How do you restart your career in Sweden? Swedes like to describe their country as modern, equal, neutral, and ready for the next cup of coffee. Likewise, international professionals who move here have expectations on a progressive society, shared parental leave, a healthy work-life balance, and some hardcore weather. This is all, arguably, true, but anyone who has been here for a while has probably discovered that the Swedish reality is more complex than that.
This may be particularly apparent as you enter a Swedish workplace, where theory is put into practice: For instance:
- Did you ever reflect about flat organisations requiring excellent lateral communication skills?
- Have you considered the consequences of working in such an individualistic culture, where employees are expected to be autonomous and take initiative instead of being supervised by their superiors?
- Have you realised that a healthy work-life balance requires advanced time management skills from all co-workers, and that gender equality means that your team members are unable to work overtime?
- Has it occurred to you that the cold Nordic winters mean your Swedish colleagues will not commit professionally during summer?
- Are you aware of what small-talk topics are considered taboo, when trying to connect to your Swedish colleagues?
It can take a long time to figure all of this out. It may also take a lot of frustration, and you may experience that you are misunderstood or underestimated, despite your high qualifications and your work experience.
You may put all your effort into something that your employer doesn’t acknowledge or value at all. You may discover that you are not paid as much as you ought too, and that it’s too late to negotiate.
Swedish work culture courses in e-learning format
Since 2008, I have helped international professionals into the Swedish job market, and these are only a few of the questions that come up when they consult me. What I love the most about coaching is how much I learn myself. I have discovered things about my own culture that I previously took for granted, and how many things we do without reflecting on them.
Most importantly, I have learnt that the best thing you can do when confronted with a new society and culture is to talk openly about it, to put words on phenomena and draw out patterns. This is maybe not as confusing as it seems to be! There are answers to your questions! There are shortcuts! You are not alone in your confusion!
This is why I have created my work culture courses, to help you navigate this new cultural landscape. Up until now, these courses have only been available in the form of one-to-one coaching at my office based in Stockholm. This is something that has always bothered me. I love helping people, but given the format, my courses have only been available to a few.
Now, thanks to Newbie Learn, I will be able to help many more people to get a good start to their career in Sweden. It means a lot to me, I know there are so many skilled and talented people out there, and there is no reason why they should struggle.
One last important thing. My courses are not designed to transform you, or to make you become Swedish. It is up to you to decide how much you take on, what you see as inspiration, what you consider a bad habit. You have a lot to bring to your Swedish workplace, new perspectives, a different background, alternative ways of doing things, which is something really positive.
However, I believe that you will feel more in control of your life and how to restart your career if you understand the cultural context you are now a part of. Through understanding the unwritten rules your Swedish colleagues are already playing by, you will be able to take more informed decisions, allocate your time and energy strategically, and do what you do the best, your work, without having to worry about everything that comes with it.
Work culture courses at Newbie Learn
Visit Newbie Learn and check in detail what you can learn in my courses:
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