage transition points in their development.

How would you rate your Swedish language skills for the workplace? (1 being lost tourist level – 10 is sauna conversational!)

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in growing your business, and how have you overcome it?

When I moved to Sweden I knew three people – my wife, her mother and her father!

So I had to build up a whole new network from the ground up – it’s been a great challenge and luckily I have met many wonderful and supportive people along the way.

Some people collect stamps, or clocks or sports memorabilia, but I never found that interesting. Instead I collect good people and hang onto them like gold because the most important things in life are good relationships, friendships and having a good circle of people around you.

Who has been your biggest guide or inspiration in Sweden, and helped you to reach your current situation?

Without a doubt my wife has been the greatest support!

We are a fantastic team and she has always supported me in pursuing my goal to build ‘Brave’ into something I was proud of, which I definitely am!

We have two small children and she really goes the extra mile when I am working long hours or travelling for business.

Having a family keeps my priorities incredibly clear, and my happiness is not based on my business, which is very freeing and makes work life more fulfilling.

Name TWO tools that you use in your business, to help you succeed.

The first one is LinkedIn. It has been the key to me building a network here in Sweden because it’s 90% in English, which makes it much easier to find people and make an introduction.

Secondly, the good old telephone!

When I arrived I already had a telephone number and had printed some business cards with my new number on, so on the second or third day of living in Sweden – I had my first business meeting!

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call people and introduce yourself. If you have something of value to offer it’s still the fastest way for people to find out about it.

Sweden is a country where you can easily speak to many C-level people directly, so take advantage of that.

I coach many people who move here and struggle to establish a work life and none of them ever use the telephone – it’s a lost opportunity in so many cases.

If you could export one Swedish thing, back to your previous country, what would it be?

Fika! I love coffee and cinnamon buns…a little too much sometimes????

What do you know about Sweden, that no-one else does?

I know a secret place here and I’m sorry to say, I’m not sharing its location. It’s our family’s summer house and it’s the most beautiful place I have ever been – truly heaven on earth!

Where can people find more info about you and your work?

You can watch a video or two over on my website and read some kind words from some clients as well. I always want to meet nice people so you can also reach out to me on LinkedIn.

Many thanks to Malcolm for his story and tips! Check out our second interview in the series, here!

Written by: Barry O’Brien
Barry has been in Sweden over ten years, working with marketing and sales in both large and small companies, as well as founding his own consultancy company. Currently he is the Head of Growth Marketing at Zenia.ai, a content marketing technology company based in Stockholm. Barry is a coach and mentor at events such as Startup Weekend and the Founder Institute, has delivered talks at Hyper Island and Berghs School of Communication, and enjoys sharing his business experience with like-minded entrepreneurs. You can contact him at barry@zenia.ai

The challenge of prejudice in the Swedish job market

28 June 2017 By The Newbie Team

– and how international and multicultural organizations are fighting to change it

Author: Natália Faria

Ad by Initiatives for Change

There are a number of reasons why it is challenging to be a Newbie in Sweden. The access to the job market is certainly one of them. In many cases, even having the dream package (high education, language, and a Swedish citizenship) might not be enough for a person with a non-Swedish background to be hired by a Swedish company.

Discrimination against non-Swedish last names on CVs and stereotyped perceptions about religious and ethnic roots are some of the many ways in which prejudice becomes evident. The good news is: there are some relevant projects that help Newbies (and Oldbies) to be fully integrated in Sweden, like Initiatives of Change.

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is an International NGO that aims to transform society through dialogue. By promoting honest conversations undertaken in an open spirit, IofC helps to build bridges of trust and community between people of similar, different, and even antagonistic backgrounds. IofC Sweden, for instance, leads Hopp I Järva (Hope In Järva), a project that mediates internal and communal tensions.

This summer the organization promoted an event in Kista called Kompetens Utan Fördomar (Competence Without Prejudice) in order to wage a dialogue between local immigrants, entrepreneurs, and representatives of governmental institutions.

The Newbie Guide to Sweden was there to participate and here are some of the things we learned.

Opportunities: what we can celebrate

Governmental services offer a number of tools to help job seekers in Sweden. Besides matching employers and employees, Arbetsförmedlingen (The Swedish Employment Service) offers other services, like workshops on how to put together a CV for the Swedish labour market and how to have a successful job interview. Svenska for invandrare (SFI), Svenska som andraspråk (SAS) and other specialized courses provide access to maybe the most important tool of all: the Swedish language. Migrationsveket also offers training for asylum seekers at different workplaces.

Community efforts have also paved the way for immigrants to grow together in business and education. This is the case in multicultural markets like Tensta Market which promotes a variety of food, crafts, and other products from diverse countries. Another example is Kista Folkhögskola, an institute for Arab and Islamic Studies with a Muslim, interfaith, and public education perspective.

Local entrepreneurs are partners in social integration as well. Liselotte Norén creates opportunities for education, training, and networking through Refo, a company focused on the regaining of clothes. And Blå Vägen creates jobs with Arbetsförmedlingen as the main financier.

However, there is still a long way to go.

Challenges: what needs to change

Who am I?

For many people who have either immigrated to Sweden or are born here with a non-Swedish background, the negotiation between personal and Swedish identity is a process that should go both ways. Otherwise, what is the point of talking about openness and diversity?

Aisha* wears a burka which exposes her to prejudice when looking for a job in Sweden. She says that Moroccans respect European tourists when they use swimwear in Morocco and that she can contribute a lot to Sweden even with Muslim clothing.

“It’s just fabric”, she argues.

Asgar Jafferali faces a different issue, yet still connected with identity. He was born in Sweden but with parents from Uganda and India, something that occasionally makes him out of place as he doesn’t look like a typical Swede. In fact, there is much to be discussed when it comes to identities in Sweden.

“What is the definition of being a Swedish person? Is it the passport, the language, the education, the color? Or is it where you are from and how you dress?” asks Alma Adam, from Migrant Women in Europe.

Education

Arbetsförmedlingen sees a gap between job seekers’ skills and business requirements and argues that higher education is required. However, the process to get higher education often has to pass through language – both for people who are pursuing a university degree and for those who already have one.

Alma explains how sometimes the expectations of Swedish society regarding language fluency don’t meet with what the Swedish system offers.

“If this is the case, I don’t want Swedish for Immigrants, I want Swedish for Swedish”, she says.

Job applications

Discrimination against surnames in job applications is a real problem in Sweden. A recent study by Lund University revealed that letters with the Swedish names often have a higher call back for interviews when compared to Arabic surnames. The study also concluded that Germans are often thought of as cold, and Greeks as less competent.

“It is easier to find a job abroad. I’ve sent over 100 applications in Sweden and didn’t get any interviews. Then I applied for 3 openings in the UK and got all 3 interviews”, says Esmail**.

He is a refugee currently concluding his Master’s studies in Sweden and will probably fly to London after graduating. What would Esmail choose?

“I wanted to stay, but what can I do?” he answers.

Networking

Arbetsförmedlingen says that 80% of job openings are found through networks. But which networks? Newcomer Nadia Silva*** explains that in her experience they often turn out to be a closed circle.

“Meetup, for example, creates many opportunities to connect with other professionals. But you are more likely to meet other job seekers who often happen to be immigrants themselves than the actual employers or people who are connected to them”, she says.

Is there a solution?

Doing your part in order to adapt and integrate into a new country is, of course, essential. But it is equally important to raise discussions like this when necessary. You should also know that there is, in fact, support out there – perhaps more than you imagine.

“The project is aimed at supporting adult educators of migrants and refugees in settling into their new communities, re-building their lives, and eventually contributing to the development of their home countries.” (IofC).

We, from The Newbie Guide, are glad to keep you updated about the Newbie life in Sweden by sharing tools and initiatives dedicated to helping you in this journey. We also want to invite you to spread the discussion. Talk to your friends and family. Let us know about your experience concerning prejudice in the Swedish labour market and share your thoughts and ideas for change.

* Fictitious name. The interviewee didn’t want to be identifed.

** Fictitious name. The interviewee didn’t want to be identifed. (Edited: September 26, 2017 – 11:13AM).

*** Fictitious name. The interviewee didn’t want to be identified. (Edited: January 2, 2018 – 23:18PM).

Swedish Job Market False Facts

10 December 2016 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

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 job in Sweden due to all that experience in your home country? Well, it turns out, looking for a job abroad is totally different!

When you move abroad the first time, you easily accept that there can be cultural differences. But, somehow, you don’t think those differences may affect your job search. However, the first thing you should do is to learn about the culture of the Swedish job market and then act accordingly. Here I list my (and probably some of yours) three major wrong assumptions about job searching in Sweden.

The National Employment Agency is not for me

In my home country, it is not common to register at an employment Agency and they generally do not have jobs for university graduates. So for a long time, I did not listen to people who told me I should register with the National Employment Agency Arbetsförmedlingen. But I was wrong!

Arbetsförmedlingen has one of the broadest job boards in Sweden, with plenty of ads for most professions. Also being registered there gives some incentives for the employers. For instance, if an employer hire you for a job or internship when you’re registered to Arbetsförmedlingen, then Arbetsförmedlingen may pay a part of your salary (called instegsjobb or nystartjobb). Which means you cost less to your employer! Which means you may have an advantage among other candidates – so why not take your time and register today?

It is enough to search just the job boards

This was another wrong assumption of mine! If you haven’t heard this fact yet, it will be shocking for you: 80% of jobs in Sweden are not advertised and are instead basically filled though network connections. So, those job ads you see are just the tip of the iceberg. There are hidden gems deep down. And to go deeper in the ocean of jobs, you need to know the right people. If you really want to find a job, you should start by trying to meet new people and attend networking events until you have a broad Swedish network.

I cannot reach HR by calling / It is rude to call HR personally

Actually, I thought reaching an HR personally was almost impossible (because it is almost impossible in my home country). So it seemed a waste of time to try. But it turned out it isn’t! You can actually phone to the HR departments and, for instance, ask more about a job ad. In most job ads, you find the name of the contact person and phone number. Moreover, most of them specifically write that you can call them if you have any questions. Calling them will gain you some deeper unwritten insights about the job ad and also give you the chance to introduce yourself in person. So call them!

Even if there isn’t any related job ads, you can search for the companies you want to work and call their HR or employees. Make sure you properly introduce yourself and do not directly ask for a job but tell your story. Then maybe you can invite them for a fika to ask for insights like which skills you need in this profession, or how the company culture is.

I believe, as newbies, we all have our wrong assumptions about the Swedish job market. So it is important to forget about all these assumptions and make a fresh start. My main suggestion before you get started on your job search – just meet some people and learn how things work here.

Written by Busra Zenging
Hej! I am a Newbie who is close to become an Oldbie in Sweden! I’ve been in Stockholm nearly for six months, I already did so many “fika”, swam in cold waters of Sweden, walked barefoot in Stockholm’s parks during the summer and, of course, had too many interactions with the Swedish bureaucracy 🙂 So far so good! My next challenge is job hunting – we’ll see how this will go 😉

What to do when employers only want Swedish speakers

10 October 2016 By The Newbie Team 1 Comment

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 on was the language. But Swedish language is an essential skill in most jobs.

So, he took a step back. He applied and got a job at a home for elderly care here in Uppsala. During a couple of months, he spoke in Swedish to the people living there and now when I met him, he is fluent. Then with these new language skills, he now has a job as an accountant.

The thing is, sometimes you need to change your approach and do something differently to reach your end goal. Sometimes you need a milestone that is completely different from that end goal. Working with elderly care was the best thing he could do, because it helped him bridge the last skill gap he needed to find a job, namely Swedish.

Why did another milestone help find him a job?

- Think about it, how many more words do you think you will have to say to take care of elderly people all day instead of bookkeeping?

- The majority of the day for an accountant is silent. The majority of the day taking care of elderly is talking and listening to Swedish. In other words, taking care of elderly was a more efficient way for him to reach his goal. Eventhough it is something completely different from what he wants in the end.

It just happens to be so that working at an elderly care helped him to gain a new transferable skills — speaking Swedish.

So, we have to think about, what the next step is. What is the gap between where I am today and where I want to go? How can I most efficiently bridge that gap?

If it is the language, get any job where you talk and listen to a lot of people. It doesn’t have to be a job in which you end up for a long time. It is just something you do to build a new skills.

Written by Andreas Wennberg
Andreas Wennberg is the founder of 400contacts, an app that helps people find a job in eight weeks. He blogs about jobs, how to find that elusive job and how to tweak your experiences and skills to become attractive on the Swedish job market. For more help on finding a job – sign up at 400contacts

Eight Steps to Finding Hidden Jobs

10 August 2016 By The Newbie Team Leave a Comment

A huge part of the job market is hidden and not seen on job boards. Here is eight steps you can use to find hidden opportunities in companies that are not posting their positions:

1. Go to LinkedIn

1. Search for “your title + city you want to work in”. Example: “construction engineer stockholm”In this search, we can see that there are 517 people in Stockholm alone that has the words “construction engineer” in their profile. Cool!

1. Look at these search results and make a list. Write down names of the companies where these people have worked and where they are working currently.

1. On your list, Google the first company name (in this case Strängbetong):
  Google the company name

1. Go to the website of the Company.

1. Read about the company. If the site is in a language you cannot understand, feel free to use Google Translate. When reading, think about one question:
  For this business, what value can I deliver with my skills and experience?

1. - - Introduce yourself
  - - Explain what value you can provide for them.
  - Ask them about some of their current challenges that they are having. Offer to solve one of those challenges.When you have a clear idea about what value you can provide, send a very targeted email to the CEO or HR manager of the company. In the email:
  This approach will work best with companies with less than 30 employees which is a majority of the companies in Sweden.

Go back to point 4 on this list and repeat.