(edit title) Moving to Stockholm at a young age Need advice about the move Options

[daniel812002]

Hello,
I am a young man (almost 19) from Europe who finished highschool and is currently in the process of saving up money in order to move to Stockholm, where my gf lives. My plan is to study my bachelors in Sweden, in Swedish, and for that I'd have to live for at least a year in Sweden I believe, before I can get to sufficient level of Swedish.
I've seen all the criticism and negativity towards Sweden here, don't try to convince me why to NOT do it, but rather help me see how I can do it despite all the difficulties.
I'll need to find a job which will hire me despite not having the best Swedish (it is and will remain a work in progress until some time after I settle I believe).
I'd honestly take any job, no matter the shifts or how boring it might be as long as it'll pay the bills and help me achieve my goals.
I was thinking about going to the European Bartender school and then looking for a job in bars. But I figured I'd ask about it here as well.
The only work experience I have is a few months in a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
Any advice would be massively appreciated.


Also, I will be in Stockholm for a month in January to see how it is, so any advice on what to check during that period will be highly appreciated.

[Mpf]

I know you say that we shouldn't try and convince you NOT to come, and I'm not but when it comes to jobs, especially those in the hospitality industry one must remember that we are currently in the throws of a pandemic. Although there is no lockdown in Sweden the entertainment industry, like many other industries has been hit hard and there is an abundance of out of work bar tenders out there! There are probably thousands of out of work unskilled workers out there so finding a job, especially with limited language skills might prove difficult.

That said, I would agree with you, that this site can be quite negative especially towards newcomers, and many have had bad experiences, but it is not all doom and gloom. Some of us have had a good transition from one EU country to another and I am enjoying my time here, having been here nearly 14 years.

I'm sorry I can't be more positive, but I wish you all the luck in the world, as you'll probably need it and hope you get what you want.

[*Guest*]

I'm pro sweden etc.. but aged just 19 I'd have to ask why sweden?

Your plan isn't impossible, but to say it's going to be tough is probably an understatement. You'll need to have funds to support yourself, find accommodation, pass the language test, get your uni place etc.. these individually are major obstacles.

[TheExpatEagle]

I'm pro sweden etc.. but aged just 19 I'd have to ask why sweden? Your plan isn't impossible, but to say it's going to be tough is probably an understatement. ... (show full quote)

I'm pro sweden etc.. but aged just 19 I'd have to ask why sweden?

Your plan isn't impossible, but to say it's going to be tough is probably an understatement. You'll need to have funds to support yourself, find accommodation, pass the language test, get your uni place etc.. these individually are major obstacles. ... (hide full quote)

+1 and then some!

[daniel812002]

those in the hospitality industry one must remember that we are currently in the throws of a pandemic. Although there is no lockdown in Sweden the entertainment industry, like many other industries has been hit hard and there is an abundance of out of work bar tenders out there!

Yes I do understand that and I don't expect the situation to fully resolve itself by the time I move (which I hope is around half a year, I should have enough money by then). Hence I am not locked into any job, I'd take any.
But thank you for your kind words.

[daniel812002]

I'm pro sweden etc.. but aged just 19 I'd have to ask why sweden?

Your plan isn't impossible, but to say it's going to be tough is probably an understatement. You'll need to have funds to support yourself, find accommodation, pass the language test, get your uni place etc.. these individually are major obstacles.

I don't mean to be rude but I feel like your first question is irrelevant.
I do believe that eventually I'll get all those things you mentioned however my absolute biggest concern is finding a job to support myself so I don't burn all my savings, while I study the language to an academic level.
So ANY advice regarding jobs would be highly appreciated.

[ChocOwl]

My plan is to study my bachelors in Sweden, in Swedish, and for that I'd have to live for at least a year in Sweden I believe, before I can get to sufficient level of Swedish.

The time it takes to learn Swedish is extremely individual and depends on many factors. It would theoretically be possible to learn sufficient Swedish to study at university level before even moving here.

[*Guest*]

I don't mean to be rude but I feel like your first question is irrelevant.I do believe that eventually I'll get all those things you mentioned however my absolute bigg ... (show full quote)

I don't mean to be rude but I feel like your first question is irrelevant.
I do believe that eventually I'll get all those things you mentioned however my absolute biggest concern is finding a job to support myself so I don't burn all my savings, while I study the language to an academic level.
So ANY advice regarding jobs would be highly appreciated. ... (hide full quote)

If you can't explain in one sentence why you want to move to sweden, then I'd suggest you are doomed to fail.

All the different stages i cited are a major challenge, without some over arching motivation to see you through it, it ain't going to happen.

Getting a job in the next 2 years will be near impossible. Unemployment and business closures haven't peaked yet. I wouldn't come to Sweden with your plan unless I had at least 300,000krona in the bank to see me through.

Language etc etc...

[Essingen55]

Also, I will be in Stockholm for a month in January to see how it is, so any advice on what to check during that period will be highly appreciated.

Well that is a good start. But I have been here for 30 years and I am far from certain that I would make the move at this stage, given what has happened during that time. You may find it irritating, but the people on here are right to warn you.

[daniel812002]

The time it takes to learn Swedish is extremely individual and depends on many factors. It would theoretically be possible to learn sufficient Swedish to study at university level before even moving here.

Theoretically yes, however despite that fact that I don't really have a hard time with languages, I'm still not quite sure it's doable for me, at least not in a quick enough way.

[Martin565]

[daniel812002]

If you can't explain in one sentence why you want to move to sweden, then I'd suggest you are doomed to fail.

I do understand where you're coming from however it's not that I can't explain my motivation but rather I didn't come here to explain my motivation, I came here to get tips and advice.

Getting a job in the next 2 years will be near impossible. Unemployment and business closures haven't peaked yet. I wouldn't come to Sweden with your plan unless I had at least 300,000krona in the bank to see me through.

I know, and I will have that amount (already have a bit more than half of it), only that one half is intended to use only incase of emergency, hence I'll need to find a job before I burn one half.

[daniel812002]

[daniel812002]

Well that is a good start. But I have been here for 30 years and I am far from certain that I would make the move at this stage, given what has happened during that time. You may find it irritating, but the people on here are right to warn you.

I understand and I'm used to it as I've been warned about it for as long as I can remember.

[*Guest*]

I do understand where you're coming from however it's not that I can't explain my motivation but rather I didn't come here to explain my motivation, I came her ... (show full quote)

I do understand where you're coming from however it's not that I can't explain my motivation but rather I didn't come here to explain my motivation, I came here to get tips and advice.



I know, and I will have that amount (already have a bit more than half of it), only that one half is intended to use only incase of emergency, hence I'll need to find a job before I burn one half. ... (hide full quote)

The streets of Stockholm aren't paved in gold anymore than London or Paris, to settle in a new country and be happy you really need to have some reason for go there and to help you through the hardships that will follow.

Even before covid getting a part time unskilled job in sweden was tough, easily the toughest market, you are competing against the entire EU and every non EU migrant. Today, with covid and the looming recession, it's a near impossible task. There will be no shortage of fluent Swedish speakers looking for bar work, never mind folk like yourself.

If you really want to get anywhere in sweden, stay where you are, get your degree in a field in demand in sweden, learn Swedish, get a job where ever you are now in a multinational etc. Then come.