Internationals in Lund and southern Sweden

“I believe that the whole Universe is a manifestation of energy and all changes in the universe are

"Meanwhile, I was also juggling all sorts of other perplexing life tasks. Swedes generously offered

"It is one thing to move away from your home country for the first time and live in many ways in a

"It was cold and windy, and both streets and sky seemed fused with the same gray filter. But I was

"The transition to my new Scandinavian home proved challenging. I searched for something that would

"It had been a Jobbsprånget session! I was ecstatic, hoping that this opportunity would help me

"I have been wondering when I would get to a point where deciphering a foreign world would not

"Your willingness to participate is key, whether be it at networking events, job fairs, hobbies – be

"At a surface level, a Fika is just a coffee break with a cinnamon bun. But after a while in Sweden,

"I met so many fellow expats with rich experiences and multiple solutions for mitigating problems

"I do not change myself any single day just to fit in my working environment. Instead, being myself

"I have started exploring different things and hobbies and capturing all the little moments for

"In October 2020 I decided to stop looking for jobs and work fully on my idea to establish my own

" I love Swedish weather and enjoy the rains and dark days. The cold breeze with sometimes foggy

"In Sweden, you will often find that information is out there. There will undoubtedly always be a

" I finally realised how valuable my previous work experiences are: I have lived and worked in three

"Ultimately it was my social and professional network that helped me get my foot in the door to

"Out of all the excitement I felt, there was one thing that worried me the most: being unemployed.

"Each story is unique, and, frankly, mine is far from perfect. It has ups and downs, local

"The key to survival in a new country is “POSITIVITY”… It is all a matter of perspective and how you

"Therefore, I would like to give a word of advice to organisations, and HR managers. Give everyone

" You might ask how did I know if I was doing the right thing or not? How do I know if I am moving

"One of the best things I gained from the program was the network of friends. A group of fellow

"Moving to a distant country involves many emotions. It's a mixture of feelings, I feel curious

"All in all, I think Sweden is a country that is really trying to helps immigrants integrate into

"So, returning to the point, If I could give a tip, I would say: I am not the first one having these

"The following years brought different feelings to the surface and I started to develop this

"Be an open-minded person to take advice from the professional and experienced people. Keep updating

"While my partner took the next step in her career, I took a year off. A sabbatical. A planned break

All I needed was just 1% of their trust and I’m fully prepared to earn the remaining 99% to show my

"I realized the things I should and should not have included in my applications and how my CV

"How was the job hunting? Well, I won’t lie, it has been blood, sweat and tears. So many times, I

"My other advice is to never be afraid of starting over again, be persistent. You are never too old

"When setting up my new business in Sweden, I was astonished by the support provided by various

"While starting the mentorship program I received a message from my former employer in The

"As a non-Swedish speaking resident, I realized that I have very limited access to Swedish history

"As the interview was being done online, why not use this technology in my favor? So, I decided to

"The passion of the entrepreneurs amazes me, and I believe this passion is what we need when we are

"Having an updated and well-tailored LinkedIn profile is super important in Sweden to portray your

"Knowledge is power, and as a newbie you can end up feeling very powerless. The great thing is that

“Moving to a new country is not a fairytale. Moving to a new country is a lot of hard work. And

"Job hunting in another country is the storm I am facing. Going through it will make me stronger and

"Networking in Sweden is Godsend especially in your job search. Yes, sounds bizarre but true in

“International Citizen Hub Lund is not just a place providing sessions for the job hunter but also a

"Not a surprise – you will meet new people! I can honestly say that people here are nice, welcoming,

"I also found out about the Kick-Start Program, which came highly recommended by one of the alumnus

"With the advice and guidance of the staff of International Citizen Hub Lund, I managed to join

"My philosophy is that introducing fresh perspective and new techniques allow you to grow and thrive

"Every step I have taken on my journey has led to something in the end - I am convinced of that. You

"Don’t expect anything to happen quickly. This goes for everything from enrolling children for after

"Many times I have been insecure about my chances into the Swedish job market. However, in all the

"My demanding studies during the two years in Lund passed by quickly. I applied for jobs in my field

"I came to know about public employment service “Arbetsförmedlingen”. There I found an interesting

"The year 2020 brought us one more thing to deal with, covid19…and everything switched to virtual

"All of these activities helped me in some way. I would even credit that they brought back my joy

"In Sweden, you are seldom out of options unless you give up yourself. What I learnt over these

"I have also ‘found my voice’ during this time, and started writing about what I do and why and also

"Important note! You need to stay yourself and not to lose your authentic personality. I often hear

" I quickly found out that your previous experience doesn’t really matter, nor it matters if you are

"It sounds unbelievable: only a year before I was in their same situation, sitting on those chairs,

"Living abroad inspires me to do things I always wanted to do but did not have the time or

"As for any other society Sweden too has definitely its do's and don'ts and one does not have to go

"One sentence in one of these sessions stuck with me, 'A lot of you expats have a lot of skills that

"Don't waste your energy trying to explain why your home country is more appropriate in some aspects

"Lund is actually a city of opportunities, offering a lot for learning and development, especially

"After few weeks of being regular at International Citizen Hub Lund, I was able to understand

"Office environments here tend to be a lot more informal than my previous jobs. It is likely that

"Take the time to read up on cultural etiquette and you’ll make the transition from tourist to local

"Getting accustomed to a new culture, new habits, new traditions is indeed challenging but at the

"I read about the International Citizen Hub Lund when I was still in Barcelona, and I went there the

“So here is my first advice to the newcomers that plan a long stay here — if you have the option to

"Another important aspect for me to settle down is to be able to bring positive energy to my

Integration in Sweden: how to do it faster than in ten years "I watch, listen to and analyze myself

"Despite all good things about the country it was very tough for me to leave my identity behind and

"I would say it's still difficult getting used to my new life, and it's going to take more time for

"In my case the breaking point was when I understood the meaning of the most important advise I’ve

"I think newcomers who are creatives face additional challenges compared to those who have careers

"In my case the breaking point was when I understood the meaning of the most important advise I’ve

"I lived in 6 countries. My strategy was always: 1. Join relevant local member organisation to

"One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve faced around here was getting to know the International

" the ceramic studio became Ateljé Råbygård and grew from my hobby studio into a course center and

“I was lucky to join the Kick-Start Program, I think that was a life changing moment for me. It’s

"International Citizen Hub Lund has opened up not just one, but many doors of opportunities for me.

"We chose a house out in the countryside with 30 minutes’ driving time for my husband to get to work

" all the partners are connected: International Citizen Hub Lund will lead you towards Malmö

"Participating in the Kick-Start Program was a stepping-stone towards a career development and

"Upon arrival we had the normal challenges of opening bank accounts and applying for the all so

"Here you get a warm smile and support on all different levels of life! The International Citizen

"What I think was a big advantage of this program was great guest speakers. We met experienced

"What I want to say with this is: Do not be shy to mingle with people. Attend the events at