(edit title) C.V Help! Options

[ladyjlou]

Can anybody tell me what is expected from my c.v and covering letter in Sweden. I am soon hoping to apply for my first job in Sweden and really don't want to mess it up!

I was planning to get help writing my covering letter in Swedish, but even these letters seem quite different form any covering letter I have written in England. I was told recently that it should be a general introduction letter about myself, perhaps even with a photo, not just work related, mentioning my age my partner my interests etc...is this correct?

As for the c.v should I translate it into Swedish? What order should things be in...my english c.v starts with contact info, then education, then previous employment, then additional skills/experience and finally referees...does this order stay the same?

As you can see...I am not sure

[wellygirl]

Hello,

Well, to be honest, both of the two jobs I've got so far in Sweden have been without the help of a cv what so ever!

But It is very very handy to have one at the ready, just in case...

I googled "writing a cv Swedish" and it looks like there's heaps of useful pages, http://www.google.com/search?client=safari...-8&oe=UTF-8

You will probably find that the best way to get yourself a job will be to ask anyone you know if they know of any jobs on offer anywhere... someone will always know someone who knows someone...

Best of luck!

[ladyjlou]

Thanks for the advice...there is actually a specific job which i've seen advertised that I have to send in a c.v to apply for...so I'll definately try that google search! The problem is that jobs in my field are few and far between where we live, so I don't want to miss out on an interview because I do the c.v wrongly!

[Roowhip]

Hey ladyjlou,

When I studied SAS a year after arriving in Sweden, in one of the lessons they had us all do a Swedish CV. I was the only one in the class that already had one which made for an easy lesson(had already had help translating over my english one as had already tried applying for work) howver the teachers did suggest that I make changes to the order since they say the "norm" is to have the latest event last (whereas I have the most recent event/job etc first in my english CV). Although since changing it all around, I have heard other Swedes say otherwise.
I would recommend you do both your cv and letter in swedish (but especially your CV) if you can get some help.

I have just updated my cv and written an application as I applied for a new job last week.

On the CV I have the following:Personliga Uppgifter (Namn, Adress, Telefon, Personnummer (don't forget!), Telephone, Emails, Modersmål)
Utbildning
Arbetslivserfarenhet
Aktiviter
Erkännanden och Priser
Övrigt
Referenser (I removed these from my most recent cv on recommendation from a workmate as in my situation, I don't want the prospective employer ringing my reference (current employer) without me talking to them beforehand so it is apparently considered OK not to include references but give them when asked for).


Covering letter-harder to say as should be moulded to the job but basically the following formula I used (will write in swedish in case this is of any help to you)

-Jag heter *** och jag skriver för att söka tjänsten som ** vilken utannonserades på **
-Jag flyttade ** från Australien till Sverige. Eftersom jag är född och uppvuxen i Australien är min engelska naturligtvis flytande (the job I am seeking requires both fluent english and swedish).

OK so after that wishy washy start, you then go into education and work experience. I began my paragraphs as follows (again..sorry if some think this is long winded but thought this might help):

-Min akademisk utbildning är...
-Efter min examen arbetade jag som...
-Efter en tids barnledighet arbetade jag sedan som...
-Sedan jag kom till Sverige har jag studerat svenska som andraspråk...
-Som en del i min svenska utbildning har jag genomfört pratik inom...Jag anställded av ...efter genomgång av praktik...
-I min nuverande tjänst jobbar jag som (this is most important paragraph even if you haven't got a current job; it's decscribing how you meet the criteria)
-Jag har erfarenhet av officepaketet (till ex) blah blah
-På min fritid tycker jag om att
-Privat så väl professionellt är jag blah blah again

Then end it with some other flumig meaning such as

-Jag bifogar en meritförteckning och ser nu fram emot ett personilgt möte så jag kan presentera mig lite närmare och diskutera hur jag kan bli en värdefull medarbetare vid ***

I abhor doing frickin application letters...just sound so spewy but well usually it is what is expected--

[ladyjlou]

Thanks very much that is really helpful...I think I understand more of what is expected from the covering letter now...it is almost like a mini resume it seems!

[Sandyclaws]

Roowhip: Why is person-nr important here?

Ladyjlou: Roowhip covers most of whats necessary in the CV/cover letter.

My version is:
center heading: Name, address, telephone

Year of birth, Nationality, Driver's license (optional)
Your profile
Work experience (most recent first)
Education
Awards
Language
Hobbies/Interests
References
Availibility

Good luck!