It's crucial to show an understanding of how the industry works in Sweden as well as globally, and that means staying up date on trends, and what your potential employer and their competitors have been doing. Useful resources include Resumé and Dagens Media, and of course keep an eye out for any impressive marketing campaigns you spot out in the wild, to give you something to talk about at events and job interviews.

Photo: Susanne Walström/imagebank.sweden.se

2. Boost your CV

Rewrite your CV and cover letter for the Swedish market, American marketing professional Lindsey LaMont advises.

“The biggest difference is in the US we are taught to boast about yourself to prove why you're the best. In Sweden, that is looked on as a bad thing for some reason — but it really depends on the job and person hiring,” she says.

Another tip is to highlight past experience and achievements above education, which is particularly true as a foreigner since a marketing qualification from your home country may not carry the same weight in Sweden. Concrete achievements translate much more easily.

READ ALSO: How to write the perfect Swedish CV and cover letter

“In Sweden, your education is generally of less importance for creative, fast-paced roles like marketing and sales. It's more about attitude, willingness to learn and past work experience,” says Peter Helin, who works at jobs site CareerBuilder as well as running his own digital marketing consultancy. “Having a degree in Marketing is of course valuable, but it’s not necessarily the deciding factor in getting the job.”

“If I were an expat marketer, I would not focus so much on academic merits on my CV and instead highlight past work experience and portfolio examples. Marketing achievements and KPIs are universal, so even if a Swedish marketing manager won't understand the meaning of, for example, a Spanish campaign, they will understand the results of the project.”

And while you're searching, it's worth taking on other projects, even if they aren't directly related to the field you want to end up in. LaMont worked as a bartender during her ten-month search before landing a marketing role. This allows you to use and develop transferable skills, as well as meeting more people in Sweden, getting a Swedish reference and hopefully learning a bit of the local language. 

3. Where to look

If you've only recently moved to Sweden, make sure to update your professional social media profiles with your new location and let your network know you’re looking for opportunities. Join relevant Facebook groups such as Jobbtipps inom kommunikation, Jobb i Stockholm, and Mediejobb Sverige where job adverts are regularly posted, and to be proactive, you could introduce yourself on these pages.

Voluntary opportunities with the marketing sector can be a handy stepping stone to work, Australian-Dane Sophia Skinbjerg suggests. “You get to know both the organizers (who are well connected) and the attendees,” she explains. “Be both online and offline. I would tweet and connect with people who were either at the event (good ice-breaker) or who were in the tech scene but not present (new network lead).”

Skinbjerg, who is now marketing manager at tech startup Springworks, threw herself into the task of building up a network, joining a co-working space as well as relevant online groups both within the marketing sector and more generally aimed at internationals. She also set herself the challenge of meeting one woman in a senior position each week for lunch, documenting the lunches on her blog Eat 52 Lunches.

5. Understand the application process

Job applicants should expect a longer hiring process than they may be used to. The Swedish employment system is generally considered to work in the employee's favour, meaning companies will want to be extra sure that all new hires are the right fit. Notice periods are typically fixed at three months, so if the company is hiring a replacement for an existing role, they have at least three months to sort through applications and carry out interviews before they lose the departing employee.

A consequence of this is that you might go through more interviews than you're used to, and possible extra steps such as a personality test. But this can be an advantage for job-seekers too, since you have a chance to ask questions and make sure the company is truly the right fit for you too, for example by finding out about the working culture and future plans.

6. Freelancing

Working freelance jobs could be either a way to tide you over while you search, or a long-term career option. One advantage is the opportunity to work with clients from your home country or who work in your native language — but be aware that Sweden's high taxes can be tough on freelancers and business owners.

Jobs can be found through online platforms such as Upwork or Brainville (for the latter you'll need some Swedish skills), but again, your personal network is also likely to be a good source of recommendations.

Peter Helin does freelance marketing alongside a full-time job, but recommends it as a route into the industry and a way to build up connections. “Even if the tasks are slightly outside the scope of what the marketer’s primary interest or expertise is, like content translation services, it's a good way of forming relationships with marketing managers.”

“When you do get a gig, however small, deliver like your life depended on it,” he adds. “Fast and with top quality, because repeat business with consistent quality is the key to referrals and great references.”

Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se

7. Swedish working culture

Once you've landed your dream marketing job, you'll often have a six-month probation period before the contract becomes permanent, so it helps to be aware of some unique aspects of Swedish working life to avoid any shocks and ensure a smooth transition.

Solvita Akmene moved to Sweden to work at the Stockholm headquarters of a beauty brand she had been working for overseas — but even without the task of finding a job, there were still new aspects of the working culture to adjust to.