How to Get a Job in Sweden (from Nigeria)

Sweden is a country located in Europe. It is situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula in upper northern Europe. The official language spoken in Sweden is Swedish. Sweden is also an industrialised country and regarded as one of the most important Scandinavian countries. With a relatively good living conditions where everything works. It is therefore not surprising that people seek to relocate to Sweden, in search of a better life. This article is about how to get a job in Sweden as a Nigerian.

There are some hurdles you will face as a non-Sweden seeking for employment in Nigeria. Sweden is not a large country in terms of its population (of about 10 million people). Hence, the overall job market is not massive. If you are determined, however, jobs can be found and the payoff is great. Below are the different ways to get a job in Sweden from Nigeria.

How to Get a Job in Sweden (from Nigeria)

Check that your job industry exists or is needed in Sweden

The Sweden economy is not supported by all types of industries. Sweden has no commercial oil or gas production, but there are still are a few oil and gas industries in the country. Sweden is a hub for tech start-ups, with new businesses opening every day and high demand for the creative and tech-savvy. In fact, being an IT expert coming from an English-speaking country may be an added advantage in getting a job in Sweden. Sweden is also a great place for professionals working in finance and fashion. Ensure you do extensive research so you can be sure of those fields that Sweden is looking for, that is currently experiencing a shortage of manpower or where the market sells.

Seek for help online

Seek for help online from organisations that specialise in recruiting professionals such as:

Mechanics

Electric/Electronic technicians

Information technologists

Software development engineers and technicians

Computer science experts

Nursing/medical practitioners

Plumbing technicians

Construction technicians

Building engineers.

The Swedish economy is currently booming and many companies and organisations in technical, medical and other professional fields are in need of qualified professionals in key areas. However, it helps if you directly seek the help of professionals online.

Get advice from the Swedish counselling official at their embassy

If it is possible for you to do so, this will go a long way in helping you get a job.

Try searching online

Your best bet when searching for a job is online. Here you will find a variety of job listings. When checking a website, make sure it is authorized and approved. Many of these websites are included in the list of job search sites provided for by the Swedish government. Below is a list of websites where you can expect to get a 0.5 to 1.0% response rate (that is people will respond back to you when you send your application/CV. Ensure you apply for job opportunities, you never know what you will come up with or what connections you can make from a simple e-mail or application.

• Arbetsformedlingen: The Swedish Public Employment Service.
• Swedish Yellow Pages: This is a search engine for Swedish companies.
• Career Jet: Here, you will find job search options for Sweden.
• Indeed: The Swedish version of the popular U.S. job search site Indeed.com.
• Learn 4 Good: Here, you will find many teaching opportunities and also jobs in other sectors as well.
• EURES: A very useful site for searching for job opportunities in Europe.

For other English-language jobs, check out the following websites:

• The Local
• Neuvoo: Here, make sure to filter for English-only

When applying for any job, be sure the opportunity has been advertised on the European Job Mobility Portal EURES for a minimum of 10 days

Teaching English

Teaching English is an option in Sweden. Check out these sites below for English teaching job opportunities in Sweden.

• ESL Employment: Here, you will find so many English teaching job options to choose from.
• Total ESL: On this website, you will find a wealth of job postings for teaching jobs abroad.
• ESL Cafe: Here, you will find the best job openings from around the world.
• Tesall: Big teaching jobs are found here

Finance jobs

If you are a professional in the finance industry, check out:

eFinancialCareers: My great search engine for finance jobs on the internet.

Build your network

One of the most important things you can do when looking for a job, is building a strong professional network. Ensure you attend and take part in as many professional events as you have time for. This will help you meet people who can render advice or help make your journey easier and faster.

Linkedin: The largest professional social network is a good resource for building contacts in the field and location of your interest. Plug yourself into Linkedin.

How to apply for a work visa

After getting your job, it is important you apply for a work visa. Below are the documentations you will need:

The company or organisation you will be working for in Sweden must send an official offer of employment. This process will convince the Swedish Migration Board that you indeed have been employed by a company and have complied to the rules. Attach the completed form to your visa application.

Get an application for work visa from the Sweden embassy in Nigeria
A valid international passport. The validity of your passport determines the duration of your work permit.

The original offer of employment from a company in Sweden.
Photocopies of the data page (your information) on your passport including previous visas (if you have any).
The original statement of trade union from Sweden obtained by your employer.
Payment of the visa application processing fee determined by the embassy.
Two recent passport photographs with white background.
These documents must be submitted by you personally at the Swedish embassy in Nigeria

The Sweden embassy will then forward your application to the Swedish Migration Agency for consideration. Although obtaining a Sweden work visa in Nigeria is increasingly difficult, However, if you have the skill or you’re an expert in a professional field, it becomes easier.