Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Jelena Varava.
To help people who lost their jobs at Northvolt, Skellefteå municipality is co-hosting a series of Meet and Match events. These events bring together job-seekers and employers with openings.
The third Meet and Match event, held yesterday at Sara kulturhus, attracted another large crowd and also had non-Norrland employers. The organisers were Skellefteå municipality, Arbetsförmedlingen, and Northvolt. We spoke to some job-hunters and employers.
Job hunters:
Jelena Varava
Jelena has a master’s degree in civil and industrial engineering, as well as15 years of engineering management experience with high profile clients such as Volvo and Ikea. She worked at Northvolt as a project engineering manager for four years.
– I think the kommun has organised this event well. With the first event ex-Northvolt employees were just finding out about the job cuts that week, so there was a lot of crowding and panic. Despite this, I was able to establish some good contacts at the event, so we’ll see. It’s overwhelming, but I'm trying to handle my worries. It just takes time, but I’m hopeful.
– Before the Northvolt news I had committed to a buying a new apartment that is currently being built, so obviously as a single mum, I’m a little anxious about keeping up with the payments.
Rishi Sreedhar and Vidya Vikraman
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Rishi Sreedhar with his wife Vidya Vikraman.
Vidya and Rishi, both from Kerala, India, met in 2021 while studying nanotechnology at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. This was Vidya’s second master’s degree, her first being in applied physics. She worked as a production quality associate at Northvolt for a year and eight months. Rishi works remotely for a non-Swedish employer. They married in May this year in India.
– People here in Skellefteå are very friendly. For example, if you're walking in the street, there's just so many more people here who smile at you. We’ve been to the after work events and made some great contacts, particularly David and Oscar from Skellefteå kommun, says Vidya.
Work-life balance is really important for us, so I’m looking for a job where I can give my best work for the company, while enjoying quality time with my family.
I have pretty good experience within process quality production, so a role in research and development would be ideal.
Some employers today have told me that job interviews will probably be in Swedish, but it’s possible to upskill on the job, so that is positive.
I think the idea of coming here and getting a job immediately was unrealistic because the global economy is slow, it’s not just Sweden. My approach to these events has been to try and find relevant connections. It’s very difficult to build genuine human connection online, says Vidya.
Constance and Vanessa
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Constance Kisaka and her daughter Vanessa Hellen Anita Viktorsson
Constance and Vanessa arrived in Boliden at the beginning of this month. Constance has lived in Sweden for nearly three years. In her native Kenya, Constance trained as a secondary school teacher, teaching history and religion.
– I moved here from Olofströms kommun because I could not find a job there. One day whilst at Komvux in Ronneby we were visited by people from Skellefteå kommun - they were looking for people to move here to work in different areas. I registered myself with the kommun and next week I’ll resume my SFI studies. Skellefteå kommun has been very friendly, much more so than Olofströms kommun.
Employers:
Emilia Ekström and Niklas Ohlin of Zeppelin Sverige, construction and mining machinery.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Emilia Ekström and Niklas Ohlin of Zeppelin Sverige, construction and mining machinery. “We employ people who speak English as well as Swedish."
–We employ people who speak English as well as Swedish. From a safety perspective, employees need to understand English when working with our machines. An off-highway truck can take a load of 300 tons, and the machine itself weighs around 200 tons. Safety and operational instructions are in English, says Niklas Ohlin.
Samuel Millkvist, Casja Nyberg and Moa Sällström of Academic Work, a recruitment and staffing company.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Left to right, Samuel Millkvist, Casja Nyberg and Moa Sällström of Academic Work, a recruitment and staffing company.
"The majority of our jobs need Swedish, but we do have English-speaking jobs throughout the whole of Sweden", says Casja Nyberg.
– Before attending this event we heard that 90% of those looking for work would not be able to speak fluent Swedish. The majority of our jobs need Swedish, but we do have English-speaking jobs throughout the whole of Sweden. We felt it was important to represent ourselves at this event, says Casja Nyberg.
Stina Burström of Bodens kommun
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Stina Burström of Bodens kommun. "Teachers who have obtained their teaching qualification within the EU can learn Swedish as they work. It takes approximately 2 years to become fully qualified."
– Teachers who have obtained their teaching qualification within the EU can learn Swedish as they work. It takes approximately two years to become fully qualified. Boden kommun has employed teachers from Spain and the Netherlands.
The third, and final, meet and match is today, Tuesday, November 19.
More photos:
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024. Silvester Mujkic, of Elite Hotels. Elite Hotel Frost, Kiruna, opens in June 2025.
“Our tourists are international, so we are happy to employ those who are not fluent in Swedish.”
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.
Meet and Match, November 18, 2024.