Sanne Ruijs
I have always dreamed of living abroad, somewhere close to nature, where I could trail run, camp, and enjoy the quiet. I didn鈥檛 know where that place would be until I started my master鈥檚 degree.
Choosing the life I loved
I fell in love with Sweden. The calmness, the forests, the culture, and the people made me feel at home in a way I had never experienced before.
But after graduating, reality hit. I didn鈥檛 speak the language yet, my entire network was still in the Netherlands, and the Swedish labour market can be challenging, especially when you are new. I found myself standing at a crossroads: return to the Netherlands, where I could easily accept a job offer and fast-track my career, or stay in Sweden, the country where I felt the happiest.
It wasn鈥檛 an easy choice, but in the end, I decided that my career should support the life I want to live, not the other way around. So, I stayed.
Keep shaking the tree
The months that followed were tough. I dedicated myself to learning Swedish, applying for jobs, and joining the Kick- Start Program run by 嫩草影院. I wanted to build a life here doing work I truly enjoy. To increase my chances, I did everything I could to become visible: I built my personal brand on LinkedIn, posted twice a week, and updated my profile based on the advice I received. I even started my own small company so I could work as a freelancer if an opportunity appeared. At the same time, I attended conferences, expanded my network, and reached out to people across Sweden.
Most responses were the same: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e a great fit, but we need someone fluent in Swedish.鈥� It was discouraging. But along this journey, I met many internationals who had gone through the exact same process. They all told me one thing: 鈥淛ust keep shaking the tree. One day, a beautiful apple will fall.鈥�
And they were right. Eventually, that beautiful apple did fall. Things started to come together, living in the country I love, doing work I am passionate about, and being able to sustain myself here.
If you鈥檙e searching for your place in Sweden, keep going. Keep shaking that tree. Even when it feels pointless. Because one day, that beautiful apple really does fall.
/Sanne Ruijs
听
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