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Raquel Gimeno Esteve

"In my case the breaking point was when I understood the meaning of the most important advise I’ve never received: “forget the role, focus on your skills and background, those are the most important points in your CV”. That point of view changed everything in my job search, I passed from a state when I only received responses like “thanks for your application but…no”, to being asked from time to time to schedule an interview."

I can perfectly remember when, two years ago, my partner and I announced to our families and friends we were moving to Lund because he was hired by a international company here. The reactions were almost the same: “Where are you moving?”, “Sweden?” , “but it’s very cold, it always snows!!”… Two years after that moment, I can say it was the best decision we’ve taken, that big step has provided great experiences to us, and it has been possible thanks to all the people that accompanies us on that adventure.

The first year here in Lund everything is new, there is a lot to be discovered. At first, days we’re moving fast, without even realizing it, you have settled in, but anything else have changed on your professional situation.

It was then that I discovered the International Citizen Hub Lund thanks to a friend in the same state as me. She told me there was an organization dedicated to international employees and their families that offered different types of helpful events and a specific program to spouses and partners, the Kick-Start Program. I didn't wait a second to apply for it, it was the moment to start to move.

The Kick-Start Program means a lot to me, it gave me the tools to face the Swedish job market. Before moving to Sweden, I was a Spanish Tax Lawyer with more than 14 years of experience in the legal field, but in Sweden I became professionally invisible and I had no clues to change that situation.

The program offered me the opportunity to meet wonderful friends who share your concerns and are always willing to encourage you; the professionals who taught me the particular features in writing a CV and a cover letter aimed at a Swedish company, the effectivity on opening a LinkedIn account, etc., and also to meet people who has gone through the same experience as us, and whose stories I particularly found very inspiring.

In my case the breaking point was when I understood the meaning of the most important advise I’ve never received: “forget the role, focus on your skills and background, those are the most important points in your CV”. That point of view changed everything in my job search, I passed from a state when I only received responses like “thanks for your application but…no”, to being asked from time to time to schedule an interview.

I have not found a job yet, but I know I’m closer that one year before, I took my time to think about myself and my career, now I’m aware of my skills and how to adapt my background and my know-how to the position I’m applying to, and that change is thanks to the Kick-Start Program.

/ Raquel Gimeno Esteve

To the Linkedin profile of Raquel Gimeno Esteve

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