The Swedish job market

- A part of Find your career in Sweden Aysha Rosenqvist

Emma Lundgren
Aim of the
webinar

To provide insight about the

Swedish job market and Swedish
work culture
Todays agenda
• The Swedish job market
• Ways to find a job in Sweden
• Academic career
• Networking
• The informational interview
• Questions

Pop up insights about Swedish work culture from

the book ”Working in Sweden, The A-Z-guide”
Say hello to

ulf
Name: Ulf
Hobbies: Philosophizing,
collecting stamps
Occupation: Specialist on
Swedish work culture
Swedish

work culture

Work life balance – Your employer will encourage you to

maintain a healthy work life balance. The reasons are not only
ideological, but also based on the principle that your employer
is legally responsible for your well-being. Staying at work late at
night is interpreted as poor time management and will not
impress anyone
Today’s situation of the Swedish

job market
• Unemployment rate 7,3 percent
about a year ago 9,1 percent
Before corona 6,8 percent

• Demand for labor force within the

field of tech, engineering,
mathematicians, teachers

• High competition for jobs within

social sciences
Future
trends
• Lifelong learning – Needed to close skills gaps that
emerge as work evolves due to rapid technological
development

• Distance work – The pandemic has fundamentally

changed the way we work. The new motto is:
“Work isn’t something you come to the office for, it’s
something you do” (Spotify)
Zoom poll
How are you feeling about finding a
career in Sweden?

1 2 3
Hopeful Confused Sceptic
I have high hopes I feel confused and It seems hard to get
finding the job that I I am not sure what the kind of jobs that
am looking for to look for I’m looking for
Working
in Sweden
• Working alongside your studies

• Working after your graduation -

apply for jobs up to 12 months
Labor rights
• Contract – Get a signed contract

• What kind of position? Permanent position – After six

months of provanställning, your contract usually becomes
permanent, tillsvidareanställning. Temporary position

• Salary – Check “lönestatistik” with the Trade unions. The

most common way to get a substantial raise is to get a
new job. The budget is usually negotiated between
employer and union through kollektivavtal.
Trade
unions
SACO academics
• Akavia – law, economics, marketing,
sales
• DIK – culture and communication
• Naturvetarna – natural sciences
• SSR- social science

• Unionen – private sector

• Finansförbundet – banking and finance
• Journalistförbundet - journalism
Swedish

work culture
Consensus - According to Swedish work
practice, everyone should be involved in
any decision-making process
Learning
Swedish
• Online course - learningswedish.se

• Språkstudion - Language café & tandem

• Swedish courses at Stockholm Uni. –

Swedish for international students
Swedish as a foreign language
Ways to find
a job in Sweden
• Apply through websites - Graduateland, Swedish public employment
service (arbetsförmedlingen), Thelocal.se

• Recruiting firms - Incluso, Just arrived, Multimind,

Academic work, Brightby

• Internships – Use internship finders, Graduateland. Write your thesis

with a company

• Volunteer work- Volontärbyrån.org

• Student ambassador- SU

• Social media - follow interesting companies, Facebook groups,

organizations, use hashtags, LinkedIn

• Contact employers directly – Informational interviewing

Academic
career
• Around 40 percent of the PhD students
are from abroad (100 countries)

• A paid position. No tuition fees

• Dialogue with the department

• Find positions on studyinsweden.se

Networking
• Outbound and inbound networking

• Attend job fairs and career events

• Mentorship programmes-”Yrkesdörren”, ”Mitt

liv”
• Use your

• Use your hobby or get a new hobby

Example: Join a choir, sports activity
Networks can always be expanded!
The
informational interview
Informational
interviewing
• Ask for a short interview 20-30 mins

• Be clear that you are not looking for a job

• Do your homework

• Curious and genuine

• Follow up email
Questions to ask
• What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?

• What different roles are there at your work?

• How did your career path look like? How did you end up here?

• What skills and personality traits are most important to enjoy your work?

• What do you enjoy the most and the least with your job?

• Can we stay in touch?

• Is there anyone else that you suggest me to contact to know more?

Swedish

work
culture

Punctuality is key in Sweden. Arriving on time is

absolutely crucial for making a good impression.
Departing on time is as important. Stressed Swedes
always bemoan the impossibility of finding time for the
things they feel they should be doing
Got a comment or
a question for us?
Use the chat function
for questions and feedback
and welcome to connect with us

Aysha Rosenqvist
aysha.rosenqvist@su.se

Emma Lundgren
emma.lundgren@su.se
 Tack
för idag!
Thank you for
participating :)