Advertised by Acquiro International Recruitment
Have you talked to an international recruiter yet? We know that if you are considering moving to Sweden (or have already moved) and are looking for work, you probably have loads of questions. This is why we asked our readers to ask your questions and then had international Recruiter Lina Sahlberg from Acquiro International Recruitment answer them for you.
Q: I’m moving to Sweden in March, can I send my CV from now and apply for future jobs from Argentina?
A: You definitely can, a qualified recruitment process often takes 1-2 months from start to finish so don’t wait.
Q: How and where do I find jobs in Stockholm/Sweden as an English person?
A: Identify companies in Stockholm that you want to work for and check if they have any positions that match your experience and knowledge. You can also look for recruitment agencies in Sweden that specialize within your industry or area of expertise and contact them to introduce yourself. Depending on your type of work, consulting companies or interim could also be good ways to enter the market. Try to join relevant networks and organizations to connect with different stakeholders. At Acquiro we have a network for international professionals that currently work in Sweden or are interested in working in Sweden.
Q: Is it common for companies to hire people that have basic level of Swedish and then train them?
A: There is a lack of engineers and technical specialists in Sweden today. With the digitalization the need for specific technical skills and experience is growing, not just in Sweden but globally. To secure continued delivery and growth companies are looking abroad to hire key competence. The need for international specialists is expected to keep growing within the coming years. Today it is common within several fields to hire non-Swedish speaking professionals, tomorrow it will be a must within most industries.
Q: How do you dress for an interview in Sweden?
A: In general ‘Business casual’ always work. However, for some companies or types of positions other dress codes might be more appropriate so always do your research and dress in clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable.
Q: Any tips to impress your interviewer?
A: An interviewer talk to hundreds of candidates each year so it might not always be easy to stand out but a good way to make a lasting impression is to focus on the right things. Always make sure that you are well prepared. Do your research – make sure you know as much as possible about the company and position before the interview and always prepare relevant questions in advance.
Focus on results – when you talk to the interviewer focus on what results you have created, what kind of knowledge you will bring and what your new employer can expect from you. Also think about what you will expect from your employer. Show that you have a plan – where are you coming from and where are you planning to go? How will this position be a step on the way?
Q: I am newly graduated, what is the best way to impress a company without experience?
A: As a newly graduate you have several advantages that companies are looking for. A fresh perspective, new ideas, technical skills and increase diversity at the workplace are some of them. One major benefit for the company is that they will be the first to train you. They will be the first to implement processes and policies and you will be shaped within their company and company culture through the first steps of your career. So, show them that you are eager and open to learning new things. Even if you lack professional experience you have personal skills. Identify them and think about how you can connect them to the requirements of the position you are interested in. For example, ‘team work’ is a skill employers often look for in graduates. You might have had a part time job, an internship or played a team sport during your studies? Relating those to professional team work is one way to show the employer that you are aware what’s required to work in a team environment.
Q: What do you value the most: experience or a degree?
A; It depends on the circumstances but experience is generally the first thing recruiters look at, then education. However, at the end I would say that knowledge, skills and personality is what matter the most.
Q: With a master’s degree from a top UK university, am I boosting my chance of getting accepted?
A: A degree, especially from a top school, will definitely give you an edge for positions within many fields, for example engineering. But within others, like sales and business development, soft skills and results are usually more important. However, every achievement on your resume will increase your chance of getting that dream job so the short answer is ‘Yes’!
Q: I’m studying cybersecurity. How to look for thesis and jobs in this? What are better ways to connect?
A: Cyber security is a growing field and remote working is often a possibility within that area, so I would like to refer you to my answer to question 2 and also advice you to look widely.
Q: So you only connect companies with candidates or do you mediate employment?
A: At Acquiro, we work with the whole recruitment process from search & selection of candidates and testing to signed employment contract. Through partners we also assist our clients and candidates in the international relocation process and start up in Sweden.
Q: Call or not of the phone number of the recruiting manager is in the job description? If yes, any advice of questions to ask?
A: If the phone number is there it is ok to call. A phone call can show that you have a genuine interest in the position. But don’t call just to make the call, make sure you have relevant questions to ask beforehand. Specific questions connected to the position and/or your personal experience and skills are good. For example “I saw in the add that leadership skills are important, what kind of leadership are you looking for? Calling just to ask general questions like “Can you tell me more about the company” is usually not a good idea.
Q: Are there specialised recruitment agencies for multilingual candidates (non Swedish speakers) in the Healthcare Management/Global Insurance field in Sweden?
A: There are several recruitment firms within healthcare, or that has a healthcare segment. But I don’t know if there are any that specializes specifically on recruiting international candidates.
Q: Why are degrees and masters etc more important than 20+ years of hands on experience?
A. They don’t have to be. It all depends on the position and the aim of the recruitment. For some positions specific degrees are a must and for others certain experience is important. But soft skills and personality also play a major part and is is usually that combination that is the winner.
—> Remember to sign up to Acquiro’s international talent network to get one step closer to a job in Sweden.
Find more information about working in Sweden.
Get prepared for your move with our digital course “Preparing your move to Sweden.”
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