(edit title) Jobs for immigrants are impossible to find?! Newely moved to Sweden Options

[Aquos]

Hello,

As far as I read on many threads here that it's difficult for many people who are not Swedish or at least EU citizens to get a job here in Sweden.
I tried to find the main reasons. Is it the language? Well, there are some people who wrote that they finished SFI and couldn't still get a job.
Is it lack of connections? I guess it's an important factor, cuz I have seen immigrants who don't even speak Swedish (or English at least) and they still have got jobs after coming here in 1 or 2 months!

Is it location? I guess people who are in Stockholm or any bigger city have more opportunities than ones in smaller ones, eh?

I myself have been trying to get any job for 6 months and it was hopeless. Tried Arbetsförmedlingen but they are not helpful at all and I do understand that they have loads of people to deal with. Tried few jobs fairs, but it wasn't any better. Most of the advertized jobs and vacancies are for Swedish speaking people with university degrees (engineers, doctors...etc). BTW, I'm a doctor myself, but I can't work here as a doctor until I get my license sorted out. So I'm just looking for a temp job that would pay the bills for a while instead of using up all my funds.

Any suggestions? I'm opened to most jobs!

[Aquos]

What is it that a man must do to get a job in this country???!!!
I would like people to share experiences and also opinions concerning that topic. Cuz it seems like I'm not the only one complaining of such a weird situation.

[Svensksmith]

Aquos: it can be done, but it is not easy. If you are a doctor, I would assume you are reasonably intelligent and diligent.

I managed to talk my way into a job with the company that moved me in. I worked just a little harder than the other guys on the crew. with. Not so hard as to tick them off but hard enough so the boss noticed me.

It was, at times, hard physical work, but it was a paycheck and besides, I got to see the country and didn't have to go to a gym to work out.

Kämpa på!

[lewni]

I'll generalize based on what i've experienced but as an EU member you're pretty much stuffed for any kind've helping hand. According to the arbetsförmedlingen (the place you go to feel like less than dirt on someone's shoe and try fruitlessly to find work) have something called a step-in job that is only given to those outside the EU, so even if you can't speak swedish or english, you can get given a job that is mostly government funded which is why it's a cheap choice for business owners.

If you're European you chose to come here (aparently the people who travel through multiple countries to get here don't chose that at all) and it's your own choice so you gotta do it all yourself.

If you're lucky you are a skilled manual labor kinda person, because most PhDs don't help shite here either if you don't speak swedish, so i've heard at least.

/Disgruntled brit.

[Aquos]

Well, you're right about Arbetsförmedlingen and one of my worst experiences here in Sweden was when I have been to their place.
The woman whom I met said "Oh, how can I help you?" I said "I'm looking for a temp job...etc"
She instantly replied "Oh, you're in the wrong place!"
What a terrible joke!
Of course I was pissed off and was about to leave. Even when we sorted things out later, she turned out to be almost a computer illiterate! When I was giving her my info and work experience and preferences, she was making all sorts of mistakes. Spelling mistakes, placing things in the wrong place and even skipping some points! So, I had to keep an eye on her.

So, you think the best option is to take one of those jobs which the gov funds?

[Puffin]

It's very tough to find work in Sweden if you speak no Swedish and especially if you live away from the major cities

I read that you are a non-EU doctor - then you have a long road ahead of you if you want to practice in Sweden - you are probably looking at around 2 years to learn Swedish as you need to go way further than SFI with your language studies

SFI is a basic introduction programme designed in the 1970s for those carrying out simple work such as factory line jobs - SFI covers grades 1-6 in the Swedish primary/grade school system and then you will need to take high school Swedish up to Svenska B gymnasiet or alternatively the TISUS test

If you are flexible then you could see if the overseas doctor scheme is still being operated in your area - some Landstings (county health services) ran this scheme to get more qualified doctors and they arrange for Swedish lessons and work experience on the wards - although these schemes tend to operate in the north of Sweden and tend to focus on shortage disciplines of medicine

If you were nearer Stockholm then you might be able to get on SFA vård (Swedish for academics - healthcare) which is an intensive programme fpr overseas healthcare staff - they was a poster on here (an australian nurse called Aussiemel) who took this programme and wrote about her experiences so you could search for your posts
http://www.vuxenutbildningen.sodertalje.se..._vard/index.htm

It sounds as though you and Arbetsförmedling had a misunderstanding - it sounds like the the staff member thought you were looking for a temp agency (bemanningsföretag) - AF is the government agency that processes those who are registered unemployed - therefore you cannot register as being partime/temp unemployed if you have a job - she probably thought that as a non-Swedish speaker that you had mistaken AF for a temp agency such as Proffice or Manpower etc - although most temp agancies won't register you without at least very basic Swedish such as SFI levels C or D

However despite your misunderstandings AF does maintain a very useful database of all advertised vacancies online which may be useful
http://www.arbetsformedlingen.se/For-arbet...-arbetsort.html

Once you can speak a reasonable level of Swedish you might be able to get a job in the care industry while you are perfecting your Swedish - obviously you are not qualified to get the key to the drug cabinet but you could work in elder or disbility care homes - this is what many Swedish student healthcare staff do and overseas trained staff waiting to qualify for their licences

Hope this helps

[Puffin]

If you're lucky you are a skilled manual labor kinda person, because most PhDs don't help shite here either if you don't speak swedish, so i've heard at least.. /Disgruntled brit.

You have a PhD? This is obviously a tough proposition in Sweden as the vast majority of PhDs are defacto self employed in the University system

Obviously a lot of the government utredning work is closed to you if you can write a 100 page report in Swedish

Then you should talk to local universities about teaching work seminars/lectures for international and exchange student courses

Have you applied for research grants with the big grant organisations such as VR/RJ etc - obviously tough as only around 10% are approved

[Aquos]

@Puffin:
Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I have no PhD (relatively young) and I'm away from the major cities which makes things rather harder concerning learning (have to stick to the SFI) and finding jobs (not many opportunities)

It's also a bit confusing concerning where to look for available jobs. The AF website is OK, but obviously not that helpful cuz sometimes they have old jobs that aren't available anymore!

Some people told me about the personal assistant jobs and it's obviously something that is frequently advertized, but again, one needs very good Swedish for that.

[rofique2]

Hi Aquos,

It might help others if you explained some more details for specific help,

Where are you qualified as a dr and what sort - as this may affect the process for getting regonised for working in Sweden. and good places for gettign work experince?
Where are you living in Sweden?
Can you move?
What area are you wanting to work in - I know your young but do have a different work background (driver, mecahnic, ... ) you can use agian while your sorting your medical license?

General help though,get your personal number and get into SFI, the Grund SAS, and SAS A and SAS B that just gets you to the level to start university (and maybe do some conversion courses for your own profession - Puffin (an earlier poster) would be the person to ask in more detail about University Entry) learning Swedish is absolutly necessary to work here and it will take a while. I know it must seem frustraating if your in the south and everyone seems to talk English but their country their rules so welcome to the game!

Try to make some contacts many jobs aren't advertised so you have to know or meet people so if your doing SFI etc push for pratik in a hospital.

Good luck and be prepared for a hard few years just keep the end goal in mind.

G