A lot of people asked me about how I get a job in Sweden as a software engineer.
So, here’s my article explaining everything.
Let's face it, being a software engineer is not easy, especially during your struggling days.
The bigger challenge comes when you need to pay your bills and at the same time want to develop your skills as well to grow as a software developer.
One of the biggest problems that self-taught developers face at the beginning of their careers is guidance.
- They don't know exactly how to ask questions
- Whom to ask.
So they usually get lost too easily.
Making a career transition is not an easy step.
This is one of the tough decisions of my life.
I started my career in India and working abroad as a software engineer is one of the dreams I had since I started my career back in 2010. (Typical middle-class mindset).
In my Accenture days, I worked mostly with US clients so a couple of times my company tried for H1B but every time I didn't get through that shit lottery system.
Then I moved to Pune in 2014 and work very hard to enter a product-based company.
In Typical product-based companies, you will have very few chances to get onsite opportunities.
But I was always in touch with my old colleagues, you know we called this "Networking"
The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity." -- Keith
I was doing pretty well and then in March 2020 covid came and I started a Facebook group where my old colleagues/tech friends came together on my request as a mentor & helped almost 200+ people in 2020 with different technology stacks.
- We are a group of people with all tech stacks from testing to development to the cloud.
There I met my friend Akshat & We both collaborate & work as good partners/colleagues/mentors.
As time progress to November 2020, we did well to help lots of people as part of our mentorship program.
One typical day, I just casually asked Akshat to refer me to your company (You know back of mind, that abroad dream), As Akshat was already in Sweden for the last couple of years & doing excellent work.
BTW He is a Java champion.
And as a good friend, he referred me but as you know typical hiring process takes a lot of time & you should have good patience.
So the process took almost 3-4 months to complete:
- A general cultural fit round (Most important round)
- A coding assignment which I need to complete in a week.
- A typical technical round
- A typical (but something different from India) managerial round.
- A typical HR round to salary, Visa, and relocation stuff.
But life takes a U-turn again in May 2021 start, I was supposed to travel in May first week but we were all infected with Covid and we lost our mother-in-law. And we were not in a condition to make this big shift in life again.
I check with the company & they helped me a lot & supported me very well.
- In May 2021 typically I was jobless as 30th April was my last working day in my last company.
So be ready for ups & down in life when you want something to achieve.
But again remember Your network is your net worth.
If you know your game, you will get opportunities for sure, some may get early, some may get later.
In my personal view, Tech has shown the most successful people are often also those who rely heavily on the power of networking.
"The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person's needs ahead of their own." -- Bob Burg
Then in June, a new phase of life started for me.
I finally Moved to Sweden... 👇
New phase of life started today.
— Ankur💻🎧💪 (@TheAnkurTyagi) June 11, 2021
Moved to Sweden...
I Joined Volvo Cars as a Senior Software Engineer 🙌
This is what I was taking about since long that You’ll get amazing opportunity here on Twitter...
If I can do it You can as well...
Cheers 🍻 pic.twitter.com/DBRzt3Ls4o
If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new Hello.
"My Golden Rule of Networking is simple: Don't keep score."
If you brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new Hello.
— Ankur💻🎧💪 (@TheAnkurTyagi) June 16, 2021
Beginning makes the conditions perfect 🙌
You will never win if you never begin. pic.twitter.com/OVoDEAMASw
This is just a start "Instead of better glasses, your network gives you better eyes."
Networking is not about just connecting people.
Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity, and time.
It's about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities
Along with networking, I would suggest, You can try below typical ways to enter a foreign market.
3 good paths which you can try if you really want to work abroad.
- Talk to your current company to see if there are any opportunities that you can be considered for.
- Apply for a skilled migrant visa/residency, go abroad and look for a job.
Canada, UK, and Australia have point-based visas. You can check your eligibility and try.
- Go as a student, as it’s easier to get a student visa and then get the bridging visa while you are there.
Thanks for reading.
"Don't miss out" Follow your mentor on Twitter 👉 TheAnkurTyagi
If you would like to discuss your career growth issues in detail with me 1-1, you can hire me on HireTheAuthor.
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You can buy me a beer if you feel generous. Happy coding!!!
Top comments (7)
Congratulations Ankur!
I suppose you’re based in Gothenburg, Sweden, same as me, I also came with a Work Visa back in January 2019. Worked for 1 year at Volvo Group as a Consultant. Let's keep in touch, my website cristianecheverria.com/.
Cheers!
Good to know Cristian.
Let's connect sometime soon for a quick call.
I created a FB group as well for developers in Sweden for Job related stuff.
Received a good response in that one.
This post is really motivating! I am a student right now and someday I too want to move abroad 😊
I'm too bro....
Thanks Devang, I wish you best of luck.
Great post and so sorry about your Mother in law.
Thats really a motivating blog , congratulations on your achievments.
Even I am a newbie and feel puzzled how exactly I should network , how to approach people , being an introvert it seems challenging task .