Daily life · Sweden
Networking
Building your community
Expat Communities
Expat Communities
Sweden has vibrant expat communities, especially in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Connecting with other newcomers makes settling in much easier.
- InterNations
- Largest expat network — events and forums
- Facebook groups
- 'Expats in Stockholm' (50,000+ members)
- Meetup.com
- Regular expat events and interest groups
- r/TillSverige (10,000+ expats)
- Events
- International fairs, language exchanges, networking nights
- Join InterNations and attend a welcome event
- Search Facebook for expat groups in your city
- Browse Meetup.com for events matching your interests
- Join r/TillSverige on Reddit for practical advice
- Attend at least one event per month to build your network
Official sources
Professional
Professional Networking
Sweden's job market values networks highly. Many positions are filled through connections rather than job ads.
- LinkedIn usage
- 5+ million Swedish users (highest per capita globally)
- Networking events
- Stockholm Tech, SUP46, Epicenter
- Hidden job market
- Up to 70% of jobs filled through networking
- Informational interviews
- Swedes are open to fika-style career chats
- Alumni networks
- KTH, SSE, Chalmers have strong expat alumni groups
- Optimise your LinkedIn profile in English and Swedish
- Attend industry-specific meetups and conferences
- Request informational interviews over fika
- Join your university's alumni network in Sweden
- Volunteer at tech or industry events to meet people
Official sources
Swedish Friendships
Making Swedish Friends
Swedes are famously reserved with strangers but deeply loyal friends. The key is shared activities, not small talk.
- Sports clubs
- Best way to meet Swedes — join a local förening
- Study circles
- ABF, Folkuniversitetet — learn together, bond naturally
- Parenthood
- Öppna förskolan (open preschool) connects parents
- Neighbours
- Introduce yourself and attend building events (grannfest)
- Dog ownership
- Instant social connector — Swedes talk freely to dog owners
- Join a sport or hobby club (förening) in your area
- Attend open preschool (öppna förskolan) if you have young children
- Say yes to every invitation — Swedes don't invite casually
- Invite Swedish colleagues for after-work activities
- Be patient — Swedish friendships develop slowly but last a lifetime
Official sources
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