Engineer Umer Waheed applied for more than 100 jobs before finding one.
Umer Waheed is set to start his new job next week, though he prefers not to disclose the employer yet.
– Many of us are still jobless, and I worry that my employer might get overwhelmed with calls from jobseekers if I reveal their identity now. But it’s a dream job that suits me perfectly, he says.
Originally from Pakistan, Umer holds a civil engineering degree in architecture. With experience in Dubai and China, he and his wife, also an engineer, joined Northvolt after a brief stint at Umeå University. Four years have passed since then.
– I worked in Revolt, as well as in Downstream and Formation and Aging. I might be one of the few lucky enough to gain experience across so many departments, he says.
Umer describes his time at Northvolt as valuable.
– I learned a lot about Swedish standards and even earned a certification, which is crucial for anyone wanting to work in Sweden—apart from learning the language, of course.
The fact that Umer is just months away from being eligible to apply for permanent residence, coupled with the fact that both of his children were born in Sweden, are key reasons the family wanted to stay in the country. However, staying in Skellefteå wasn’t a given.
– At first, we thought about continuing with Northvolt, but by summer, when the problems surfaced, we realised we needed to prepare to look elsewhere and possibly move.
They hadn’t bought a house or established deep roots, and southern Sweden offered more job opportunities. Additionally, with many people in Skellefteå losing their jobs simultaneously as Northvolt scaled back, competition was expected to rise.
– Initially, we focused our job search in southern Sweden. But when Skellefteå municipality expressed a desire to retain skilled workers, it became a strong motivation to stay. The Meet and Match job fairs they organised were fantastic—they allowed us to meet companies we’d applied to and personally introduce ourselves to recruiters.
Finding a job has not been easy, particularly for someone from outside the EU. To qualify for a new work permit, the salary must be at least 28,460 kronor per month, which may not be a problem for a highly skilled professional, but then there’s the language barrier.
– Most jobs require Swedish. I’ve been rejected many times because I’m not fluent. They say, "you have everything we are looking for, except the language. We need someone who can speak, write, and read in Swedish."
Some companies — such as the one that eventually employed Umer — are more flexible, allowing employees to learn on the job if they know some basic Swedish.
– But language is the key – it’s what allows you to function in society, says Umer.
He pulls two notebooks from his bag, filled with pages of notes about job applications.
– I wrote down all the jobs I’ve applied for, what they’re looking for, details about the company, and why I didn’t get the job, he explains, flipping through.
He points to one line.
– Like here, "language skills," he says.
Umer Waheed is a laid-off Northvolt employee who has found a new job.
How many jobs did you apply for before landing this one?
– From last summer until now, about a hundred.
The job search is finally over for now, as both Umer and his wife have secured new employment. He begins work in a few days and believes they will likely stay in the area.
– Even though it’s cold and dark, Skellefteå has opened its arms. It’s a city growing faster than any other. The future is bright despite what happened with Northvolt—the green transition is gaining momentum. Our children are growing up and going to school here, and we have friends and neighbours we really like.