* Large IT-sector which regularly accepts English-speaking foreign labor in their workforce with no demands for knowing any Swedish.
* English is the second language and is spoken more or less fluently among most of the population (especially the younger one), more so than in Germany, France or Finland.
* Safe, generally non-violent place with all kinds of security nets if things would go wrong, like (almost) free hospitals.
* 25 days of vacation per year guaranteed by law. Most people have 4 weeks of continuous vacation during the summer which is a great time to travel around the rest of Europe.
True
...since it both culturally and geographically is quite close to your neighbor in north, Canada.
True, with major limitations:
The cultural differences are actually quite many; however, easily overcome and adapted.
Another vote for Sweden.
I am from the States, born and raised. Came to Sweden to study abroad, fell in love...
After I finished my studies (BS CompSci), I came back to Sweden and live and work. I had 7-8 job offers before I took a job at Ericsson in Stockholm.
- In the large coporations here, native English is a massive advantage.
- Swedish is not entirely difficult, I spoke fluently after 8 months.
- 5 week vacation is wonderful, not to do without.
- The workplace is fairly relaxed and, on the whole, extremely welcoming.
- Taxes account for almost all major privatised expenses (insurance, healthcare, education).
- The socio-economic range is heavily weighted in the middle class. The poverty line is "high" compared to the states.
- Most organisations have fairly flat hierarchies. Easy to have a friendly conversation with "the boss".
- The immigration procedure is nearly 100% hassle-free coming from the states. Just paper-work really.
- If you are not 50+ (and even then). Relatively, it is Really Really Really, and I stress this, Really difficult to get fired. Unless of course, you are trying...
- Stockholm or GÃteborg (Gothenburg) are the cities I would recommend most. Uppsala and Malmà also have a good rep.
- Start with some of the larger companies and look for positions in Stockholm:
As for computer related work you do have a few of the international businesses like Accenture, IBM, HP, Logica [logica.com] over here too, but also a few local ones like Ãf...F [www.af.se], Cybercom Group [cybercomgroup.com], Epsilon [epsilon.nu], Semcon [semcon.se], Sigma [sigma.se].
- Get 6-months or a year at one of these biggies (also, Saab, Volvo, Ericsson) and after you have acquired conversational Swedish, move to a company you like.
Best of luck!
Slashdot Mirror
* Large IT-sector which regularly accepts English-speaking foreign labor in their workforce with no demands for knowing any Swedish. * English is the second language and is spoken more or less fluently among most of the population (especially the younger one), more so than in Germany, France or Finland. * Safe, generally non-violent place with all kinds of security nets if things would go wrong, like (almost) free hospitals. * 25 days of vacation per year guaranteed by law. Most people have 4 weeks of continuous vacation during the summer which is a great time to travel around the rest of Europe.
True
...since it both culturally and geographically is quite close to your neighbor in north, Canada.
True, with major limitations: The cultural differences are actually quite many; however, easily overcome and adapted. Another vote for Sweden. I am from the States, born and raised. Came to Sweden to study abroad, fell in love... After I finished my studies (BS CompSci), I came back to Sweden and live and work. I had 7-8 job offers before I took a job at Ericsson in Stockholm.
- In the large coporations here, native English is a massive advantage.
- Swedish is not entirely difficult, I spoke fluently after 8 months.
- 5 week vacation is wonderful, not to do without.
- The workplace is fairly relaxed and, on the whole, extremely welcoming.
- Taxes account for almost all major privatised expenses (insurance, healthcare, education).
- The socio-economic range is heavily weighted in the middle class. The poverty line is "high" compared to the states.
- Most organisations have fairly flat hierarchies. Easy to have a friendly conversation with "the boss".
- The immigration procedure is nearly 100% hassle-free coming from the states. Just paper-work really.
- If you are not 50+ (and even then). Relatively, it is Really Really Really, and I stress this, Really difficult to get fired. Unless of course, you are trying...
- Stockholm or GÃteborg (Gothenburg) are the cities I would recommend most. Uppsala and Malmà also have a good rep.
- Start with some of the larger companies and look for positions in Stockholm:
As for computer related work you do have a few of the international businesses like Accenture, IBM, HP, Logica [logica.com] over here too, but also a few local ones like Ãf...F [www.af.se], Cybercom Group [cybercomgroup.com], Epsilon [epsilon.nu], Semcon [semcon.se], Sigma [sigma.se].
- Get 6-months or a year at one of these biggies (also, Saab, Volvo, Ericsson) and after you have acquired conversational Swedish, move to a company you like.
Best of luck!