Preparing for a job in Sweden

Last updated: 28/4-2025

There are various ways to prepare yourself to work in Sweden. You can find information here about different services provided by the Swedish Public Employment Service. You can also learn more about what you need to do if you have a foreign qualification that you would like to use in Sweden.

Learn more about different occupations at the Swedish Public Employment Service

If you are unsure what occupation would suit you, or what your occupation involves in Sweden, you can use the Swedish Public Employment Service’s find-an-occupation (“Hitta yrken”) service. For example, in the service you can learn about:

  • the work that different occupations do;
  • the chances of finding a job in different occupations; and
  • the training and experience you need to work in different occupations.

There are also videos describing some occupations.

Create a profile so that employers can contact you

Make it easier for employers to contact you by creating a skills profile with the Swedish Public Employment Service. A skills profile contains details of your skills and work experience.

You will need an email address to create a skills profile.

If you have qualifications from another country

You can have your diplomas translated or your training in another country assessed while you're seeking asylum. That is a good way to prepare for finding a job in Sweden.

Translation of foreign education certificates

If you have an education from another country you need to have the certificates from it translated, unless they are in English, French, Spanish, German or one of the Nordic languages.

The translation must be carried out by an authorised translator into Swedish or one of the languages listed above.

Assessment of foreign qualifications

You can also have your foreign qualification assessed. This means that the Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universitets- och högskolerådet) issues a statement about what your qualifications correspond to within the Swedish education system.

You can apply for this assessment before you have been granted a residence permit. You just need to have applied for a residence permit and have an asylum seeker card (LMA-kort).

You have to include a copy of your passport and a copy of your asylum seeker card with your application.

Working during the asylum application period