Sweden CV Writing Guide

The overseas career sounds like an adventure to many people. However, work in Sweden needs more than just the obvious Sweden CV with Sweden cover letter writing and translation – it requires methodical preparation. You will be confronted with issues that probably did not even cross your mind when you become interested in jobs in Sweden.

Do not underestimate the influence employment in Sweden can have on your adventure! For instance, you will experience the different immigration rules and practices, job application procedures, selection trends and the management culture.

A CV is similar to a resume in that it provides more details about one’s professional qualifications, experience and education. However, the term "Curriculum Vitae" most often called CV, typically carries a different meaning depending on whether one distributes the CV within the US, Canada or internationally (external to the US or Canada) or is seeking a faculty, academic, research, clinical or scientific position.

You can turn your current resume into a CV. A CV is similar to a resume in that it outlines your professional qualifications and history, but it does so with more detail by adding to the resume the detailed descriptions of your educational and/or professional experiences and personal information that may include nationality, date of birth, marital status, etc.

When applying for a position in Sweden, you may use either Swedish or English language, depending on the company and your fluency. In many large and/or international companies, the language used internally is often English. Very often applicants are required to submit applications in English. Stick to one language once chosen. However, you need to accept that not knowing the Swedish language will put you at a real disadvantage from the local job seekers.

Prepare yourself - before writing your CV research the company you want to work for. Such information will help you to adapt your CV more effectively to each specific job and use proper examples illustrating your achievements.

The aim of your Sweden CV should be to persuade the employer to invite you for a job interview. Therefore, your CV is a marketing tool, which should be adapted to the market in which you intend to use it. Write an introduction that contains many power keywords and action verbs. Scanners that are programmed to select specific words notice these keywords.

Typewrite your Sweden CV on one to two pages in A4 format, depending on the length of your work experience, in chronological order - ending with the most recent job or in reverse chronological order - beginning with the most recent job.

Make your Sweden CV more effective and emphasize what you have to offer to the employer. Provide examples that fit the job, to illustrate your achievements. Use power words and action verbs to describe them, such as contributed, organized, trained, managed, developed, coordinated, etc. Bullet points these at the start of a sentence for maximum impact.

Start your Sweden CV with “Personal Details” listing your name, date of birth in YYMMDD format without spaces between digits, place of birth, address and phone number. Often CVs in Sweden are kept on file for lengthy periods, so any contact details you give have to remain accurate in the long term. A daytime phone number, with the international access code and e-mail, are most important.

Next, mention the position applied for and your qualifications.

Follow with “Education” including results. Start with high school, including study emphases, dates, diplomas, degrees, internships, apprenticeships, study or travel abroad, honours and extracurricular activities.

Subsequently under “Work History”, list the name and location of employers, your title and responsibilities. Make your CV more effective by providing examples to illustrate your achievements.

Under “Further Information” mention your military and volunteer service (if applicable). Detail your language skills. Mention your native tongue and describe the level of fluency for the other languages. Reveal your computer skills and other personal information like your civil status or whether or not you have a driving license.

Carefully consider what to leave out of your CV and exclude anything that might give prospective employers a chance to discriminate against you.

Finally, close your CV with “References available on request”. It is best to avoid putting references on your CV unless you have been specifically asked to provide them. Employers usually ask for references when they actually need them. This is a strong indication that an employer is interested in you.

Your CV and any other official documents should be "attested" (verified and signed) by someone who can vouch for their validity.

It is more common in Sweden to apply for a job through the Internet. However, you should be aware that an electronic CV does not look the same as a standard one. Employers often scan CVs, so make your Sweden CV scannable by avoiding for example lines or italic fonts etc.

Send your CV together with a cover letter.

Check the spelling and grammar of your Sweden CV. Use the word processor's spell and grammar checker. If you are not confident of your ability to detect grammatical, punctuation and language usage errors in Swedish or other languages or if you need help in organizing your CV, send it to a professional for assistance.

Remember that your CV must be targeted, scannable and generate hits. If you have difficulty with your CV writing instead of staring at a blank piece of paper, use CV samples and CV templates.

Most recruiters expect to receive a cover letter together with your CV. So, prepare a cover letter convincing the reader why you are the best candidate for the interview using cover letter writing tips.

In recent years it becomes increasingly popular to join the LinkedIn or Facebook social networking websites for professionals, where you may search for jobs and have your keyword-optimized, rich content profile with a current CV. Hiring managers use them more frequently to consult your profile and supplement or check against the CV you send along. If you do not have an account, create one and include your social media link(s) on your CV.
However, you should manage your online presence. Eliminate any photos and statements that could reflect poorly on you. From an employer’s point of view, someone who emphasizes partying on a social networking site is not focused on jobs and those who post complaints about work or colleagues are less desirable candidates. The online CV should not include sensitive information as it could show a lack of respect for confidentiality and discretion.

Other Sweden CV Info

To be successful in your Sweden job search and get the job you want, you need to prepare a Sweden cover letter and Sweden CV which you must email instantly to the prospective employers selected during a job search in Sweden.

When you receive an invitation to the Sweden job interview, you may apply for a Sweden visa and a Sweden work permit. Then prepare yourself for a job interview and take a look at Sweden's dress code because how you dress is one of the most important attributes in not being hired for available jobs.

Check the job interview dos & don'ts, job interview tips and other job search skills pages.

In addition, on the international info, job search, visa, work permit, cover letter, CV & resume, job interview and dress code pages you will find many useful tips for overseas job seekers.

Good luck with your Sweden CV!