Swedish CV Guide: Format, Photo and Language

A Swedish CV is short and plain: one to two pages, a short summary at the top, relevant experience and education, and a PDF file. A photo is optional, a separate cover letter (the "personligt brev") is normal, and you write the CV in the language of the job ad. Arbetsförmedlingen says 1–2 pages is sufficient (accessed 2026-10-20), and Øresunddirekt says a photo is common but not a requirement (accessed 2026-10-20).

NextCV is built by a founder who lives in Sweden, and it can write your CV and cover letter in Swedish as well as English and French. If you already have a CV, the free CV check gives it an ATS-readiness score out of 100 across 8 categories, with no signup and no job description needed, so you can see what to fix before you write anything in Swedish.

What a Swedish CV Looks Like

Length. Arbetsförmedlingen, the Swedish Public Employment Service, says 1–2 pages is sufficient and to focus on experience that is relevant for the job. Örebro University's career service gives the same limit: a maximum of two A4 pages. Both pages accessed 2026-10-20.

Photo. Optional. Øresunddirekt writes that a photo is common but not a requirement, and Arbetsförmedlingen says that if you include one it should look professional. Örebro University calls it optional and suggests a photo that is not too relaxed and not too formal. If you are unsure, follow what the employer's own site and ad look like. All accessed 2026-10-20.

Summary at the top. Arbetsförmedlingen's CV page lists a short summary of your experience as a section you can use, and recommends a simple structure with clear headings so the employer gets an overview quickly (source, accessed 2026-10-20). Keep it to three or four sentences about what you do and what you want to do next.

Contact details. Arbetsförmedlingen lists phone number, email and postal address, and optionally a LinkedIn or website link. Örebro University notes that a full home address is probably unnecessary and takes up space. Both accessed 2026-10-20.

References. A common closing line on Swedish CVs is "Referenser lämnas på begäran" (references available on request). Örebro University goes a step further and says references are not necessary on the CV and are more relevant later in the recruitment process (accessed 2026-10-20). Have two or three people ready, and ask them first.

Cover letter ("personligt brev"). Øresunddirekt says a job application in Sweden is usually half to one A4 page (accessed 2026-10-20). Arbetsförmedlingen's CV page refers to the same document as a personal letter and says to send both as PDFs when applying by email.

Language. Øresunddirekt's advice is to write your application in the language used in the job advertisement or the language the employer specifies. Örebro University adds that if you do not speak Swedish you should use English, that you should state your Swedish level if you are still learning, and that you should not rely on AI tools or Google Translate to translate your application. Both accessed 2026-10-20. That last point is why a Swedish CV needs a careful read by someone fluent before it goes out, whichever tool wrote the first draft. Arbetsförmedlingen goes further: it suggests using AI for ideas and proofreading, but says employers often screen with AI-assisted recruitment systems and a text that is entirely AI-generated risks being rejected, so make the text your own (source, accessed 2026-10-20).

Writing Your CV in Swedish With NextCV

If the ad is in Swedish, NextCV can generate the CV and matching cover letter in Swedish from your profile and the job description. Read the result before sending, or ask a Swedish speaker to, because Örebro University's warning applies to any machine-written text. If the ad is in English, generate in English. To see which words from the ad your CV still misses, paste both into the free job match tool.

Where to Look for Jobs

Arbetsförmedlingen runs the national job board and has guidance for job seekers (accessed 2026-10-20). LinkedIn and Indeed are widely used for professional roles, as are Swedish boards such as Blocket Jobb and Jobbsafari. Some senior roles are filled through recruiters and networks without a public ad.

Working in Sweden From Abroad

If you are from outside the EU/EEA, check the rules before you plan around a move, because they changed in 2026. Migrationsverket's page for employees says a work permit applies when you have found employment in Sweden, and that, as of 16 June, the median salary is SEK 38,300, so you need a salary of at least SEK 34,470 a month to be granted a work permit (source, accessed 2026-10-20). Migrationsverket also lists a residence permit to look for work for people who have completed studies equivalent to a second-cycle (master's-level) qualification, or research (accessed 2026-10-20). Check your own case on Migrationsverket's site, since the requirements differ by route.

Interviews and Workplace Culture

Swedish interviews are usually conversational and structured, often with HR and the hiring manager. Competency questions ("tell me about a time when...") are common, so prepare two or three specific examples with what you did and what came of it. Workplaces tend to be flat and decisions are often made collectively, so interviewers listen for how you work with others. These are general observations rather than rules, and they vary by company.

Two facts worth knowing before an offer. Statutory vacation is 25 days a year under the Annual Leave Act, according to the union Unionen (accessed 2026-10-20), and many Swedish employers have collective agreements (kollektivavtal) that set pay floors and conditions, so ask whether the company has one.

Common Mistakes International Applicants Make

Sending a US or UK CV unchanged. Long, achievement-only CVs run past two pages. Cut to the roles that matter for this job and add a short summary.

Ignoring the cover letter. A short, specific personligt brev about why this company and this role is normal in Sweden. Generic letters do not help.

Writing in the wrong language. Match the ad. If you are still learning Swedish, say so and give your level.

Listing titles without scope. Say what you owned and delivered, not only the title.

Skipping Arbetsförmedlingen if you live in Sweden. Its site has CV templates and guidance in English and other languages.

See how NextCV tailors your CV to match the job posting

Swedish employers read hundreds of CVs for popular roles. NextCV helps you reframe your experience in the format and language Swedish hiring managers expect — flagging where your current CV reads as too UK/US in structure and helping you craft the personal profile paragraph that Swedish applications lead with.

Top Employers in This Region

If you are job searching in this area, these company-specific guides cover the hiring process and what each employer looks for: