Improve your chances of getting a job

Last updated: 26/1-2023

There are several different ways of improving your chances of finding a job.

If you already have training in one of the professional areas listed below, read more about what you can do.

Short-handed professions – with a shortage of labour

A short-handed profession is one for which there is a shortage of labour. There are many short-handed professions in Sweden at the moment, including ones that require higher education training as well as those with lower training requirements.

Some examples of short-handed professions:

  • Nurses
  • Preschool teachers
  • Civil engineers
  • Teachers
  • Doctors
  • Cooks
  • Heating, ventilation and sanitation installers
  • Assistant nurses
  • Electricians
You can use the Hitta yrken (Find professions) help service if you are unsure about what profession suits you, or about what jobs there are for your profession in Sweden.

Traineeships

Doing a traineeship can be a good way of improving your chances of finding a job in Sweden.

A traineeship is a good idea if you want to:

  • Get experience of a particular profession.
  • Learn what a particular profession involves.
  • Become better at a particular profession.
  • Get references from an employer in order to apply for a job.

You will be helped by a supervisor during your traineeship. At the end of your traineeship you'll get a certificate from the employer.

You can contact various employers yourself to ask whether you can do a traineeship with them. Arbetsförmedlingen can also help you find a traineeship place.

Read more on Arbetsförmedlingen’s website about traineeships.

Snabbspår (Fast Track)

If you have recently been granted a residence permit and are looking for a job, you may be eligible for what is known as a Snabbspår, or fast track. This is a training programme organised by Arbetsförmedlingen.

You may be eligible for a fast-track training programme if you have experience of a profession for which there is a shortage of labour in Sweden. Such professions are referred to as short-handed professions.

A snabbspår includes:

  • Swedish language training for your profession.
  • A traineeship.
  • Assessment of how well you know the profession. This is known as validating your knowledge.
  • Extra training in the profession if you need to. This is known as supplementary training or labour market training.

Snabbspår are available for several different professions.

You can read more on Arbetsförmedlingen’s website about what professions Snabbspår are available for.

Local job tracks – work for recent recipients of a residence permit

Arbetsförmedlingen and municipalities together organise what are known as local job tracks (lokala jobbspår). A local job track is a programme you can attend via Arbetsförmedlingen. You will be matched with an employer close to where you live, who needs to hire employees.

A local job track will often include:

  • Swedish language training.
  • Training in the profession in question.
  • A traineeship.

Contact Arbetsförmedlingen if you are interested in local Jobbspår (Job Tracks).

Listen to Arbetsförmedlingen's podcast "New in Sweden"

Arbetsförmedlingen has started a podcast in several languages, called "New in Sweden" in English. Listening to a podcast is similar to listening to a radio show, but you use a computer, a tablet or a smartphone instead of a radio. Listen to the "New in Sweden" podcast to learn how things work in Sweden – about jobs, education and training, how to write a good job application and how to prepare for a job interview.

Arbetsförmedlingen’s website has more information about the “New in Sweden” podcast.
Working in Sweden