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FAQ: WORKING IN SWEDEN
Whether you’re looking for a job in Sweden while living abroad or while currently in Sweden, or would like to expand your network or improve your CV, we've got you covered.
How can I start looking for jobs in Sweden while living abroad?
Where can I start looking for jobs if I am currently living in Sweden?
Which organizations can help me build my network with established Swedes?
Where can I get help and advice on my CV, cover letters and interview skills?
Where can I find an internship in Sweden?
Where can I volunteer in Sweden?
When and how can I sign up for NTS's next Ready to Work session?
What’s the typical work culture in Sweden like?
Aline Lessner/imagebank.sweden.se
How can I start looking for jobs in Sweden while living abroad?
It is always good to start looking for jobs before coming to Sweden. LinkedIn is widely used and very popular among Swedish professionals, it could be a great place to start!
You can also look for jobs at various job sites, such as The Local Jobs, Indeed, CareerBuilder, Monster, Jobbsafari and Jobbland (learn more about Swedish workplace culture and find jobs). Some of these sites are only available in Swedish. You might need a translation feature on your browser to help you understand.
The Swedish Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) also has its own jobsite, which is called Platsbanken. It is important if you are a non-EU jobseekers who need work permit to make sure that the job you applied for is advertised in Arbetsförmedlingen’s Platsbanken or EURES job portal for at least 10 days before you receive an offer for the job.
EURES job portal is the site you can go to find a job in Sweden if you are an EU citizen. EURES has different services to support EU job seekers including consultation and financial support under the mobility scheme called “EURES Targeted Mobility Scheme”.
Where can I start looking for jobs if I am currently living in Sweden?
Apart from the job sites mentioned above, you can use recruitment agencies to find a job in Sweden. You can create an account and register your CV on these agencies’ websites. You can also browse through many job openings at companies and organisations that cooperate with the agencies. If there is an opening that matches your CV, you will be contacted by the agency consultants and the interview process will begin.
These are some of the biggest recruitment agencies in Sweden where you can register your CV, Some of them specifically aiming for international talents:
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Incluso (specific for international talents)
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Just Arrived (specific for international talents)
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Undutchables (international talents-friendly)
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Jobbentren (for migrants with refugee background in Stockholm area)
How can I start building my network in Sweden?
Many jobs in Sweden are not advertised openly at job sites! A closed recruitment within the employer’s network is quite common. Because of this, networking becomes one of the keys to the Swedish job market. Research about job-seeking newcomers shows that the most helpful entry path in the Swedish labour market is a network with Swedes and other international professionals!
The easiest way to build your network is through LinkedIn, which is extremely popular among professionals in Sweden. After signing up, complete every section on your profile to showcase your skills and achievement.
Introduce yourself in the “about” section to make sure your visitors know who you are and what you are looking for. Follow key people within your field and interact with their posts. You can also be active and create your own posts. You will soon be within the radar of employers and recruiters from your target companies!
To learn more about how to build your LinkedIn profile, follow New to Sweden and Working in Sweden on LinkedIn. We regularly post job search tips and give free webinars on how to build your LinkedIn profile.
Which organizations can help me build my network with established Swedes?
Yes. If you need more help to build your professional network in Sweden, these organisations or programmes may be able to help you:
Yrkesdörren is an online platform where international jobseekers can sign up and be matched with an established Swede in their field. The matching pair will arrange a one-hour meeting where the newcomer can learn more about the industry and the job in Sweden, as well as receive some tips regarding job search and application. At the end of the meeting, the established Swedes should introduce or refer someone within their network to the newcomer to broaden their network.
Mitt Liv Chans is a mentoring programme created by Mitt Liv AB that occurs 2 times a year for 4 months. Newcomers with an upper secondary education may register themselves and they will be matched with an established person in the labour market as a mentor. Together with their mentors, the newcomers will learn about the job application process and the work culture in Sweden.
Nema Problema is an NGO with a mentoring programme which lasts for 8 months. A newcomer will be matched with an established Swedes based on their similar education and job experience. They will meet at least once per month and exchange knowledge, experience, and contacts during the mentorship period. Nema Problema mentoring programme is only available for newcomers in Stockholm.
Where can I get help and advice on my CV, cover letters and interview skills?
New to Sweden, of course! :)
We regularly post job search tips to help you improve your Cv and cover letters, as well as tips on how to help you ace your interviews! We also have regular webinars and seminars specifically for international job-seekers on how to write a CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile that attracts Swedish employers. Do not forget to follow us on Instagram at @newtosweden and our LinkedIn page, Working in Sweden. And stay tuned to our LinkedIn company page, New to Sweden to catch our LinkedIn Live sessions with recruiters and experts who will share their job search tips with you.
As a newcomer, you can also register at the public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen). You can receive help from a job coach/case officer in planning your job search and skills development. Arbetsförmedlingen’s website offers some tips and templates on how to write your CV and cover letter in Swedish. They also have some useful tips on their Youtube channel.
Where can I find an internship in Sweden?
Internship positions are usually advertised on LinkedIn and job sites as well. However, if you need more help or increase your chance in getting an internship, you can participate in these programmes:
Jobbsprånget is a four months internship programme at various Swedish companies organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering Science (IVA) in Sweden. If you are a non-EU professional with an academic degree in architecture, engineering, business, and science, you can apply for an internship programme through Jobbsprånget. In order to participate in the programme, you need to have a working permit which is not a student visa and be registered in Arbetsförmedlingen.
If you are registered with Arbetsförmedlingen and have a university degree or two years of higher education, you might have an internship opportunity through Korta Vägen programme. Korta Vägen is a programme to speed up labour market integration of academic migrants. It entails full time study within your professional field, job coaching, profession-specific language lesson, and internship at a Swedish workplace. Depends on where you live, you might take part in Korta Vägen in various educational institution, such as Folkuniversitet and Academicum.
Where can I volunteer in Sweden?
Volunteer activities on your CV helps employers understand your personality and motivations better while providing you with some valuable Swedish experience. It is always a good option to volunteer while searching for jobs!
Below are the organizations in Sweden where you can look for volunteering opportunities:
And if you would like to volunteer with New to Sweden, just let us know! You can contact us for more information.
When and how can I sign up for NTS's next Ready to Work session?
Keep an eye on our website and social media platforms and you will be notified whenever there is a new event. You can find information at:
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The Ready to Work page on our website: newtosweden.org/readytoworkprogram
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LinkedIn: New To Sweden and Working In Sweden
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Instagram: @New To Sweden
What’s the typical work culture in Sweden like?
The typical work culture in Sweden can be a bit different from the culture we might have come from. Swedish workplaces are non-hierarchical, which means that even if there are job titles and various management levels, you still call your managers and supervisors with their first name.
Regular meetings ensures that everyone is kept up-to-date with what happens and to make sure their opinions are heard and considered. At most Swedish workplaces, you can wear comfortable business casual clothes. You do not need to wear suits for men and high heels for women.
Swedish workplaces also have fika time, which usually happens around 14.00. It is a time when everyone takes a break from their work, drinks a cup of coffee or tea and socializes with their coworkers. You usually do not talk about work during fika, since it’s the time to get to know your coworkers.
And finally, working overtime in Sweden is not seen as a good thing and taking some hours off to pick up your children from school is normal. Work-life balance is highly respected, which makes employees get many weeks of paid holidays.
