Searching for a job

Published

Monday 6 February 2012

Last updated:

Monday 6 February 2012

A job search can be a nerve-wracking experience. But, the more you know about the process, the easier it becomes. These pages give you tips about how to write a good application, how to find job openings and how to conduct an interview well.

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Work permit

In order to work in Sweden, you must have a work permit.

In general, any immigrant who wants to work in Sweden must have a work permit. Work permits are granted by a government agency, the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket).

Citizens of an EU or EEA country, Swiss citizens, their family members and individuals granted a permanent residence permit in another EU country do not need to apply for a work permit to work in Sweden. There are other exceptions in addition to this. Read more about obtaining a work permit from the Swedish Migration Board at www.migrationsverket.se (information is available in several different languages).

In addition to a work permit, many professions in Sweden have special regulations and competency requirements. More information on regulated professions can be found under "Your profession/education in Sweden".

Are you an asylum seeker?

Asylum seekers may also be allowed to work. To have the right to work during your time as an asylum seeker, you must have a certificate indicating that you are exempt from the requirement to have a work permit (AT-UND). If you are offered a job, you must show the AT-UND certificate to your employer. Your employer must then notify the Swedish Migration Board that you were hired by the company. You must contact the Swedish Tax Office (Skatteverket) to obtain a coordination number. You need this number to be able to show that you worked and paid taxes during your asylum period if you later want to apply for a work permit. You also need a coordination number to be able to receive sick pay if you get sick and cannot go to work. Read more on the Swedish Migration Board's website: www.migrationsverket.se.

Gather relevant experience

If you are not yet established with your original profession, some kind of practice or apprenticeship might be a good way to gather new working experience and know-how about your profession in Sweden. An apprenticeship may not be a garantee for a job, but it will give you fresh and relevant experiences to add to you CV and an opportunity to share you competence with a Swedish employer.

Det are many different ways of finding an apprenticeship. A good start is to speak to the Public Employment Services about it.

Contact others within your profession

It might be useful to contact someone who is active within your profession in Sweden. Such a person can provide you with current information concerning the profession, what is required, what it is lik to work in Sweden and what you can do to get established as quickly as possible. Another important reason for having contacts with Swedish collegues is that a large number of all availble positions are filled through connections.

Developing this kind of network will take some effort. A good start could be a membership in an association och network relevant for professionals in you field, eg a Saco association. Read more about the Saco associations here.

Career planning

It might be a good idea to try to get in contact with someone who works and has established himself or herself in your profession in Sweden. An established professional can give you invaluable advice about the profession in Sweden – what is required, what it is like to work and which steps you can take to establish yourself as quickly as possible. Your union might be able to help you to locate such a person.

Before you begin actively searching for a job, you should think about what types of work, and what types of companies or organizations you are interested in. Ending up at the wrong workplace or in the wrong position can be an unnecessary and trying detour from your career path. We suggest you set a goal and evaluate the possibilities you have of attaining it. The path to your goal may not be straight. You may need to first attain the necessary skills through other jobs or by going back to school.

If you need personal advice on how to look for a job or how to reach your career goal, contact your union. As representatives of your profession, your union representatives are experts in your profession and your career path. As a member of a Saco-affiliated union, you can obtain help in ways such as having your CV or employment contract reviewed or conducting a mock job interview. Saco-affiliated unions also offer Sweden's best salary statistics for university graduates, Saco Lönesök.

Different unions have different benefits, as well as terms and conditions for membership. Find out what applies to you by contacting your union. (Read more about Saco-affiliated unions here)

Finding a job

Many job openings are advertised in newspapers and on various websites. One of the biggest job sites is one run by the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen). Your union can provide useful information on where and how job openings are usually advertised in your profession. Your union's magazine often contains job openings for your industry. Read more about Saco-affiliated unions here.

If you see an interesting job ad, do not be scared off by tough requirements listed by the recruiting company. The important question is whether you have the basic skills required for the position. The requirements are formulated as "you must", "you are expected to" or "we want". Wishes are often formulated as "it is a good idea" or "it is a plus" or as "recommended". You do not have to have these skills, but it is an advantage to have them. If you do not have the skills listed as recommended, you may be able to compensate for this with others.

Many positions are filled without advertising. Go through your own network. You may have former employers, colleagues, friends or relatives who can give you a tip about a job opening.

Another alternative is to submit an unsolicited application to a company interested in work ing for. An unsolicited application places tougher demands on the applicant as the company itself has not seen the need to hire someone; so you be very clear on how they benefit by hiring you. Do not let this put you off. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Consider uploading your CV and cover letter to various recruiting sites on the Internet. It does not take much time. You must remember to update your profile regularly, but it can definitely be worth the effort.

Write a winning job application can be difficult, so make sure to consider the position's specific qualifications and conditions before you even begin writing your application. For example, is the position for permanent employment (tills vidare anställning), temporary employment (tidsbegränsad anställning) or work as a stand-in while an employee is on leave (vikariat)? What union contract (kollektivavtal) is in place and what benefits and obligations does it bring with it? We suggest you contact your union if, for example, you are not sure about the conditions. Read more about Saco-affiliated unions here.

Writing a CV and cover letter

CVs can be written in many different ways. You decide which style works best for you. A CV is a structured list of your personal details, education and job experience. CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for "the course of one's life".

Examples of headings commonly found in a CV/resumé:

Personal details
EducationProfessional experience
Languages
Computer skills
Other qualifications (such as positions of responsibility in organizations or commissions of trust)
Interests/hobbies

You can include information about references, but many choose to wait to give out this information until the potential employer has contacted them for an interview.

A number of Saco affiliated unions offer their members assistance with reviewing and making improvements to their CV and cover letter. Take advantage of this expert help! Go to your union's website and see what they have to offer. Read more about Saco-affiliated unions.

Use the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education's (Högskoleverket's) service for assessing your education and translating it to Swedish. Read more about having your education evaluated here.

Cover letter

Your cover letter serves to explain to a potential employer why he or she should contact you for an interview. For this reason, the letter must be interesting and persuasive. One suggestion is to get right to the point and to keep it short, not more than one page. It is important to quickly point out important information – both your skills and your enthusiasm.

The letter should be adapted to the specific position you are applying for. Do not write a general letter. Such letters are very uninteresting and are quickly forgotten. Base your letter on the job description in the ad and explain the advantages of you as a person as well as your skills and abilities. To better understand what the employer is looking for, study the company's website.

The person who reads your letter should sense your enthusiasm for this particular company, these particular work tasks and that you seem to understand what the job is about. There is no template for the perfect letter, but there are a number of things you can think about to make sure it is as focused and enthusiastic as possible.

It is important for both the CV and the cover letter to be easy-to-read and written without errors in the language and grammar. In a worst-case scenario, a sloppy job application could cause the employer to choose another person, who seems more interested in the position. A number of the unions affiliated to Saco offer their members help with reviewing and making improvements to their CV and cover letter. Take advantage of this expert help! Go to your union's website and see what they have to offer. Read more about Saco-affiliated unions.

Job interview

If you are contacted for an interview, you probably meet the formal requirements for the job. During the interview, the employer wants to get to know more about you and your skills in order to decide whether you are right for the position. The interview is also an opportunity for you to ask questions, make an opinion of the workplace and the job you are applying for.

A job interview can be nerve-wracking. It is not often that you will feel as scrutinized as during an interview. At the same time, you must present your best side and answer questions about yourself and your experience in a way that is a balance between boasting and being humble.

Before the interview, you should learn some about the employer. Such information can be the status of the company in the market and the projects it is running. Visit the employer's website. Being well prepared makes it easier to relax during the interview, which makes it easier for you to make a good impression.

Contact your references before the interview, in order to make sure they are prepared when the employer calls.

Be aware of your body language during the interview and make sure you greet everyone involved in the interview. Keep in mind that it is common to shake hands in Sweden and that anyone who does not shake hands when meeting another person may be perceived as impolite. When speaking, make sure that you direct what you are saying to everyone sitting in the room during the interview. It is important that no one feels like he or she was ignored.

When you are nervous, it is easy to become passive. Try to overcome this and show your interest in the job by asking questions about the job and the company. Do not be afraid to ask about something you do not understand or to take an extra moment to think if you cannot answer immediately. This simply shows that you are serious about the job and are interested.

Many interviews start with the employer talking about the company and the position for a little while before starting to ask you questions. This is a way to get some of the nerves to calm down and for the employer to see how interested you are in the company and the position. Feel free to ask questions during this time, not only to show your interest but also to test your voice.

Another way to feel more comfortable during an interview is to have thought about and prepared answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

Expect to be asked some of the following questions:

Tell us a little about yourself
Briefly present yourself for a few minutes.
Describe previous jobs and what you learned from them.
Why do you want this job in particular?
Where do you want to be in 5 years?

When presenting yourself, emphasize your experience during the most recent years. Talk about things that are relevant to the job, such as commissions of trust, good characteristics, etc. Think about the requirements and recommendations listed in the job ad. It is also a good idea to read through the cover letter you sent when you applied for the job. Explain how your characteristics and experiences fulfill their desires. Show your commitment and enthusiasm!

Answer questions about your plans for the future honestly. The employer wants to know how long you will be interested in being with the company and how goal-oriented you are.

It is your desicion what is to be discussed during the job interview. You are not obliged to disclose your religious or political beliefs, neither your sexual orientation, or if you are planning to have children. Only topics relevant for the job need to be brought up.

Before meeting with the employer for the interview, you may be asked to take a personality and/or knowledge test. The aim with the test to quickly get to know you and see if you are a good fit for the job. Areas that can be tested include language, analytical ability, logic and values. The results of the test are then discussed during the interview and you are given a chance to comment on them. If you are not given this opportunity, you should ask about the results and how they will be used.

When coming home after the interview, you should think through your experiences during the interview. What questions were you asked and how did the employer respond to your questions? What went well and what could be improved? You should also consider if you are still interested in the job. If it does not feel right, you should be honest with yourself. Ending up at the wrong place is not good for you nor for the company.

Your union can help you prepare for the interview through methods such as holding a mock job interview. Practicing the interview situation is a good way to succeed when it really matters. Contact your Saco-affiliated union to find out what applies for you. Read more about Saco-affiliated unions here.

Salary negotiation

The topic of salary will not come up at every job interview. If not, do not bring it up yourself! It will usually be to your advantage if salary is discussed later in the recruitment process. When taken up later in the process, it indicates that the employer is actually interested in hiring you. At that point, you will also know more about the position and better prepared for your salary request.

Before beginning to negotiate, you should be well informed about the job and the general salary situation for your profession and your field of activity. Find out what benefits are included in the union contract (if there is one). Are you entitled to overtime pay? If not, increase your salary request. We recommend that you contact your union to be sure of the right level. To find out salary levels in your industry, the unions affiliated with Saco have access to the tool "Saco Lönesök". "Saco Lönesök" i a database with Sweden's best salary statistics for university graduates and professionals with a college degree and perfect tool for anyone searching for a job. You must be a member of a Saco-affiliated union to have access to "Saco Lönesök". Read more about Saco-affiliated unions here.

Based on what you have learned about the employer, decide what is a realistic goal for you. Before the negotiation, you should decide on the lowest salary level you are willing to accept. Many feel at disadvantage when discussing salary, but there is really is no need for that. The employer seeks the best person for the job. So, they will not remove you from their list of candidates because your salary request is bit out of line. If the employer feels your salary request is too high, they will ask if you are willing to accept a counteroffer. It is as easy as that.

Employment contract

An employment contract is an agreement on employment between the employer and the employee. The employment contract contains information such as work tasks, form of employment, work hours, salary and benefits. An employment contract can be either written or verbal, but if employment lasts more than one month, the employer must provide you with written information on the conditions of employment.

Although it is not absolutely necessary to have a written contract, we recommend that a written employment contract be drafted and signed as soon as possible and no later than the date you start work. Uninesessary isunderstandings can be avoided that way.

If the employer does not have a collective agreement (kollektivavtal), the employment contract should contain information about pension, sick pay, parental leave pay and how much notice must be given when ending employment. Such information is normally regulated in a collective agreement.

Remember that if anything changes during your employment because of a new agreement, the employer must provide you written information about the change.

The unions affiliated with Saco are experts on laws that apply to your employment. Contact your union if you have any questions or are unsure about the contents of your contract or collective agreement! Read more about Saco-affiliated unions here.

Searching for a job

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