[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference turris::scandia

Title:All about Scandinavia
Moderator:TLE::SAVAGE
Created:Wed Dec 11 1985
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:603
Total number of notes:4325

591.0. "getting work in sweeden" by CSC32::KUHN () Wed Nov 15 1995 11:52

    Hello all,
    
    How hard is it for someone, say an american to get a software job in
    Sweeden and have a residency there?
    
    thank you
    jay kuhn
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
591.1Geography sucksTLE::SAVAGEThu Nov 16 1995 12:2717
    How do you measure "hard"?  In terms of time?  
    
    I imagine there would need to be a task for which no capable Swedish
    software engineer was available or known.  However, if you happened to
    meet the owner of a Swedish software company who liked you, and you
    were offered a job, you'd be working in Sweden in no time at all. It's
    just not likely that a Swedish software company owner would get to know
    you compared to getting to know some Swedish engineers with roughly the
    same skills. 
    
    You could travel to Sweden as a tourist and go door to door. Then the
    likelihood would be about the same as if you were doing that in the
    USA.  I believe, however, you then have to go BACK to the USA to apply
    for your work permit (job in hand).
    
    So it would be much easier (quicker) to find a job in one's own
    country. 
591.2tack :-)CSC32::KUHNThu Nov 16 1995 13:408
    oh yea. I have no reason to go there, i was just curious about how much
    the "socalist" aspect paid for and what the feeling was about
    americans and stuff. From what people tell me its very hard to get into
    the US. 
    I guess by "hard" I mean resistance. But from what you say, if a
    company sponsored you , there would be little.
    
    jay
591.3This whole conference is for that curiosity TLE::SAVAGEFri Nov 17 1995 10:2624
    >i was just curious about how much the "socalist" aspect paid for
    >and what the feeling was about americans and stuff.
    
    The government takes your taxes after you start to earn a salary. The
    welfare aspect comes into play if you loose your job, need medical
    attention, and that sort of thing.  Once you have a permanent residency
    permit, you would have a much better "safety net" in Sweden than in USA
    but you might pay a higher proportion of your income for it, especially
    if you have a job that pays well.    [See also, Note 89]
    
    The feeling about 'western' foreigners in Sweden is very welcoming.
    English-speaking people (USAns, Canadians, Australians, UKers, etc.)
    especially are all treated about the same as if you came from some
    other part of Sweden.  The very young kids (who watch a lot of
    English-language TV) would think you were "cool" if you came from some
    place like Beverly Hills or Dallas.  
    
    Our USA culture (Burger King, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Pepsi, blue jeans) 
    tends to have particular appeal to children in Scandinavia.  You
    shouldn't be surprized at that because the USA is considered by
    Europeans generally as a youth-worshipping and youth-oriented culture . 
    
    [You may also be interesting in looking at some of the replies to Note
    7, if you haven't already.]