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Lia Meilyawati

What can you learn from my story? I hope it inspires you to never stop pushing forward. Keep learning, stay true to your path, and find community support like I did with the International Citizen Hub Lund. Believe in your strengths and lean on others during tough times. Sometimes, just beyond what you expect, a breakthrough could be around the corner. And once you achieve it, don’t stop there; keep pushing onward.

My story: Overcoming Challenges to Re-enter the Swedish Job Market

I moved to Sweden nine years ago because of my husband’s job relocation, and I had high hopes and dreams. This country’s reputation for innovation, design, and quality of life was appealing. As a designer from Indonesia, I had quickly found a job in my field in another EU country, so I thought it would be no different here. However, weeks turned into months, then years, and the rejections kept coming. Each “no” hit a little harder.

Lia and her cat looking out a window.

When one door closes..

I began to wonder what I was missing. The sad truth is that without local experience, fluency in Swedish, and networking, the door to that dream job remains firmly shut. Despite Sweden’s open and progressive job market, breaking into it as an outsider is challenging. This struggle isn’t unique to foreigners; even Swedes find it difficult to land the job they want.

.. another opens

After spending a year freelancing, I finally discovered an internship opportunity at a Non-Government Organization in Lund. During this time, I worked on my Swedish language skills while improving my design and communication abilities. The door that had been tightly shut before is now beginning to creak open. Slowly but surely, that once-closed door is starting to open again, and I hope to continue my professional journey.

Don't give up!

Life in a new country takes effort. It tests your patience, creates doubt in your confidence, and sometimes makes you question who you are. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my experiences, it’s that perseverance is crucial. If you get a job, it’s important to keep sharpening your skills and growing your network for future opportunities. Once you get it, you can get it again, and if you haven’t yet, you will—as long as you don’t give up. So, if you feel stuck or the Swedish job market seems like a vast wall, let’s talk and exchange our stories. We can help each other with our struggles and victories. After all, no one should go through this alone, no matter how challenging it gets.

/ Lia Meilyawati

To the Linkedin profile of Lia Meilyawati

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