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Recruitment & Onboarding

Take additional care when recruiting from abroad.

Many companies should evaluate their current onboarding plans to see if they can be improved, and if they are suitable for the different types of talent which the company is recruiting.


The tips below are mostly for international recruitment but many points still apply for a person moving internally within Sweden, or a student that has lived their last few years primarily among other students. Making sure that a new employee gets comfortably acquainted both with the company, new colleagues and the city is essential.


TIPS

Before they move (0-3 months before the move)

  • Is help with accommodation needed? Can you as an employer arrange accommodation, or can you advice on how to find a home? The Move to UmeĆ„Ā webpage has helpful information.

  • For someone who is moving to Sweden for the first time, inform about what to pack and what to expect from the move here. Especially think about winter-time in UmeĆ„!

  • Sending ā€œhello videosā€ from the current colleagues can be a good introduction and make them feel welcome.

  • Tips on where to learn Swedish, since it is good if the earning process starts as early on as possible. We at Gateway UmeĆ„ are also working on providing help with this.

  • Inform them about things you can do and see in UmeĆ„, so that the employee doesnā€™t feel totally lost upon arrival. Tip them about Visit UmeĆ„.

  • Give tips on different networks, Facebook groups etc that the employee can participate in, to get to know people. Know any associations they might be interested in?

  • Inform about Gateway UmeĆ„ and what information and service we can provide.


Creating a rigorous and well-thought out onboarding strategy is essential to make a new recruit feel safe and welcome

When moving here (first month)

  • Have one of the new recruitā€™s close colleagues become their ā€œbuddyā€ for the first few weeks. A person to give extra help and support, and that the employee can ask questions.

  • Let the chosen buddy pick up the new recruit at the airport and/or meet the employee before his/hers first job day, to show where the office is.

  • Let this ā€œbuddyā€ introduce the employee to all the other colleagues, and arrange a lunch/fika/afterwork the first week to more casual get to know people.

  • Have a good and extended onboarding together with the new employee, where you sit down and talk about the office culture and everything applicable to your organisation, but also to Sweden and UmeĆ„ and how things work around here. Show and introduce Gateway UmeĆ„Ā and Move to UmeĆ„Ā webpages as this will be the place the employee can search for information.

  • Have Gateway UmeĆ„s webpage visible and easy to find from your companyā€™s own webpage and in your introduction package.


After they have arrived (month 1-3 in UmeƄ)

  • Continue to inform about both the organisation and Sweden/UmeĆ„, since all that information from the first week can easily be forgotten.

  • Check that the employee has all needed Insurances, like; Home insurance, Life insurance, Health Insurance, Accidental Insurance, Pension, Employment insurance. Also, check that the employee is listed at VĆ„rdcentral and dentist.

  • Book a follow-up meeting 2-3 months after the job have started, to see how the employee thrives and if there is anything missing etc.


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