The Newbie Guide to Sweden

We explain Sweden

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Press release

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As a newcomer to Sweden, it can be difficult to understand the social codes of conduct that apply in the Swedish job market. So if you are born outside of Sweden, are new to a job and have a desire to be successful, there are some important things that you should learn and apply.
The online plattform Newbie Learn is now launching the web course “Business behavior: Accepted and expected behavior in the Swedish job market“.

It is not strange that newcomers to Sweden can feel unsure about what are accepted behaviors in the Swedish job market as the codes of conduct that you are used to may not be what apply. This means that “newbies” may find it difficult to assert themselves in a Swedish work context.

– Thanks to our course “Business behavior: Accepted and expected behavior in the Swedish job market“, you will learn what is an accepted behavior in Swedish working life and what expectations you should have on your Swedish colleagues and business partners’ behavior, says Julieta Spoerer, founder of The Newbie Guide to Sweden, which includes the learning platform Newbie Learn.

The creator of the content for the course is the journalist and communication strategist Annmarie Palm, who also coined the term “business behavior” in Sweden.

– Annmarie Palm has many years experience of lecturing and teaching on these topics and we know that her skills and tips she shares in the course will contribute to newbie’s having the opportunity to shine in the Swedish job market, states Julieta Spoerer.

By taking digital courses like these, you take your journey into your own hands and you give yourself an opportunity to better steer your journey as a newbie in to a Swedish job, workplace and career.

– Digital courses are an obvious support tool that allows you to take control of your own situation. You do not have to wait for help or for the cogs of administration to get in place. Here you get started when you need and can, no matter where in the world you are.

The ambition with the courses that Newbie Learn offers is that they should be easily accessible, simple and cheap. The course in business behavior costs SEK 399 and you can access it from anywhere in the world. It should be an easy decision to choose the course.

– To develop and learn good business behavior should feel like an obvious and simple part of everyone’s introduction to the Swedish job market, concludes Julieta Spoerer.

The training platform Newbie Learn is part of the The Newbie Guide to Sweden which was launched in 2015 and today has about 35,000 visitors per month. In addition to the courses on Newbie Learn, The Newbie Guide to Sweden offers over 800 free articles about life in Sweden. Here you will find practical information, support services and articles with a social and cultural focus written by other newcomers.

For more info contact Julieta Spoerer at julieta@thenewbieguide.se. or on 070-237 88 31.

Why e-learning can help you take control of the chaos that is re-starting your career in Sweden

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How do you restart your career in Sweden? Swedes like to describe their country as modern, equal, neutral, and ready for the next cup of coffee. Likewise, international professionals who move here have expectations on a progressive society, shared parental leave, a healthy work-life balance, and some hardcore weather. This is all, arguably, true, but anyone who has been here for a while has probably discovered that the Swedish reality is more complex than that.

This may be particularly apparent as you enter a Swedish workplace, where theory is put into practice: For instance:

  • Did you ever reflect about flat organisations requiring excellent lateral communication skills?
  • Have you considered the consequences of working in such an individualistic culture, where employees are expected to be autonomous and take initiative instead of being supervised by their superiors?
  • Have you realised that a healthy work-life balance requires advanced time management skills from all co-workers, and that gender equality means that your team members are unable to work overtime?
  • Has it occurred to you that the cold Nordic winters mean your Swedish colleagues will not commit professionally during summer?
  • Are you aware of what small-talk topics are considered taboo, when trying to connect to your Swedish colleagues?

It can take a long time to figure all of this out. It may also take a lot of frustration, and you may experience that you are misunderstood or underestimated, despite your high qualifications and your work experience.

 

You may put all your effort into something that your employer doesn’t acknowledge or value at all. You may discover that you are not paid as much as you ought too, and that it’s too late to negotiate.

Swedish work culture courses in e-learning format

Since 2008, I have helped international professionals into the Swedish job market, and these are only a few of the questions that come up when they consult me. What I love the most about coaching is how much I learn myself. I have discovered things about my own culture that I previously took for granted, and how many things we do without reflecting on them.

Most importantly, I have learnt that the best thing you can do when confronted with a new society and culture is to talk openly about it, to put words on phenomena and draw out patterns. This is maybe not as confusing as it seems to be! There are answers to your questions! There are shortcuts! You are not alone in your confusion! 

This is why I have created my work culture courses, to help you navigate this new cultural landscape. Up until now, these courses have only been available in the form of one-to-one coaching at my office based in Stockholm. This is something that has always bothered me. I love helping people, but given the format, my courses have only been available to a few.

 

Now, thanks to Newbie Learn, I will be able to help many more people to get a good start to their career in Sweden. It means a lot to me, I know there are so many skilled and talented people out there, and there is no reason why they should struggle. 

One last important thing. My courses are not designed to transform you, or to make you become Swedish. It is up to you to decide how much you take on, what you see as inspiration, what you consider a bad habit. You have a lot to bring to your Swedish workplace, new perspectives, a different background, alternative ways of doing things, which is something really positive.

However, I believe that you will feel more in control of your life and how to restart your career if you understand the cultural context you are now a part of. Through understanding the unwritten rules your Swedish colleagues are already playing by, you will be able to take more informed decisions, allocate your time and energy strategically, and do what you do the best, your work, without having to worry about everything that comes with it.

Work culture courses at Newbie Learn

Visit Newbie Learn and check in detail what you can learn in my courses:

SWENCL: Sweden’s Engineers Club

Are you a newbie and an engineer? Then you should definitely check out SWENCL. Sweden’s Engineers Club is a fairly new initiative for engineers in Sweden to create  an opportunity for networking between native and newly arrived engineers in Sweden.

 

SWENCL is based in Stockholm and offers physical meet ups in the Stockholm area but it is mainly a digital network so it doesn’t actually matter where in Sweden you live. As long as you are an engineer, you are welcome to join their network.

SWENCL has an admirable goal:

We believe in network! We work together with passion, respect and humility to achieve our goal to develop an engineering network contributes to diversity, inclusion and sustainability for our society.

What SWENCL can help you with

SWENCL works in four main areas; Meeting, Growing, Connecting and Learning:

Meeting: Engineer Guide

Here they create meetings between established and new arriving engineers with the aim to make easier ways to integration in Sweden.

Growing: Professional Network

Through SWENCL you join a professional online network on social media which will give you more access to opportunities within your field.

Connecting: Digital activities

SWENCL offers seminars, webinars and workshops online in order to reach their members everywhere in Sweden.

Learning: Sharing knowledge

An important part of the network is to share knowledge and experience with the other members of the network in order to create a smoother path to a good job and career in Sweden.

Join the SWENCL network

If you are an engineer, you can join their network here.

Make sure you also follow them on their social channels:

Are you not an engineer? Don’t worry, there are other networking opportunities for you.

Kickstart your Freelance Career in Sweden

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Are you moving to Sweden and feeling nervous about your career options? Or maybe you already live there and want to give your career a boost or a breath of fresh air? If that is the case, then there are several great options for Swedes and foreigners alike to get a good start to a freelance career in the Nordic country.

Advertised by Finanso.se

Freelance career options

The demand for copywriting

For at time where information can be conveyed in so many ways and through so many channels, you may think, that writing texts wouldn’t be as needed. But that is far from the case. The many new channels and platforms create a high demand for copywriting of all sorts. 

If you are a strong writer with good skills within storytelling as well the ability to explain different subjects, then this freelance job might be the right option for you. You won’t have to write in Swedish as there often is need for English texts.

Consult in your area of expertise

Do you have a strong knowledge of a subject and would be able to help other people by sharing that knowledge as well as your advice and experience? Then being a freelance consultant might be the career path for you. You can take you work online and consult people from all over the world, and once again you would not be required to use Swedish as a part of your job even if you are based in Sweden.

Get people started on investing

There are lots of good reasons to start investing, but many people are uncomfortable with getting started without having assistance. That assistance could potentially be you. Have a look at this website to start building your investment knowledge.

As we all know, young people nowadays struggle to find the money to pay off student debts and finding jobs despite having university degrees, and with the COVID-19 crisis things are even more unstable. So investing there small amount of money is probably not on the top of the list. But investment should be for everyone, and starting early is an advantage, even if it is with a small amount. This could potentially be the angle you want to take and start an investment blog targeted at younger generations.

No language barrier

One thing many foreigners may worry about is the language barrier when moving to another country. This could potentially be an issue when it comes to finding a job. But fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. With many of these freelance positions, it doesn’t actually matter where you are based. You can be a copywriter for an American company while living in Sweden and you can easily consult people all over the world by doing it over the internet. 

Jobbsprånget – an internship program for newcomer academics

Jobbsprånget

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.

Dealing with cancer in Sweden – Betül’s story

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Written by Sara Costa

Betül is the most generous, positive and wonderful person that I have ever crossed paths with and I consider myself lucky for having met her. She is a proud scientist at Chalmers and she loves Sweden and her life in Gothenburg. She is also a Newbie like many of us. 

Imagine you just moved to a new country. That shouldn’t be difficult as most of you are – or have been – a Newbie. Remember how hard it is/was sometimes to be alone in a new city, new home, new job, maybe even a new language? It feels like being reborn, requires a lot of effort to just go through the most mundane daily routines. It takes a while to build up your comfort zones again. We have all been there, one way or another, and we know or have at least an idea of how it feels.

 Now imagine that right in the middle of the adaptation process you were diagnosed with cancer. In a foreign country. Far away from home. That is exactly what happened to Betül, and this is her story.

 

Betül during the "interview"
Betül during the interview (Photo: Sara Costa)

Moving to Sweden

Betül moved from Turkey to Gothenburg in February 2017, after having been accepted for a postdoctoral position at Chalmers. “I had no idea how beautiful and peaceful Sweden is, so I consider myself lucky for having ended up here,” said Betül during our nice talk over a cup of tea. A few months later she noticed something on her neck. At first, she didn’t pay too much attention to it, especially because she didn’t have any other symptoms, but when it started growing and became visible, she decided to check it up at the closest vårdcentral.

The diagnosis

The first thing she was asked was if she had other symptoms. When she replied no and saw the doctor’s reaction, she understood for the first time that it could be serious. She did a blood test immediately and was told the results would take 3 days. However, she got a phone call from the doctor the day after. The results had not been conclusive, and she was advised to go to the emergency room at Sahlgrenska. Immediately. She had a second biopsy and once again, the results would take some time: 10 to 15 days. That was a Thursday. The Monday after, Betül got call back again and she understood that it was bad.

She was told she had lymphoma and it was big. It was malignant and spreading on the upper body. It was scary.

“I was in shock and went back to work because I just couldn’t think about it. I needed some time to process what was happening to me.” Later, she talked to her colleagues and friends, and asked one of them, Elin, to be her contact person at the hospital. “It was better to have a contact person that could speak Swedish because even though most people at the hospital speaks English, some of the nurses could have difficulties in explaining some things.” However, when she had a small surgery, she was offered a Turkish translator, in case she didn’t feel comfortable enough speaking English. “I refused, but I thought it was nice that they offered. It made me feel safer.”

The treatment

One of the nodules was close to the heart, therefore Betül was not fit for radiotherapy. She was told she would have chemotherapy for 6 months. Her first chemo day was less than a month after the diagnosis. The hospital provided her with all the necessary information and support. “They told me to never google it and gave me a phone line that I could call at any time with questions or if I got any new symptom. They could also call my doctor if needed. Having that support made me feel comfortable and safe. I never felt like I was bothering them with my silly questions and worries. One does get a lot of thoughts and doubts about everything”.

The treatment was not easy. Each session took five hours, during which five liters of liquids (4L of chemicals + 1L salt water) were administrated on the arm. “That sounds awful, but at that time I was not feeling sick. I could read and do other things.” After a while, the doctors changed the method and used a vessel on her chest, which shortened each session to 3h. “The most difficult was the days after the chemo sessions, but with the medication, which took a few weeks to get right, I could usually work a couple of days later.”

Life and work during the treatment

The most striking memory I have of Betül during this whole period was how calm and positive she was. Constantly! At first, I thought it was a defense mechanism to avoid thinking about her treatments. Soon I realized that it was just who she was. Still, upon her diagnosis, a flow of questions hit Betül. Could she stay in Sweden for the treatment? Would she be able to keep her job? What would her boss say? Her contract had barely started and she could be gone for months.

“It was July and most people were on vacation or attending conferences. I emailed my two closest managers and immediately got a reply full of support. My boss even offered to interrupt his holiday and come here, but I said that was not necessary.”

The doctors advised her to not work during the treatment. According to her medical certificate, Betül was entitled to full sick leave. She had, however, a different opinion. “I really didn’t want to just be at home. I asked them to please, please, let me work. Three doctors discussed this and after a while, two of them approved as long as I took certain precautions.”

Betül ended up applying for flexible sick leave. This meant that she could determine how many hours a day she wanted to work. All she had to do was to count the working hours so that her salary and sick leave remuneration would be correctly adjusted. After the treatment, she went back to working full time and her contract was extended to compensate for the time she was on sick leave.

“Everything worked very smoothly and not only did I not lose my job, but I had the freedom of choosing when to work.”

Light at the end of the tunnel

After three months she did more tests, revealing that the treatment was working. However, she would have to do the three remaining months of chemotherapy. “After the second session, I could actually see that it was working, because the nodule in my neck was much smaller.”

At the end of the treatment, new tests revealed that the nodules had disappeared and Betül was cancer-free. She still does regular checks, but so far everything is alright. “The best thing is that I never have to take care of anything, the doctors or nurses always call me to tell me about my appointments. I never have to worry about anything. I don’t even have to think about it.”

Costs

Betül had medical insurance from Chalmers and ended up never paying much for the treatments. She paid for some medicines and hospital visits but quickly reached the 1100kr and 2000kr top margins. This meant she didn’t have to pay for anything else. “Chemotherapy is really expensive! I remember that three little pills that I had to take before sessions, cost about 3000 SEK. The hospital provided everything. I didn’t even have to go to the pharmacy myself, the nurses just took care of everything.”

Relationships in Sweden and back home

Betül ended up developing a close relationship with all the doctors and nurses from vårdcentral and at the hospital. “I know them all by name and I felt that they really took care of me, like family.”

When I asked her about her friends, here in Sweden, mentioning how some people have difficulties making Swedish friends. Her answer came fast, as she immediately said no, that it was not difficult at all. Everyone at work, Swedish or not, had always been helpful and supportive. “My closest friend, who also became my contact at the hospital, is Swedish and she did everything she could to make me feel good.” Betül had to change apartments during the treatment. The sessions were on Fridays and she was supposed to move and mount the new Ikea furniture during one of the weekends.

“I felt so much nausea after that session, that my friend Elin booked me a hotel so that I could stay in peace to recover from chemo. In the meantime, she and other friends from work moved my things to my new apartment, built the new furniture and took care of everything. I only had to move in and Elin and her boyfriend even drove me from the hotel to the apartment.”

When asked if it would have been easier to deal with cancer at home, Betül quickly said “No”. She added with confidence: “I’m quite sure that it was better to be treated here. The hospitals have better conditions, are cleaner and much more organized.” She talked a lot with her parents during the diagnosis and treatment, but she always told them to not come and visit her. “My parents are very emotional, and I always felt sad after talking to them. I felt weakened and it was the only time I felt really sick.” She continues by saying that otherwise, and despite nausea and side effects, she never really felt she was a sick person. “I had my friends from work and I felt supported by all nurses and doctors, so it was ok.”

A message from the heart

Betül would also like to leave a message for all of those going through something similar: “I would like to tell them that they don’t need to worry about their diseases and treatment. Sweden’s health care system is the best for taking care of the patients (especially in urgent cases). Swedish doctors have great knowledge and they are always up to date with new improvements in medical science. They recommend the treatments accordingly. Most side effects from chemotherapy are predictable. Doctors can help to minimize them with medication. The most important I would say is to keep the mood up. I found that very easy in Sweden with all the kind and helpful people around”.

Betül has also made herself available to be contacted. If you would like to know more about her experience or simply would like to talk to her, all you have to do is leave a comment below.

I have learned a lot myself while talking with Betül. The biggest lesson might have been that I won’t complain again when I have to wait for my turn at the vårdcentral. Now I know that they are probably taking care of a more important case.

Thank you Betül for sharing your story with us!

Remember that you can learn more about the Swedish health care system here.

 

About the Author 
Hej! I’m a Portuguese Newbie in Sweden. I have also lived in Brazil, Poland and the Czech Republic. It’s been fun to be a foreigner in so many different countries and I enjoy learning about other cultures. I’m a fan of sports, some to watch and some to practise, my favourite being running. I also love food, reading and blogging. I hope you enjoy my posts!

A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (Part 1)

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Written by Teenie Fung

Looking to buying an apartment in Stockholm? Are you browsing on Blocket for rental apartments in Stockholm? Then I highly recommend you to read this article.

In less than 10 months from arriving in Sweden I bought my first apartment in Stockholm at a great bargain. Here are some tips and secrets on how you can also get out of the frantic rental market.

How competitive is the rental market in Stockholm?

  • You are competing with an additional 10,000+ migrants who relocate to Stockholm each year (SCB gov stats, 2017).
  • On 1 single Blocket rental ad, 100+ people are messaging about renting the same flat within a few days of an ad being published.
  • It can take at least 2 months to find a rental apartment in Stockholm. Dealing with scams while using Blocket ads is highly likely.
  • One can easily spend close to/over 40% of your income on rent. It is not uncommon to have to move every 3-6 months to avoid being homeless. It is almost impossible to find a long-term rental contract for more than a year as a foreigner.

Sounds familiar to your current situation? 60-80% of your time is probably spent on merely looking for a place to sleep. The rest of your time and money goes on adapting to the local culture, new work challenges and social life.

However, instead of facing high-costs & a pressure-cooking life-style, it is in fact financially POSSIBLE to buy an apartment in Stockholm. This guide will be split into four parts, providing some insights into how you can settle in like a pro.

Is renting more expensive than buying an apartment?

A 23sqm apartment I rented in Gärdet (Stockholm) for 12,000 SEK/ month in 2017.

The ugly truth is that you, as a foreigner, probably have no idea how much you are currently being overcharged by your landlord.

As an example, let’s say that you are looking for a studio/ 1 bedroom (‘1-2 rum’ in Swedish terms) apartment in Stockholm. Let’s do the math on how much you could have saved each month by buying an apartment:

In reality, it only costs your landlord (the person who lends you the flat) a total of 3,000 kr/ month, including all utility bills and ‘avgift’ (a fee paid to the housing association in English), for a 23sqm apartment. According to the market value on Blocket, you will likely have to pay a monthly rent of around 12,000 kr given the high market demand.

This essentially means that you are paying 4x ( 9000 kr/ month) of what you would have saved if you own the apartment.

Calculation explaining below:

12,000 (Your monthly rent)
-3000 (Your landlord’s total cost)
=9000 kr/month (Amount of money you could have saved by owning the property)

Each year, you are looking at an annual expense of 108,000 kr (=9000*12), extra just in rent alone.

In 3 years, you would lose about 324,000 kr (=9000*12*3) in rent.

In 5 years, your piggy bank would already have half a million extra if you had chosen to buy an apartment instead…and 1 million in 10 years!

Imagine you could have used the 100,000 kr saved each year for travelling, buying another apartment or doing anything else.

You can still be a first-home owner like a Swede.

Who can buy an apartment in Sweden?

Anyone!

  • The rules are the same for Swedish, EU and non-EU. The only difference is that you will, as a foreigner (esp. non-EU), have a 1-2 week longer processing time for your mortgage application and a slightly smaller mortgage if you have been under 3 years in Sweden.

 

  • The buying process is very straight forward. You don’t need to know the Swedish language to buy a house. Google translate is quite useful!

Remember:

  • You must have a full-time job in Sweden and passed your probation for the bank to approve your mortgage

When should I buy an apartment?

Ignore what the media says about a property bubble. All you need is a good location for the apartment and you will be least affected by/shielded from any economic downturn.

You are buying because you need a stable life. That said, research if it’s the right time to buy such as a seasonal offer. Always do your own research before jumping into the market. First, check if the market is likely to bring you a profit or a good bargain if you are to sell in 5 years. Some important indications of a good time to buy now is as shown below.

  • It’s a buyer market:  Property price in Stockholm area fell by 5-10% y-y in Aug 2018, this is a good moment to hunt for bargains. Remember that you are not looking for the deepest plunge, but entering at a good low-mid point from the last price peak is generally good enough. Property prices are most likely to rise in long-term and has been for more than 20 years now (+60%).
Bostadsrätter Prisutveckling in Stockholm
Average Property price per sqm in Stockholm (Svensk maklarstatistik, Oct 2018)
  • Financially viable: Downpayment in Sweden is still historically low at 15%. (e.g. downpayment of a 2.5m flat is 375k). This proportion has increased from 10% to 15% recently, consider that the downpayment is likely to increase followed by a stricter gov policy. Grab a cheaper deal before the next one comes!
  • Easy credit: Sweden has one of the world’s lowest interest rate (1.5%), and longest mortgage repayment period (no rush to pay back) compared to many other modern places such as London and Hong Kong. You can still borrow close to 5x your annual income (reduced to 4.5x from 5x since Jan 2018).
  • Unprecedentedly high demand for a small apartment (<2 rooms) due to migration and immigration: coupled with low construction rate leading to a tight supply. The demand-supply gap is huge (+10,000 migrants vs 3000 newly constructed 1-2 rooms). Prices for small-sized apartments are likely to continue to rise in long-term.
Färdigställda lägenheter i nybyggda hus efter region, hustyp, lägenhetstyp och år
Newly constructed apartments in Stockholm by number of rooms (SCB, Oct 2018)

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you are curious about buying an apartment instead of renting, let’s get down to a step-by-step guide of how you can achieve this in action. Read ‘A complete guide to buying an apartment in Stockholm (Part 2)’ to be published in a couple of weeks. 

 

Disclaimer:

The information presented on this Blog series is shared for entertainment purposes ONLY.  Forecasts, estimates and certain information contained here should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation to invest. Past performance is not indicative of future results.  The Author in no way guarantees any specific outcome or profit.  Investments can lose money over short or even long periods of time.  You should consult your financial advisor before making an investment decision.

About the author

Teenie is a Stockholm-based investment advisor and tech enthusiast. Inspired by the gigantic potential of Stockholm aka ‘Unicorn Factory’, Teenie left her job from a top-tier bank in Hong Kong and moved to Sweden in 2017. She’s also the creator of an online activewear brand (yogafriday.com) and the founder of a fashion community that is still active today in England. At present, Teenie continues to seek for emerging technologies in pursuit of improving everyday living and a better future.

Settle in Sweden within 1 year

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Written by Teenie Fung

Have you considered moving to Sweden alone? Are you worried about the language, culture, job opportunities, cost of living etc? It can be extremely daunting to move from one place to another. However, life is short but remember that preparation is key and adaptation comes next. 

Do your homework, measure the risk and reward. If the risk is too high to lose, have a backup plan or improve your current situation before rushing for relocation. Nothing is impossible! Here’s how I relocated and settled in Sweden within one year. I hope you can find it useful!

Before relocation

Savings are essential to buffer unforeseen risks of relocation. Once you have a work contract, you will need to apply for a work visa from your home country. The waiting time can go from four months to one year depending on the job/ employer. There are jobs that are prioritized in the application process, be sure to check first with ‘Migrationsverket‘ before applying for any jobs.

1. Learn the culture

  • Think long-term. ‘The sense of belonging’ is crucial when you move to a new country. Do you also have special connection to Sweden?
  • Make some friends from Sweden in the country you are currently residing in. Join activities organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and other Swedish-related organizations/meet-ups. Get to know the Swedish community!
  • Learn the Swedish history and traditions! Sweden is full of heritage and rich culture. You will enjoy more Sweden if you know more about it.
  • Buy a book to learn basic Swedish!
  • Visit Sweden during short holiday breaks and meet up with your Swedish friends!

E-learning courses

Feel a bit overwhelmed about all the stuff you need to learn and do before, during and after your move to Sweden? We’ve got you covered with some of our great and affordable digital courses:

2. Line up job interviews

  • The worst thing when coming to Sweden is to have no income and waiting for a miracle to happen. If you haven’t already done your homework, 70% of the population in Sweden are Swedes. The majority of jobs in Sweden require a very good level of the Swedish language.
  • The best strategy is to prepare for multiple job interviews and be as prepared as possible.
  • Set goals and stay motivated.

How to land job offers in Sweden?

Work out every possibility you can think of. Just do it! Don’t only submit your CV to Arbetsförmedlingen if you are a young professional with work experience and a university degree.

  • Get referrals from your current network, don’t be afraid to ask! Network, network and network. This is how I got my first job in Sweden!
  • Check if your current employers have offices in Sweden. If so, you can try to request a transfer wherever appropriate.
  • Leverage your skill sets: Focus your job search on the industry that you have the longest work experience in (at least 2 years). Think from the employer’s point of view. Why they should hire someone from outside Sweden when they can hire someone close to them with the same skill set? Know your strengths. Apply to jobs where you are in a more advantageous position compared to a local.
  • Apply to companies with international business exposure. They are the ones who are most likely to hire foreigners. Know the hiring season in Sweden. June to Aug and Nov-Jan are holiday seasons in Sweden. Job opportunities during these months are extremely low, hence it’s best that you don’t end up in Sweden without a job especially at this time of the year. The best way is to relocate just before the hiring season. Meeting employers in person will hugely increase your chances of getting hired than a Skype/phone interview.
  • Create a long list of companies you want to work for on excel. Do your research on them and mark down your application status.
  • Find jobs that don’t require Swedish in the job description. Don’t waste time applying for jobs where the Swedish language is a must.
  • Try connecting with employees of the companies you want to work for on Linkedin by sending a short note to express interests and ask constructive questions. Speak to Headhunters if possible.
  • Make international cold calls: Sweden is a very open and transparent country. You will easily find a phone number and email address on many company websites. Be brave and make a call to a decision maker for a job interview. Make sure you prepare before the call! Buy an unlimited monthly plan on Skype for 75 KR/ month (much cheaper than using roaming or calling cards) and get a Swedish phone number  It shows that you have interests in moving to Sweden.
  • Go to Career Fairs in universities (e.g. Stockholm School of Economics) and meet employers in person. Bring your CV. You can do that during your short holiday trip.
    First day of work in Stockholm!
    The first day of work in Stockholm!

Most importantly…

  • Know the visa process from head to toe. Call ‘Migrationsverket‘ and ask all the questions you can think of. The queue on the telephone line is extremely long, but it’s worth it! Consult them about the work visa process and your nationality. Most employers don’t know the process. Knowing the process will get you one step closer to landing an offer.

Understand that Sweden is not as international as big cities like London, Hong Kong, Paris and New York. Yet, Stockholm is one of the most innovative cities in the world. The Swedish economy survives by exporting,  so there will always be jobs here for foreigners. Locals are very welcoming despite the recent immigration problem. You just need to find like-minded people as everywhere else in the world!

Ring the bell with me in Nasdaq Stockholm when you are ready!

3. Accommodations:

Watch out for scams! There are many scams online if you try to find accommodation before visiting the flat in person.

  • Ask your friends and new colleagues for short term stay accommodation. Stay in a hotel or Airbnb.
  • Find rental apartments on Blocket and visit the apartment.
  • It’s great to experience living in different areas in Stockholm as an expat. Later on, you may want to buy an apartment to cope with the endless moving.

How to identify scams

The so-called ‘landlord’ might pretend to get to know about you. You may have even Skyped with the person. They might create multiple fake ‘flatmates’ to email you and try to ‘get to know you’. But this person can still be fake.

  • Ask the person for a personal number and full name (This is a unique number given to all Swedish citizens). You can search the person’s information online on hitta.se as there’s no secrets in Sweden! If you don’t find a matching name, personal number and address of this person and its property, then it is a fake. If they refuse to provide you with their personal number, they are likely to be scams no matter what excuses they give.
  • They only want you to send money to a bank account outside Sweden e.g. Spain. That’s because they want to cover up their traces in Sweden in case you reach out to the police.
  • The person disregards you right away when you insist to visit the flat first in person. That’s because they don’t really have one!
  • The contract is too simple – google “scam contract” and check if you have the same copy. Google what terms there should be on a normal contract.

Check for other warnings here on another newbie post.

After relocation: First year in Sweden

1. Welcome to Sweden! Now, get yourself into the happy circle of Sweden!

  • Reconnect with your Swedish friends from the country you previously live in. Make new friends through group hangouts!
  • Go to events organized by Meetup and Eventbrite
  • It’s a modern world. Use different apps on your phone to enlarge your network of friends, but be safe!
  • As everyone says, the fastest way to learn Swedish is to be in contact with a Swedish. And the best way to fall in love with Sweden! I met my boyfriend, John, in Sweden coincidently soon after I started my new life here. He’s a great person with a lovely family!
  • Buy warm clothes! As the Swedish say: “Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder.” Appreciate the darkness and snow. Get candles and make your home a nice and cozy place.

2. Register for SFI and attend as many classes as possible.

I work full time and I attend Swedish classes every Monday and Wednesday after work from 17.30 to 20.30.

  • You need Swedish to live in Sweden. Everything is in Swedish except the airport and the main train station. Respect local culture and learn the language like you would also want others to respect your own when they are in your country. Eventually, this will open many doors you have never believed possible before. When you finish SFI, you can do this.
  • You will meet like-minded friends with a similar background. They will most likely become your lifelong friends in Sweden.
  • You are more likely to pass SFI exams when you set a goal with your classmates. Study with your friends and help each other even outside the course.

3. Travel to as many places as possible in/near Sweden.

  • Take a trip to Sälen for skiing, Båstad for the beach, Visby for the medieval week, Copenhagen for city exploration and the 10,000 Swedish islands on the archipelago!

Skiing in Sälen
Skiing in Sälen
Beach life in Båstad, Sweden
Beach life in Båstad, Sweden

 

Parliament in Copenhagen
Parliament in Copenhagen

And here you go! You will settle in in no time! Lycka till! (Good luck)

 

About the author

Teenie is a Stockholm-based investment advisor and tech enthusiast. Inspired by the gigantic potential of Stockholm aka ‘Unicorn Factory’, Teenie left her job from a top-tier bank in Hong Kong and moved to Sweden in 2017. She’s also the creator of an online activewear brand (yogafriday.com) and the founder of a fashion community that is still active today in England. At present, Teenie continues to seek for emerging technologies in pursuit of improving everyday living and a better future.

Tetiana Siianko – Organizer of the biggest startup events in Sweden

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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!

#4. Tetiana Siianko –Doer and hustler! Organizer of the biggest startup events in Sweden and currently rethinking the food system.

You can find Tetiana in the Startup Guide Book, that’s how much influence she has on the startup scene in Sweden. As a former founder of VC backed startups, she knows a thing or two. Here is her story:

Tetiana Siianko Profile Pic

Which country are you originally from? 

I come from a continental, historically and culturally rich country, currently being in a state of anarchy, with +40 in summer, -20 in winter, where people walk their dogs with no leashes on, and pay a visit to their friends without two weeks prior booking!

The country of tastiest food and most open people on Earth – Ukraine 🙂

How long have you lived in Sweden?

Overall – 5 years!

In one sentence, tell us about your current business.

Sooo many things! I am the Operations Manager at Sweden Foodtech, Project Manager for Sweden Demo Day and Community Leader for Techstars Startup Weekend.

Personally, I am very interested in bridging the gap between arts and tech.

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

10 – Yep, fluent and using Swedish in my work life.

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

I came to Sweden for the first time as Ericsson employee in 2011 and it was like a bed of roses: great work in the innovation department, cool workmates, new relationships with an exotic Swedish guy and even a flat waiting for me! I loved everything about Sweden, even the darkness.

A year later, I got to know another very Swedish thing and the peculiarity of Swedish job market – first in, first out!

When I came to Sweden for the second time in 2014, it was way tougher. I had no job, I couldn’t speak any Swedish and I didn’t have any friends who could help me out.

Networking and hustling, opened new doors for me.

Now I think that the challenges, or shall I put it another way, the things that I hate the most are; the weather, quite cold summers and a terrible lack of sun in winters. There is also, sometimes, a conflict-averse mentality that can result in double standards and a certain hypocrisy where no one really tells you what she or he REALLY thinks!

Apart from that, everything is fine 🙂

Luckily, my startup experiences helped me to get used to taking NO, for an answer, and moving on quickly.

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

When I was younger, it was Astrid Lindgren who introduced me to Sweden, and a rainy Stockholm, through the pages of her ‘Karlson på Tacket’ stories. I thought I ended up here by chance, but now I realize it was serendipity.

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

Grammarly and Reply.io – Both of them are Ukrainian!

Grammarly is for spellchecking, as you write blogposts and more. Reply.io is for personalized email send-outs.

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

Tetiana with her dogs

Water. I think that water is the best thing that this country has.

The whole culture of what you can do with it: the best scenery for dog walking, sailing on a bigger boat, capsizing on a smaller one, drive a motor boat, have a fika on the rocks, swim in a diving suit in summer, fishing, windsurf regardless of weather, skate anywhere where there is ice, and just sit, contemplate and meditate. Sooo many options!

(Can I add a bonus wish? – Can I export cardamon sweet salty buns as well?!)

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

Sweden has the highest percentage of vegan and vegetarian people in Europe and in 3rd place in the world (after Brazil and India).

Or another cool fact, Anders Celsius was a Swede!

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

 You can join me at our next Startup Weekend event – all about Foodtech. This weekend – February 16-18.

Some of my other activities are here:

Many thanks to Tetiana for her 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

Malcolm Larri – Founder of Brave Personal Development

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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!)

3!

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

Register your business

Once you have confirmed that your business is a good idea and you are ready to do the pre-launch formalities, your next stop needs to be verksamt.se. As per EU law, verksamt.se is the “Swedish Point of Single Contact” –meaning that everything is there that you need to get information on registering your business.

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Here you can answer these important questions:

  • Do you need a permit?
  • Do you have the right visa to open a business?
  • Do you have professional qualifications from another EU/EEA country that need to be recognized here?

Sole trader (called enskild firma in Swedish)

As a sole trader (self-employed) you need to register your business (called enskild firma in Swedish) with the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket. You may also, but do not normally need, to register with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, Bolagsverket.

1) Tax registration

When starting up as a sole trader, you need to apply for F-tax and VAT registration and, where relevant, register as an employer with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). You can use the online service to apply for this permit. Your business will be identified by your personal ID number. Apply online (registration for tax, VAT and registration as an employer).

2) Register a name for your business (optional)

As a sole trader you can check the availability and register a name for your business with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket). This is not a requirement, but is a good idea, as it gives you exclusive rights to the name in the county where you will be operating. You can use our online service to apply for this permit (registration of a sole business/proprietorship).

Do you have a Swedish identity number?

If you have a Swedish identity number and e-indentification (e-legitimation in Swedish) you can use e-services on verksamt.se (Mina sidor) for company registration. However, these services are only available in Swedish.

Limited company (Aktiebolog, AB)

A limited company can be started by one or more natural persons or legal entities. When starting a limited company, you must have at least SEK 50,000 in share capital. You need to register your business with the Swedish Companies Registration Office, Bolagsverket and the Swedish Tax Agency.

Trading partnership

A trading partnership is an alternative if at least two natural persons or legal entities wish to start a business together. You need to register a trading partnership with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the Swedish Tax Agency. This information is not our opinion but is taken directly from the official wording on

This information is not our opinion but is taken directly from the official wording on verksamt.se

So now you are registered and perhaps you are in need of some help. If you know Swedish and want to read about the employment laws, feel free to read this document on labour laws.

Alternatively, hire temporary staff, to begin via a recruitment agency or partner up with an employer or record like Remote to help manage your payroll. There are many out there including Adecco, Academicwork and Manpower but if you want to do a Google search try this search term “interim jobb (insert your sector here)” and see what recruiters appear in the search results.

Get an office/office space

For office space both short and long-term, try these sites:

  • Workaround – Oscar and his team help to find you a good, long-term office space at the best rate.

Market Validation

Around 96% of businesses shut down within 10 years of opening, which might be fine if you are looking to make some quick money, but if you want to build a strong, stable, brand and business that will become your career, you need to research the local market and see if your idea is likely to be successful.

“Ideas are cheap. Ideas are easy. Ideas are common. Everybody has ideas. Ideas are highly, highly overvalued. Execution is all that matters.”

Casey Neistat, Film Director

Is your business idea any good?

Write down and answer the following questions or use a tool such as the business model canvas (a modern version of the old fashioned and long, traditional business plan)

  • Who is your customer? Please don’t say “everyone!” Be specific. What kind of person or business? How big or small is the typical business? In a particular market? What is the professional title of the buyer?
  • What problems are you solving? The aim is to validate whether customers also see them as problems. More importantly, whether customers think they are actually problems worth solving = paying for!
  • How does your product solve those problems? How does solving their problems make their life better? Does it make them more money? Look better? Save time? Help others?
  • What are the key features of the product/Service? What is the ‘Wow’ factor of your service or product and how easy is it for a buyer to get to that point? What makes you special?
  • What do you need to launch? Do you need products, retail space, equipment, etc? Think about the costs involved in starting, both in finance and time, that you will need.
  • Start networking. Finding future clients is going to be what occupies your mind the most in the years to come. And networking is seriously going to help you with this. Join networks and groups that can be of use to you. There are networks within almost anything; sales, female entrepreneurs, city, marketing etc. So find them and join up.

Try your idea on potential customers

Once you have written down your own opinions and assumptions you will have to test them with potential customers. Now is the time to get out on the street and ask people! Of course you can also save valuable time by getting on the phone, if the customer can be reached easier that way.

These tests should be interviews with potential buyers of your product. You can also test your assumptions by interviewing experts from the industry – people who have been employed by the industry such as consultants or if you are feeling brave – investors. Here is a great link to the questions that you can ask, in order to really get an understanding of your idea’s value.

Don’t forget to contact your own network and the networks of friends, mentors and others, to reach potential customers. And remembert that someone liking your idea is not the same as buying your product!

Tip: Check out the Lunchback – a great place to find these people – feedback for the price of a lunch.The Startupeventslist is another great place to find like-minded entrepreneurs in the Nordics, to discuss ideas with.

Where to turn for advice? 

1. Almi

Almi’s vision is to create opportunities for all viable ideas and businesses to develop. They offer advice, loans and equity in all phases – from ideas into successful businesses. It includes both ideas with growth potential in the early phases of existing companies investing in growth and expansion. Almi is owned by the state and is the parent company of a group with 16 regional subsidiaries, Almi Invest AB and IFS Consulting AB.

2. Nyföretagarcentrum

Go to your local Enterprise Agency, or ”Nyföretagar Centrum” in Swedish, where you can get professional and start-up advice, which is confidential and completely free of charge.

3. Startup Stockholm

Startup Stockholm offers free Startup advice for those based in Stockholm.

4. Business Sweden

Business Sweden can help if you want to export Swedish products back to your home market, for instance.

Here is a selection of other useful contacts:

Contact each Business Region for further information

Business Region Göteborg

Stockholm Business Region

Business Region Skåne (information in Swedish)