10 expert tips: How to get a job in Sweden 

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speaker:
Have you just arrived here in Sweden? Are you looking for a job? This can be a challenging situation. You’re not alone, though, and there are resources to support you along the way. In this podcast, we want to give you ten tips on how to increase your chances of getting a job in Sweden.

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Ziza Madani:
Welcome to the “New in Sweden” podcast. A podcast where we give tips and advice on job hunting and finding employment here in Sweden. This podcast is for those of you who haven’t been in Sweden a very long time, so a lot of things may be new for you. The title of today's podcast is “Ten tips for job searching.” My name is Ziza Madani and I’m joined here in the studio by my colleague Pär Axelsson, who also works here at Arbetsförmedlingen, the Swedish Public Employment Service.

Ziza:
Pär, it's great that we're up and running with the podcast again.

Pär Axelsson:
I agree. It’s nice to be back.

Ziza:
And before we get started, I just want to check with you if you’ve seen the latest numbers.

Pär:
No, what numbers?

Ziza:
Our number of listeners is growing. Our producer just shared some numbers with me, and our audience is growing. More people are finding our podcast.

Pär:
That's wonderful news. And since last time I've actually got some feedback from listeners who thought the information in our last podcast was useful.

Ziza:
Well, that means we’re doing something right. In today’s podcast we will share some useful tips for getting a job here in Sweden. When you are applying for a job it’s important to have the right information, because the right information could be what you need to land the right job. So, Pär, you and I will share five job tips each.

Pär:
That’s the plan. And Ziza, you have promised me you will share a real aha experience when it comes to job hunting. Perhaps we can call it a super tip? Do you want to start off with that?

Ziza:
Eh…no. I think I'll save my super tip for a little later. I think the point will come across stronger then.

Pär:
Fair enough.

Ziza:
But I would like to start with another very good tip.

Pär:
Okay, job hunting tip number one.

Ziza:
Tip number one, Daring to think new. What I mean is this. Don't be afraid to apply for jobs outside your area of expertise. Dare to apply for a position that you don’t have any prior experience of. Be open to new opportunities and consider taking a different path and exploring a new profession.

Pär:
That’s a great tip. Don’t be afraid to try something else. Something new.

Ziza:
Yeah, that's exactly what it's about. Tip number two is yours, Pär.

Pär:
Tip number 2 is, use your network. A lot of people get jobs through friends and contacts, that is, through their network in Sweden. Let all your friends, both people that you hang out with and your Facebook friends, know that you are looking for a job. Spread the word on all the platforms you use.

Ziza:
Well, social media are great for networking of course. That’s what they’re designed for. LinkedIn, for example, is big in Sweden. I would recommend everyone to spend some time getting a really sharp profile on LinkedIn. It’s the perfect platform for job networking and on LinkedIn you can apply for jobs directly.

Pär:
Tip number three.

Ziza:
Yes, tip number three is, apply for a job nearby. What workplaces can you find around the corner from where you live? Follow them on social media. Send an email with your CV and tell them that you want to work with them. Knock on their door and ask if they need staff.

Pär:
That’s what they call a spontaneous job application.

Ziza:
Exactly. So, next tip, tip number four.

Pär:
My next tip is about CV and cover letter. Make sure that your CV and cover letter are updated. On our website we have webinars and podcasts about how to write CV’s and cover letters. They are available in different languages, including English. If you are part of the rusta och matcha programme your coach can help you out as well.

Ziza:
Very important to both have a CV and a cover letter when applying for a job.

Pär:
True. Tip number five.

Ziza:
My next tip is about job postings. The most obvious place to look for openings is on job sites online. One example is of course Arbetsförmedlingen’s own job site Platsbanken. But this is not the only good site around, there are others as well. So, read the job advertisement carefully to learn more about what the employer think is important for this position. We’re now at tip number six, Pär.

Pär:
Search for jobs in different ways. You should of course post your CV on the internet and apply for jobs online. But you should also take time to visit job fairs and meet employers in person. Speak to them directly. Tip number seven.

Ziza:
Prepare for the job interview. Interviews are hard. And if you really want a job the interview can be nerve-wrecking. That’s why you need to prepare for the interview. Rehearse interview questions and answers at home. You can even ask a friend to make a mock interview with you if you want. The main thing is that you are well prepared for the interview. Imagine what questions the employer might ask. And prepare questions yourself for the employer. You probably want to know more details about the position, about the company, the salary, and other things. Use the interview as an opportunity to find out as much as you can. That also shows the employer your commitment and that you want the position. So, tip number eight.

Pär:
Educate yourself. Or re-educate yourself. Take a short course. Vocational training can increase your chances of getting a job. Ask Arbetsförmedlingen if there are any labour market training courses out there that may suit you. Let's move on to tip number nine.

Ziza:
So, tip number nine is about language skills. In Sweden, Swedish language is key to get a job. Take every opportunity to improve your Swedish language skills. Listening to Swedish radio is a good way. Reading Swedish newspapers is another. And libraries often have many different newspapers for anyone to read. There are also online resources for news in easy-to-read Swedish that can be helpful if you’re still learning the language. So, finally, tip number ten.

Pär:
Searching for a job is an unglamorous undertaking. It’s time consuming and tiresome. It’s hard. But think about the job search as a job in itself. Your job is now to look for a job. Try to establish a daily routine. If you use all the tips, we have provided in this podcast that can keep you busy for eight hours a day. But you can’t do job searching 12 hours a day, every day. Making your job searching your job means that you do this for a period of time every day. But you also need to plan for breaks, and you also need to have days off in your job search, just like you would from an ordinary job. You need a long-term plan because it may take a while before you are successful. If it doesn’t work out, talk to Arbetsförmedlingen or your coach, if you have one. Analyse together why things haven’t gone so well. Maybe you just need to push through or perhaps you need to change the way you apply for jobs. That concludes our list of ten tips for job searching. But Ziza, you have promised that you would tell us your super tip story, about the aha experience.

Ziza:
That's right. This story is about one of my friends who had been studying for years and finally was ready to start looking for employment. She was determined to find the perfect position. So, she applied for lots of jobs, went to several interviews, but nothing seemed to be the right fit. The more she searched, the less hope she had of finding anything. But, one day she came across an article that made her think again. The article was about a man who had been looking for a job for several years. He had applied for over a thousand jobs and still couldn't find any. But he never gave up. Eventually, he discovered that it all started with his mindset. He was looking for a job that was already "perfect." So, then he decided to change the way he thought and look for a job that he could do perfectly. And that was her aha experience. So, my friend realized that she had viewed her own job search the wrong way the whole time. After this she instead began to look at every job as an opportunity to learn and grow. It was much better for her to try things out and learn as she went along, instead of finding the perfect job straight away. Eventually, she did find a job that suited her really well.

Pär:
Food for thought. Thank you for sharing your friend's experience with us, Ziza.

Ziza:
Thank you. And Pär, it's time for us to wrap things up for today. Do you have any final tips you would like to share with our listeners?

Pär:
It's never too late to change careers or try something new. Be persistent, don't give up and keep trying. Good luck.

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speaker:
You have been listening to the New in Sweden podcast by Arbetsförmedlingen. You can find all previous episodes at arbetsformedlingen.se/play. Have you got any questions, tips, or ideas? Please email us at podcast@arbetsformedlingen.se. This episode was produced in the summer of 2023.

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