Working for Work in Sweden
NewsBetween lessons, social activities and sports, international students find themselves on a tight budget and securing a paying job becomes almost a necessity. We speak to Don Farooq Azee about the hardships of finding a job in Sweden.
Farooq, founder of Event Masters and now SitterOnSpot, has completed a total of three different Master Programmes and has experienced the hardships of searching for a job in Sweden before starting his personal business endeavours.
“I was desperate- my visa was running out and despite receiving good grades for my masters, I never got shortlisted for any of the many jobs I applied for in Sweden, Denmark or even in France,” says Farooq.
“They would require English speaking personnel but because of my name and nationality, visa becomes an issue.”
It was more of a visa issue than a language issue for Farooq, who does not speak Swedish fluently.
After a total of three years of job-hunting, Farooq entered the Venture Cup, where he received two grants from the Swedish governmental agency, Almi, for his idea on SitterOnSpot.
Now up and running, SitterOnSpot provides jobs for both Swedish and international students around the world.
“I feel that Sweden is the place to be to start something new, rather than to focus on seeking regular jobs,” says Farooq. “Almi is a good way to go to appeal for start-up capital for new companies.”
A tip for international students looking for jobs out there?
“Bringing your culture to Sweden and starting something new and innovative with it here is a good way to go. The mixing of cultures will provide for new business ideas,” says Farooq.
- At the AF-building on Tuesday, a work fair is being organized where students can look for work during their spare-time.
- Read also: The Worklife Coordinator: “We Need More Work Seminars”
