Career progression in Scandinavia
#1
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Joined: Jul 2013
Location: London, UK
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Career progression in Scandinavia
I've just saw another thread takling the issue "are jobs for English speakers available in Scandinavia?".
I take this subject a step forward and I ask: what are the chances, for an immigrant, to be and remain competitive on the market?
Personally I know only two people who are working or had been working in Scandinavia for a long period of time.
The first is very young and despite being technically an immigrant she's been living in Norway since she was 13 - she's doing fine, she's got a great job and a good prospect of career progression.
The latter lived in Stockholm for 9 years before to find herself stuck in a Postdoc position from which there was no way out, despite her being highly qualified.
Any inputs on this matter? Is it so hard for a European immigrant to compete against native citizens in Scandinavia?
I take this subject a step forward and I ask: what are the chances, for an immigrant, to be and remain competitive on the market?
Personally I know only two people who are working or had been working in Scandinavia for a long period of time.
The first is very young and despite being technically an immigrant she's been living in Norway since she was 13 - she's doing fine, she's got a great job and a good prospect of career progression.
The latter lived in Stockholm for 9 years before to find herself stuck in a Postdoc position from which there was no way out, despite her being highly qualified.
Any inputs on this matter? Is it so hard for a European immigrant to compete against native citizens in Scandinavia?
#2
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 62
Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
Honestly. You will find it very difficult. I have a masters degree a couple of diplomas and and VQ's coming out of my ears. I have to go abroad for work assignments. My Swedish is poor. If it was decent I think a lot more jobs would be available. Without the language forget it , unless of course you have been recruited into Sweden for a particular job where English is acceptable.
#3
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Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
Thanks for your reply Mike. Honesty is what I am looking for
May I ask what field do you work in?
May I ask what field do you work in?
#4
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Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
Ugo. Surely much depends on what jobs you want. My son went to Norway ten years or so ago and found work easily enough in the construction business, where he didn't have to be able to read the lingo.
#5
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Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
In a way my position is more tricky than hers because we know that she needs to know the language since the very first day, while I could get away with English.
The problem, and main topic of this thread, is that I'm afraid to find myelf stuck after a number of years because the chances of progression are slim for non-Scandinavian.
#6
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Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
I am constantly amazed at Anglo-monoglots who expect to function without speaking the language. Cretins !
#8
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Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
Vedammte Angelsachsen !
#10
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Re: Career progression in Scandinavia
Can I borrow your glasses ? I lost mine when I was looking for the grog.