How to find English-speaking jobs in Sweden?

[feesh]

I spent a lot of time living in Sweden when I was little (my dad was an engineer for Volvo). I absolutely loved it and have had a lifelong love affair with Sweden ever since.

I went to Stockholm last year on holiday with DH and we both fantasised about moving to Sweden. I was pregnant at the time, and now we are parents it is even more appealing.

My husband works in finance. I am an environmental scientist, but I haven't worked for 30 months and my career had come to a bit of a dead end (I was working in a kind of PR role against my will) so I am feeling a bit hopeless about getting back into work in general.

I just wondered what our chances were of finding work over there, and which recruitment agencies to look at. I know at Volvo all the work was done in English, but I don't know how true that is of many companies in Sweden.

My knowledge of Swedish is practically zero, although I am willing to learn.

I think it depends on your field and skill level. My husband is a prof in a subject which is always in English wherever you are in the world.

Also worth keeping in mind that the norm in Sweden is to employ someone you already know. So making connections is vital.

I have lived in Sweden for 3 years now. I am a SAHM but know how difficult it can be to find employment. Unless you will be employed by an English speaking company BEFORE you come it will be harder.
Ex: a qualified accountant in her home country is now starting with an admin course here. She was told (by Employment Center) that her chances of finding work were minimal as there are so many Swedes with relevant qualifications who also speak the language fluently.
A lot of qualifications don't translate here and a lot of people have to re-train. You will have to speak Swedish. 98% of Swedes speak English so they WILL employ a Swede who speaks English before a foreigner who ONLY speaks English. There is a site called

www.mumsinsweden.com/index.php
which will maybe give you a better insight to work in Sweden.
I'm not trying to burst your bubble, just some basic truths.

My sister is married to a Swede and had to reach a certain level of competence in the language to get any work. She enjoyed the course, though they moved to England after a bit anyway.

Are you really sure about Sweden, though? It's a different thing as an adult. The Swedes are really rude and antisocial different culturally in how they treat strangers. It's also very cold and Very dark in the winter.

Wouldn't it make sense to learn the language to a degree first?

I second what everyone else has said about Sweden. It is not an easy place to move to as a non Swede. I am Swedish and lived there with my British Husband for a while. He was able to find work because of my connections and the fact that he was able to speak English at work.

Keep in mind that Swedish employers will almost always assume that a Swede will be a better candidate for a job. This is of course a generalisation but a belief in their own superiority is an inherent part of being a Swede! This of course makes it very difficult to live in Sweden if you are not immediately accepted as 'swedish'.

I arrived here three years ago and have had to work hard to learn the language in order to find work in line with my experience. Generally employers want you to be able to speak the local language so that you can interact with colleagues etc. I think only people with a very specific & unique skills set could get away with English only.

Oh, and Volvo is in Gothenburg, not Stockholm!

Look up EURES online which is the official inter-european recruitment agency. They may have some good info.