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These guides will help you find and build a career in Sweden

From the job-hunt to the interview to the all-important salary negotiation, here are the guides you need to accompany you as you start a career in Sweden.

Published: 25 February 2020 14:00 CET
Updated: 30 December 2022 14:29 CET
These guides will help you find and build a career in Sweden
Bethany Legg / Unsplash

How to kick-start your Swedish career: Six top tips for job seekers

Planning on moving to Sweden for work? Make sure you arrive well-prepared by following this detailed advice about complying with permit rules, optimizing your CV, and overcoming cultural differences to make the transition a smooth one. Click here to continue reading.

11 ways to optimize your search for a job in Sweden, even if you’re overseas

Non-EU workers usually require a job offer before they can relocate to Sweden for work, and EU citizens might also prefer to have a job contract before uprooting their lives. It can be daunting to look for a job from abroad, but it’s not an insurmountable obstacle, so if you want or need to start your job-hunt from outside Sweden, these tips should improve your chances. Click here to continue reading.

Being far away from Sweden doesn’t have to be a barrier in your job hunt. File photo: Eugene Chystiakov/Pexels

Searching within a specific sector? These articles might help:

How to write the perfect Swedish CV and cover letter

Personal networks account for a lot of career opportunities in Sweden, which makes the job-hunt a daunting task for foreigners. But with the right CV and cover letter, you can impress hiring managers and secure your dream job in Sweden. Click here to continue reading.

How to impress at a Swedish job interview

Can you ever be too early to a job interview? Are you supposed to wear high heels in snow? How to answer the dreaded question ‘tell me a bit about yourself’? Job interviews in a foreign country present a whole new set of questions and worries. Click here to continue reading.

File photo: Rawpixel/Pexels

Networking in Sweden: The steps to making valuable professional connections

Personal contacts are the key to seven out of ten jobs in Sweden, and 60 percent of companies use informal networks and contacts to recruit, a survey by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise shows. Many jobs end up never being advertised at all, and even for those which are, having personal connections in the company or the industry can help you get the inside track and boost your chances. Click here to continue reading.

Should foreign workers in Sweden join a union?

Sweden has one of the world’s most unionized workforces, with around 70 percent of workers a member. For many international workers in Sweden, joining a trade union might not be something that crosses your mind, especially if it’s not common in your home country. Here are the benefits and key things to bear in mind when considering joining. Click here to continue reading.

Why Sweden doesn’t have a minimum wage and how to ensure you’re fairly paid

New arrivals to Sweden are often told how generous the country’s working hours and benefits are, so it may come as a surprise that there’s no minimum wage as such. That doesn’t mean salaries go entirely unregulated. Instead, they are agreed by negotiations between the employer and either the individual employee or a trade union which represents them (or often, both). Click here to continue reading.

Photo: Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se

For statistics within your industry or region, check the following guides:

How to play Swedish office politics… and survive

Most articles on Swedish office culture gush about the lack of hierarchy, the reasonable working hours, and the absence of dog-eat-dog competition. But most newcomers soon realize it’s not (always) quite as nice as it appears. Click here to continue reading.

Everything you need to know if you lose your job in Sweden

Moving to another country for work is an adventure and a privilege, but also a risk. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan and however meticulously you prepared for your life overseas, you could get thrown a curveball, like losing the job that brought you here. The good news is that even as a non-Swedish citizen, you have certain rights when you become unemployed in Sweden, and there are systems in place to smooth things over for you. Click here to continue reading.

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WORKING IN SWEDEN

Five things you need to do right away if you’re getting laid off in Sweden

Facing a layoff in Sweden? Here are the key things you should do right away.

Published: 13 August 2024 10:26 CEST
Updated: 9 September 2024 14:38 CEST
Five things you need to do right away if you're getting laid off in Sweden

Employment levels in Sweden have been quite volatile in 2023 and 2024, with several major companies in the country announcing significant layoffs. On September 9th, Northvolt became the latest company to announce it would be reducing its workforce.

In early August, the Swedish Labour Ministry announced that the country was facing its highest unemployment rate in a decade, excluding the pandemic period.

This economic landscape has left many workers uncertain about their job security.

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And while receiving a layoff notice is undeniably stressful for anyone, this stress is often magnified for foreigners who may not be completely familiar with the Swedish employment system and their workplace rights.

Without proper knowledge, you might agree to terms that aren’t in your best interest. This can, in turn, lead to decisions that could have long-term career consequences.

The Local has consulted experts in the field to compile an overview of the critical actions you should take if you ever face a layoff in Sweden.

Don’t rush to sign anything

Amanda Herzog, founder of Intertalents in Sweden, a consultancy that helps international job seekers find their dream job in the country, published a popular post on LinkedIn Pulse in December 2023 with multiple excellent tips for workers regarding the Swedish layoff process.

She told The Local Sweden that her recommendations still stand in mid-2024, permitting us to re-share her tips, and pointed to some of the more important ones.

“Never, ever sign a termination agreement on the same day you receive the news,” Herzog advised, noting that the emotional shock can cloud your judgment.

  • Don’t miss any of The Local’s stories about working in Sweden by downloading our app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting Working in Sweden in your Notification options via the User button

Instead, find a union immediately, preferably the same day, to get a second opinion on the terms and conditions.

“During my first layoff, I joined a union and sought advice the same day. It took a week to accept their terms, which worked in my favour as the company was keen on a voluntary headcount reduction,” Herzog shared.

Contact a labour or immigration lawyer (if you’re on a work permit)

Losing your job affects your right to stay in Sweden if you’re on a work permit.

You typically have three months to find a new job and submit a work permit application with your new employer (The Local has a more detailed article on the layoff implications on your work permit, which you can find here).

However, Saaya Sorrells-Weatherford, co-founder of the relocation consultancy Emigreat, told The Local that as a foreigner, you might not be familiar with the nuances of the Swedish employment system and could agree to terms that shorten your stay in Sweden.

“If you are given your termination notice, contact a labour or immigration lawyer immediately,” she said.

Consulting with a lawyer ensures you understand your rights and work through facts and applicable regulations, not word-of-mouth anecdotes.

Negotiate your severance, use leverage

Herzog also singled out several necessary actions that workers who are about to be laid off need to consider regarding severance contracts.

“Severance contracts can be negotiated,” Herzog emphasised.

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Nothing is final until you sign the agreement. The company might present the decision as final, but you have leverage.

“A union process can be time-consuming for the company and may not end in their favour,” Herzog said.

Use this to your advantage to negotiate better terms.

“I was able to negotiate a raise during my first layoff, even though I would no longer be working, as well as negotiated two extra working months from the termination date.

“This meant I had seven months total of future salary coming to me. I was also able to negotiate a free cell phone and laptop that I was using at work,” she noted.

Get recommendations early – and build a portfolio of your work

Asking your coworkers for recommendation letters and LinkedIn recommendations before your last day is imperative.

“People forget and move on and are less responsive when they no longer see you daily,” Herzog said.

So, make sure to secure these endorsements while your contributions are still fresh in their minds.

Furthermore, you should compile a portfolio of your work as soon as possible.

Companies can restrict access to files and systems post-layoff, making it crucial to collect relevant data while you still can.

“Start collecting work samples, case studies, photos, results, and important contacts in the same week you receive the news,” Herzog suggested.

Ensure that your layoff is being handled properly

Make sure your layoff is handled appropriately and legally.

“One of my layoffs was mishandled, and I used union support to hold the company accountable,” Herzog recalled.

While legal advice can be expensive, it’s far more affordable than fighting deportation, Sorrells-Weatherford told The Local.

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