“I love the international community here in Stockholm and the fact that all of the lab members I worked with were from different countries.”

What is your current job in Stockholm?

In summer 2018, for 3 months, I worked at the SciLifeLab on a synthetic biology project. Starting from August 2018, I am studying in the master’s program “Molecular Techniques in Life Science,” a joint program between Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University. I will be doing an internship this summer on another project at the SciLifeLab.

How long did it take you to find this job?

I arrived in Stockholm at the end of October 2017 and started arranging the job position in mid-April 2018, so about 6 months. I started the research internship in June 2018.

What do you like best about your job?

I love the international community here in Stockholm and the fact that all of the lab members I worked with were from different countries. I felt the research environment was really positive and I got to do and learn a lot.

What is it about your job that you are passionate about?

The goal of the research is to turn waste from the forestry industry into usable biomaterials, which is very important for sustainability. We as humans are generating a lot of waste and need to find ways to reuse these materials. I am passionate about research that has a positive impact on the environment, human health, etc.

“Never give up and be active! It can feel discouraging after months go by and you do not have a job, but keep applying and keep networking and going to SDCN.”

Did SDCN help you in your job search? How? (Career Support Group? Guidance Hour? Professional events? Network? Other?

Yes! I went almost every week to the Career Support Group and Språkcafé in addition to attending many of the other career and social events. By being present at SDCN multiple times a week, I met many other members, and one of these members connected me to his partner who needed someone to do molecular biology work in the lab. So, by meeting and networking with members of SDCN and their partners, I got this summer internship position. In addition, I learned how to make a Swedish CV and LinkedIn from SDCN, which is also important for the job process.

What advice would you give to other SDCN members looking for employment in Stockholm?

Never give up and be active! It can feel discouraging after months go by and you do not have a job, but keep applying and keep networking and going to SDCN. You never know who you will meet one day that will connect you to a possible job. The career events are extremely helpful for understanding the Swedish work system and how to network and apply for jobs.

Last updated 2019/04/09