(edit title) American looking for work in Sweden Need Help Options

[slimballa14]

Hello,
I am a female 25 yr old American looking to move to Sweden in August. I will be playing basketball for the 2nd division basketball league. However, I need to find work. I speak English & it's extremely difficult finding a job. I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Art. I have experience coaching kids in sports, working as a customer service representative, receptionist & even retail. Is there anyone that can lead me to the right website or companies that may be of assistance? Thanks everyone and hoping to be in Malmo soon.

[byke]

Have you checked to see if your degree is recognized in Sweden to work in education?
Customer service is obviously out ... since the main language in Malmo will be Swedish followed by something else other than English.

Your best bet would be to look for an international school.
But I wouldn't hold your breath.

Many posters come on here asking about Malmo and are usually met with the same response of try "copenhagen, Denmark" as its only a short train journey. Although I am not sure your visa will allow this.

Sorry to sound so negative.

[PDX]

Don't forget to bring a bulletproof vest

~~~PDX~~~

[rtharper]

Too soon =p

[calebian22]

Slimballa,
Frankly, you are going to have a difficult time finding work at the outset with your degree. As a previous poster said, you will need to submit it to VHS

http://www.vhs.se/sv/In-English/Evaluation...Qualifications/

However, from my own experience, they can be very hit or miss regarding their acceptance or in my case denial. I have a degree from a private college in New York. Each application period takes about 6 months, so a denial is very frustrating. However, if your degree is recognized, you will still need to learn Swedish in order to work as a teacher. Mother tongue teacher's are sought after, but proficiency in Swedish is required.

You can always try Platsbanken with AF, but the job postings are generally in Swedish.

http://www.arbetsformedlingen.se/Globalmen...h-engelska.html

Additionally, I did not find a job in Sweden through AF. I found one the old fashion way of initiating contact with employers on my own. Most people with educations and careers from abroad generally are frustrated with AF, at least in my circle of aquaintances.

My advice is to cultivate personal references in the location that you will be living. Parleying those into professional references who are Swedes are golden. Swedes hire people they know or those who are known by people they know. (Well, I live in Småland which is a bit xenophobic and more like farmer country, so it might be different in a larger city like Malmö.) This goes for jobless Swedes as well, but it will feel very discriminatory as a foreigner, but don't get frustrated. Your best bet in my opinion is by trying to find work through your basketball association. Tell your coach, your trainer or whomever your situation and follow their advice.

Good luck!

[SeattleLove]

Hey girlfriend! I am a 27 yr old American girl who moved here back in January and let me tell you...I have a BA in Public Relations and Theater Arts and I have been searching for a job for nearly 7 months. No takers.

Probably applied to 300 companies. Not trying to get your hopes up, just giving you a reality. It's HARD if you don't speak Swedish. Even for companies that WANT you to speak English at your job, they might need a little Swedish speaking for the job or would take a Swede over us since Swedes all speak fluent English.

Also, even if you have an Elem. Ed degree...do you have your TESL certification? You need that. I have even been on a few teacher interviews and that is what they ask about...

Best of luck...Malmo will be harder because it's smaller.

If you have any questions, pm me!

[Kegzmc]

This I find to be rather misleading.

There is plenty of work in Sweden and I had no difficulties securing employment. I live in a small community waaay smaller than Malmö. Speaking Swedish is nice but definitely not a requirement for a lot of jobs.

Keep the head down and keep applying. Dont worry about the language.

[naima.bcd]

try searching for international schools in malmo. I think you will have no problem finding a job in a preschool and your certs would probably come in handy. If they dont have full time vacancies, you could ask about a substitute teacher position. Its good because if you do end up working sometimes, they will know you. and so, when there is a vacancy, you will be the first person in their mind

also, you could try to find some british pubs. They should hire english speakers. or language cafes.