New to Sweden

We can hardly believe it — 10,000 and growing 🥳 We love that you’re part of this incredible journey! 💙 Your support, passion, and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the Swedish labour market inspire us every day. From our valued partners and supporters to our amazing team to every single one of you who has engaged with us, thank you. Together, we're building a more inclusive future, one step at a time. Stay tuned for a special reflection post next week as we look back on how far we've come and what’s next! Here’s to the power of community and 10,000 voices making an impact. 🙌 #DiversityAndInclusion #Community #Milestone

We were so impressed by the participants at last week’s Ready to Work sessions! 😄 Huge thanks to all 120+ of you who attended! With all the passion, talent, and experience you’re bringing to Sweden, we know you’ll thrive in whatever opportunity awaits you. We hope you’ll share with us when you land that next role. 💙 We were also honored to be joined by four wonderful guest speakers. Thank you to Vera Green, Maria Angelopoulou, Jacob Lundén-Welden, and Linda Hedlund for being so generous with your time and your insights! And of course none of this is possible without the team at IBM SkillsBuild! They’ve been sponsoring the Ready to Work program ever since our 2022 pilot, and they connect participants with valuable resources through SkillsBuild and Udemy to help on their journeys. All the best to this amazing group of jobseekers and to everyone who joins us in supporting them! #Sverige #Arbetsmarknad #DiversityAndInclusion

Foreign education and experience are real and valuable. Yet many internationally trained professionals in Sweden find that their skills are overlooked. This is far from just a personal challenge — it’s a missed opportunity for businesses and for Sweden as a whole. A labour market that fully values global expertise is a stronger, more competitive one. By recognizing and leveraging international talent, organizations can access new perspectives, innovation, and growth. When we create hiring processes that are fair and inclusive, then everyone benefits. Looking to attract and retain top talent? Our workshops and recruitment process audits help organizations build inclusive hiring strategies that unlock the full potential of global expertise. Let’s work together to create a labour market where every skill and experience is valued — because diversity and fair recruitment aren’t just the right thing to do, they’re a competitive advantage. 📩 Get in touch to learn more! #DiversityAndInclusion #TalentAcquisition #Sweden #Sverige

For International Women’s Day this Saturday, we want to recognize the contributions and experiences of not just women in Sweden, but especially those with foreign backgrounds. 🌍 In Sweden, women and girls with international backgrounds make up more than 17% of the overall population! That means they were either born outside of Sweden or have at least one foreign-born parent. And that percentage is higher (over 24%!) if we look just at the population in Sweden's large cities. In working towards a more inclusive labour market and society, it’s important to recognize the many different identifiers that make up a single person. We want to ensure that every woman and every person — regardless of where they were born, where their parents were born, or any other way they identify — feels included in Sweden. Let’s continue to build a labour market where every woman with an international background can contribute and thrive. 💙 (Source: SCB, 2024) #InternationalWomensDay #Sverige #GenderEquality

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with RFSL Utbildning! RFSL Utbildning is part of RFSL, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Rights. They provide education services to businesses and organizations to improve the quality of the working environment and promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging in the workplace. Thanks to RFSL Utbildning, Sweden now has over 700 LGBTQI-certified employers! This spring, our organizations are collaborating on some resources, communications, and even an event, all aimed at supporting foreign-born and LGBTQI jobseekers. More than ever, Sweden needs a labour market where everyone can thrive, no matter how they identify, who they love, or where they come from. 💙 Check out RFSL Utbildning to learn more about their important work! #Inclusion #Partnership #RFSL

Meet our New to Sweden team! We’re a dedicated group of over 20 people working together for a more integrated labour market. Our team includes program facilitators, recruitment specialists, DEIB researchers, wellbeing specialists, project managers, and more — all united by the shared goal of supporting newcomers to Sweden by creating long-term solutions for inclusion and integration. We’re also united by the core values we’ve gained on our individual journeys. They’re the values that New to Sweden was built on: 1️⃣ Integrity: Our organization is committed to doing what's right and building trust and confidence with internationals, employers, and local communities in Sweden. 2️⃣ Compassion: We understand and acknowledge the challenges that people with foreign backgrounds can face in Sweden’s labour market — most of our team has lived it, too! 3️⃣ Inclusion: Our organization actively works to break down barriers and promote equal opportunities, ensuring that all individuals have the chance to participate, flourish, and contribute in their communities. 4️⃣ Advocacy: We confront challenges with unwavering determination, actively combating racism and discrimination and upholding our commitment to our values. 5️⃣ Transparency: New to Sweden is dedicated to openness in its operations and communication, fostering a culture of accountability and trust. This is New to Sweden! We are so glad that you’re part of the journey, too. #Sweden #DiversityAndInclusion #NewtoSwedenTeam

✨ The Ready to Work program for jobseekers is back for 2025! Including an incredible lineup of guest speakers for our March sessions… Maria Angelopoulou and Vera Green are Talent Acquisition Specialists at Essity; Jacob Lundén-Welden is a LinkedIn Career Coach at Techruit; and Linda Hedlund is a Talent Network Manager at Lovorda. They’ll share expert tips on how to network in Sweden, how to optimize your CV and LinkedIn profile, how to communicate with recruiters, and how to use personal recommendations in your job search. Join us on Zoom for 4 interactive sessions, held March 3–6 (13:00–14:30), covering everything from application materials to caring for your wellbeing as a jobseeker. And all with a supportive community of fellow internationals navigating some of the same ups and downs as you. Plus, thanks to our partners at IBM SkillsBuild, participants can get free 6-month access to upskilling courses on Udemy! 👀 Registration closes February 28! Learn more and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dvt-Yp8R #JobSearch #Jobseekers #WorkingInSweden

To work with inclusion and integration, you need great partners — so today we’re shouting out the amazing folks at Kompis Sverige! Kompis Sverige is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing people together, all in the name of inclusion. Their buddy program matches new and established Swedes, arranging different activities where people can make personal connections and even practice language skills. They know how important friendship is in shaping a Swedish society where everyone can reach their full potential, no matter where they come from. And since they started in 2013, they’ve matched over 16,000 buddies! 🤩 New to Sweden is excited to be partnering with Kompis Sverige on an upcoming project for 2025! More on that later… Check out Kompis Sverige and sign up to be a buddy! ✨ #Inclusion #Partnership #Svenska

Our very own Greg Fernando enjoyed the chance to speak at BazarenSthlm last Thursday, sharing his advice for jobseekers. The event reminded us — yet again! — of how many talented and experienced people are looking to contribute their skills in Sweden. And reminded us of how important it is to keep working for a Swedish labour market where foreign-born talent can thrive. If you’re a new follower who’s also an international jobseeker, don’t forget to follow our Working in Sweden page, where we share tips, resources, and event info to help you in your job hunt. Good luck to everyone we spoke with! 💙 #Sverige #DiversityAndInclusion #Bazaren

💙💛 What do we love about Sweden? In honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked our New to Sweden team to share what makes this country special to them. Here’s what they had to say! Makiah Josephson loves the summer sun, and Pallavi Dubey and Alexa Madrid love the nature here. For Greg Fernando, it's the fresh air and social safety net, and Ana Balentovic appreciates Swedish pastries and respect for personal space. Grace Zielke mentioned balance: "I love how most people I have met have a really good work/life balance. Adults have hobbies?! It never ceases to amaze me." Lakshana Shiv Kumar spoke about sustainability: "While I was there, I loved the accessibility to a variety of vegan food and just how normal it seemed. And their stance on sustainability and climate change, both things close to my heart!" Rebecca Janssen highlighted a specific industry: "Malmö! But also, I love how supportive Sweden is of the video game industry. As a nerd, it’s nice to see one of my hobbies being appreciated and raised up rather than looked down on." Liliana Ramírez Enríquez mentioned the connection to nature: “What I appreciate the most is how people genuinely respect and care for their forests, lakes, and wildlife.” And for Arta K., family is at the heart: "I will forever be attached to Sweden as it's the birthplace of my daughter." From our team to yours, we wish you a day filled with warmth and love. Here's to working towards a more inclusive Sweden where everyone can find their passion. What do you love about Sweden? Let us know in the comments! #ValentinesDay #Sweden #DiversityAndInclusion