Arbetsförmedlingen: the basic words

the employment service

Tip: Everyone says 'AF' (ah-eff) or just 'Arbetsförmedlingen'.

unemployed

Tip: lit. 'work-less'.

a job seeker

Tip: Your official label once registered.

to register

Tip: lit. 'to write oneself in' — the verb AF uses.

to get a job

Tip: No article: 'få jobb', not 'få ett jobb', in everyday speech.

a CV

Tip: Pronounced 'seh-veh', lower case in Swedish.

a cover letter

Tip: lit. 'a personal letter'.

a job ad

Tip: Platsbanken is AF's job board.

a job application

Tip: Plural: jobbansökningar.

an interview

Tip: Full form: anställningsintervju.

a case officer

Tip: The person who handles your case at any authority.

a meeting

Tip: AF's first one is a 'planeringssamtal'.

the activity report

Tip: Monthly report of what you did to find work — miss it and money stops.

unemployment insurance

Tip: Short for arbetslöshetskassa; you join one through your union or directly.

benefit / allowance

Tip: Generic word for money paid out to you.

a decision

Tip: Authorities send you 'beslut' by letter.

an appointment time

Tip: 'Boka en tid' = book an appointment.

a phone call

Tip: Most AF contact is by phone or in the app.

the queue

Tip: 'Sitta i telefonkö' = wait on hold.

an employer

Tip: lit. 'work-giver'.

an employee

Tip: lit. 'an employed (one)'.

a permanent job

Tip: Also 'tillsvidareanställning' on paper.

a temporary job

Tip: Covering for someone — the usual way in.

an internship

Tip: 'Göra praktik' = do an internship.

a course

Tip: AF can send you on one — 'gå en kurs'.

experience

Tip: Job ads want 'erfarenhet av...'.

a reference

Tip: Referenser = people who will vouch for you.

a salary

Tip: 'Månadslön' = monthly salary.

full-time

Tip: Part-time = deltid.

to hire

Tip: 'Vi anställer' = we're hiring.