"Network, be persistent and don't give up"

Making it in Sweden. Dealing with cultural shock, learning a foreign language, making new friends, and finding a job are some of the challenges people face when moving abroad. Armenian Sona Gevorgyan, a former student of Gothenburg's Handelshögskola, the School of Business, Economics and Law, was dealt an even tougher card - graduating in the midst of the global financial crisis in 2009.

"It was simply horrible!" Sona exclaims and describes the first year after graduation as a struggle that put her patience and determination to the test.

Today she works at the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce as a relocation consultant. She assists expats with the many processes involved in relocating to a new country.

"I really enjoy my work. West Sweden attracts a lot of competence and it is interesting to meet new people, and be able to help them."

Sona first arrived in Sweden when she was 16 as the daughter of an expat family. But it's not until now, 13 years later, that she's decided to make Sweden her permanent home. After she completed an international Bachelor programme in Economics at Mälardalen University she worked as a consultant for Ernst & Young in Canada and studied in England. These experiences made her realise she wanted to work more actively with people, and in particular with knowledge and competence management. The next step was a Master's programme in International Business and Trade. She chose Handelshögskolan because of its good reputation.

Sona believes the future for international students in Gothenburg is bright.

"Gothenburg is becoming more and more international, and I can say this with confidence as I work in this area. There are also more jobs now that don't require that you know Swedish."

Sona's advice to job hunters is straight forward - network, be persistent and don't give up. And don't start thinking about employment at the very end of your time at university.

"Start networking from the beginning, talk to people. Every time there's a guest lecturer at your university, take their card, ask about their needs. When you're doing your thesis perform really well, and think long term."

Sona speaks from experience. She wrote her Master's thesis in collaboration with Volvo Technology and was later hired as a consultant on a large Volvo project. And networking, it clearly pays off: months after she finished an internship with the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce, she learned of an opening with them, applied, and got the job.

Sona also advises jobseekers not to aim so high, in particular at times when the job market is down. She believes the seemingly endless list of rejections is bad for your self-esteem and highly discouraging.

"Don't go straight for the gold apple. Work your way up."

When asked what she enjoys about working in Sweden her response is immediate.

"I think what a lot of people appreciate when they come to work here is the work and life balance. Some days you have to stay longer, but you have this luxury of having a life outside of work."

She also likes the 12 o'clock lunch break - how it gives employees time to socialise and take a bit of a time out. This did not happen for instance in Canada where her colleagues ate at their desks.

Despite the many challenges relocating to a new country poses, Sona highly recommends studying in Sweden. Not only because you learn to see the world from different angles, but also because of the Swedish approach to learning.

"There's a more mature atmosphere and more independent work at university here. A lot of assignments are group based, and many times you don't get to have your own pace of work but at the end of your education you learn how much this will help you in your work life."

Another tip Sona would give newcomers is to learn Swedish. She believes this is important when it comes to settling in and making new friends. And when it comes to meeting new people, Sona says:

"It takes time to get to know people. Don't get the wrong impression that people don't like you. If you think that somebody doesn't like you, and you start treating them as if they don't like you, then you're going to get that effect."

A piece of advice valuable to non-Swedes and Swedes alike, wherever in the world you might live.

This article was created in collaboration with Chalmers, the University of Gothenburg and Göteborg & Co.