Building bridges

I´ve heard that most jobs in Sweden are found and filled through personal introductions. They say it is something like 85%. Although, aside from wondering who these all knowing "they" are, I also have to wonder how "they" manage to compile these statistics. Did they go around to companies and asked them how they found people to fill each position? Or did they poll the employees and 85% of them checked the "I knew someone who knew someone and did not deserve the job otherwise" box?? Which in turn raises the question: why or how do these mysterious "they" inspire such candor amongst Swedish employees?

The questionable accuracy of the statistics aside, it does appear to be true that networking is important in landing a job in Sweden. At least the few Swedes whom I have broached the subject with have nodded unreservedly while I recounted the above to them. Taking that at face value, it puts those of us who are new to the country and culture at an obvious disadvantage. All is, however, not lost. Perhaps it is because things are the way they are that Swedes seem generally willing to help to make introductions.

This I experienced even before I moved to Sweden. A colleague of my husband, being aware of the fact that I am looking for a job, introduced us (via email) to Jon, an american lawyer working in Sweden. Thinking that, as Jon was once in a similar position as I am now in, he would be able to offer some advice as to how to go about things. So I got in touch with Jon. He was very friendly and helpful. Helpful in the sense that he was willing to offer assistance, albeit not necessarily in the actual sense. He said himself upfront that being new to Sweden himself, he did not know if he would be able to help much. One thing he said he could do, and did do, was to introduce me to a Swedish colleague of his at the law firm, whom he thought would probably know more about the market and know more people in the field. And that is how I met Karin. She was also very helpful in the manner of Jon, and then some. I met with her for coffee at her office (which very much reminded me of where I used to work) and had a chat about what sort of opportunities there could be for me in the region. She had some suggestions as to where I could look, etc. and put me in touch with someone in an international organisation. Although nothing came out of it, I still appreciate the fact that she took the time to meet and sit down with some stranger looking for a job in her country. It was very kind of her, and of Jon, and also of the guy who put me in touch with Jon in the first place. I suppose you could say that it did not really require that much effort on their part, but it is the very little which not every one is willing to do.

Almost exactly a year later, I met Karin again, the circumstances of which are a story in themselves....another story for another time.