My first unfortunate experience trying to get a job in Linköping, Sweden

Just writing this to alert all other people coming new to Sweden.

I started my job search soon after I moved here. My Swedish is A1/A2 level, and i have experience with fast food and customer service for a few years.

Two jobs contacted me. The first I couldn’t join because of timing issues. But the second was a kebab restaurant in the city (Berlin Döner).

They said first come in for an interview. So my partner drove me there… it was 5 minutes and i was asked to come back on Friday for a trial shift. I thought ok, that is strange but sure since the first meeting was only 5 minutes.

The trial shift was a 3.5hr training session unpaid.

I asked if i had the job? They said come in the next day, for more “learning.” Naively i agreed as i wasn’t sure if this was normal in Sweden. In the Uk, any kind of unpaid work is illegal, including unpaid training.

Saturday was a 4 hour rush hour shift where i was prepping and serving customers and legitimately working. I was not paid for this. So that is 7.5 hours unpaid.

They asked me again to come on Monday, so i asked where is the money and contract? They said they could transfer me for it, but they didn’t know how much money it would be.

They said they cant just give out a contract straight away as i need more “training… “

My partner spoke to them and they finally said OK we can pay you properly, although said that other staff who had joined were fine with starting on 70kr per hour.

So me asking for a collective minimum of 144kr was too much (they offered less than this).

I stupidly came in again Monday after they said i would get a contract then…. (if I’m unemployed at least it felt like i was trying?).

Still no sign of the contract.

Asked to come in again on Tuesday. Again, i asked where is the contract? They said they’d give it to me before Tuesday work starts.

I turn up with my partner to help translate, and they said they couldn’t give the contract because of my partner questioning them about the free work, dubious working practices, and offers of personal transfers. So it was bye bye after all that mess 😅

Who knows if I’ll ever see any money for coming in on 5 separate occasions…?

If i was in a less fortunate position maybe i would’ve just worked for free like the other staff until i finally got 70kr per hour?? Seems like the rest of them did.

Anyone really needs the job more than i do, just DM i guess …. 😬

TLDR: unpaid “trial work” is taking advantage of you and don’t do it.