Working in Sweden: The programme where 7 in 10 internationals find a job
Produced by The Local’s Creative Studio in partnership with Jobbsprånget 
Working in Sweden: The programme where 7 in 10 newcomers find a job
Finding a job in Sweden proves a huge challenge for many international newcomers and can take years. But for those who take part in an internship with Jobbsprånget, it’s simply the norm – 70 percent land a job.
Jobbsprånget is a nationwide Swedish government programme designed to help university-educated people who are new to the country find work opportunities to fit their competencies.
Through internships of four months, you can gain invaluable experience of working in Sweden, as well as an opportunity to shine.
Aya Allali, from Morocco, made a big impression on managers at Volvo from the word go, starting with her application for a communications internship. Personalising her cover letter, she described her sadness as a child when her father stopped the family from making trips into rural areas to help villagers. The reason? Too many dangerous trucks on poor quality roads.
Aya was distraught. Little could she have imagined how this story would one day help her secure a life-changing opportunity at Volvo’s trucks division in Sweden.
Hiring a human being not a profile
“My first impression on reading Aya’s application letter was ‘here we have a gem’. A person who can tell a story and make me feel something with her words,” says Melinda Mangs, Director Communications, Volvo Group Trucks Operations in Gothenburg.
“Personally, I don’t look first and foremost for formal education when hiring people. I look for the mindset. I think you can be trained for the skills.”
Melinda says she wasn’t sure what to expect from her first experience with Jobbsprånget and was “positively surprised” by the number of candidates who applied. On completing her internship in June, Aya was immediately rewarded with a permanent position in Melinda’s department.
Explaining the story behind her application, Aya says: “My parents would drive me and my two siblings to rural areas to donate food and clothing during school breaks.
“The roads to these villages weren’t the best and nor were the big trucks driving along them, so my dad decided to stop it for the sake of our safety. It was difficult to accept.
“I used to go back to school very excited to tell people about the experience and the smiling faces of the villagers that we helped. That’s how I linked Volvo’s safety values to societal development in my letter. I realised that here in Sweden they hire not only a profile but a human being. I poured my heart out, so I’m glad that it resonated with Melinda.”
Open the door to the Swedish job market: create a profile and apply to Jobbsprånget by August 16
Learning to pitch yourself in Sweden
If you’ve never heard of it before, you may be interested to know that Jobbsprånget is perfect for skilled newcomers born outside Europe and looking for work in Sweden.
The programme is in English, so it doesn’t matter if you’re not yet confident in Swedish. There are some entrance requirements.
You must have a degree in engineering, IT, architecture, science, pharmacy, business/finance, HR or communication. You also need to have a work permit and be registered at the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen).
Aya first came to Sweden for a short finance internship in 2017 and soon felt that she’d love to return. “I felt it was a cultural fit, even if I come from a very different culture,” she says. “I felt that people here are very respectful, open-minded and inclusive.”
Three years later she began a Master’s at the University of Gothenburg’s School of Business, Economics and Law. After completing it, she found International House Gothenburg to be a great place for learning “tips and tricks about the Swedish job market”.
“I see that place as my nest,” she says. “I learned the importance of networking, developing my professional brand and how to pitch myself to people. I also learned about Jobbsprånget there, as well as from some friends who enrolled previously and encouraged me to do it. Most of them got a contract afterwards!”
Quality over quantity
Some international residents in Sweden make hundreds of job applications with little to show for it. Aya, who says she got two interviews from around 70 applications, believes she now has a better understanding of how to approach things.
“I think it’s very difficult to get to the interview stage or to make a good impression from just your CV. That’s why I decided to start being personal in my cover letters and showcase the skills I wanted to highlight,” she explains. “That takes much more time and effort, but I’m convinced that quality of applications is more important than quantity.”
As a job seeker, she believes you must show exactly what you can offer, as well as taking a hard look at any skills gaps you could work on.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of building your LinkedIn profile and of viewing yourself as a professional who offers value, rather than someone begging for work,” she states. “Once that mindset shift happens, I feel employers are much more attracted to you.”
A new round of opportunities: apply now!
Aya is excited about her future career and says Melinda is “an inspiration to me every day”. “Throughout the internship, she served as my Jobbsprånget mentor and our relationship strengthened through the support and coaching she offered during our weekly check-ins.”
From the employer’s perspective, Melinda is equally delighted with how things worked out. She says Aya provides an ideal “complement” to her department as the only member of Gen Z, the first employee from north Africa, and someone with the desired skill set.
“Aya knows people, she can handle people, she has a sophisticated self-awareness and she’s very mature in reflecting on her own development. I see a very bright future for her.”
Volvo is a good place for newcomers to work as a “human-centric” company and a global organisation operating in 190 markets, she adds. “We have to be diverse to represent our customers.”
The company is one of more than 400 employers – large and small, private and public – from 50 locations across Sweden to have offered internships via Jobbsprånget.
“If you’ve made the decision to move from your home country for whatever reason and take on a completely new challenge, then I think you probably have the mindset to make a positive impact,” concludes Melinda.
NB: Article lead image shows Melinda Mangs and Aya Allali at Volvo. Photo credit: Kris Granger.