How to optimise your LinkedIn profile to find a job in Sweden
Part 1
Like other countries, Sweden has its own specific approach to the application process and the recruitment of new employees. For instance, many available positions in Sweden are not officially published, but are rather assigned on the basis of recommendations or internally. This makes it important to be well connected if you are a job seeker in Sweden. A popular platform for the professional community is LinkedIn, which is widely used in this country. In this series of articles, I want to share my experience in this area and help you be successful in your job search. This first of three parts is about How to optimise your LinkedIn profile for the Swedish job market.
Begin by updating your LinkedIn profile and adding that you live or will live in Sweden. If you do not speak Swedish, it is important to have an English profile. It is possible to add a second profile in English to your existing account. You can also show in your profile picture that you are open for jobs.
Now create a Headline, which will be displayed next to your name. It can include your degree, profession or important qualifications and areas of responsibility. Take a look at the headlines of your connections for inspiration. Make sure to adjust your headline to what can be helpful for your job search in Sweden.
Write a short text in the About field. It is important to write clear, concise and meaningful sentences about yourself and your professional background. Again, you can check the about texts of others to get a feel for what you want to write.
Next, add work-related acquaintances and, preferably, some people you have met in Sweden so far. Perhaps you know other international job seekers in Sweden or had contact with persons from companies you met at a job fair? Try to connect with new contacts via LinkedIn in the future to keep expanding your network.
Complete your CV in your LinkedIn profile and describe your areas of responsibility. Also provide information on any special achievements, projects or experience you have gained in the context of the position. The more important a position is within your career, the more you should write in relation to it. The main focus in the CV should be on the jobs and experiences that are relevant to your job search. In Sweden, it is not necessary to mention everything in bullet points, but it can be short texts.
Add your skills and special qualifications. Job advertisements on LinkedIn usually contain desired qualifications that are automatically compared with your profile. It is therefore helpful if you specify these.
Ask your former managers or colleagues to describe how you worked together on Linkedin. This will give employers an impression of how you work in a team. In the Swedish work culture, it is very important that you complement the team well and that you can work smoothly together.
