How to Write a CV for Swedish Tech Companies

I've sat on hiring panels at three different Stockholm tech companies. The pattern is always the same: a stack of 80+ CVs comes in, and within 10 seconds each, we sort them into "interview" or "pass." Most international candidates end up in the wrong pile — not because they lack skill, but because their CV doesn't speak the language Swedish recruiters read.

What Swedish Recruiters Value Most

Clarity. That's the word I hear most from hiring managers across Stockholm. Not creativity, not design — clarity. Swedish tech culture values people who can communicate complex work simply. Your CV is the first proof of that ability.

Recruiters here want to see impact, not activity. Compare these two bullet points from a real CV we reviewed:

The second version tells me three things: you made a technical decision, you shipped it, and it worked. That's what gets you into the interview room at Klarna, Spotify, or any serious engineering team here.

Format: What Actually Works Here

Two pages. Not three, not four. I've seen seven-page CVs from senior engineers with 15 years of experience — and every single one got rejected before the second page. Swedish recruiters interpret length as an inability to prioritize. If you can't edit your own CV, how will you scope a feature?

Start with a professional summary — three to four lines that frame who you are and what you're looking for. Then skills (a clean grid, not a paragraph), then experience in reverse chronological order, then education. Skip the "objective statement." Nobody here uses them.

The Photo Question

This surprises most international candidates: photos on CVs are common and generally expected in Sweden. It's not a legal requirement, but leaving it off can make your application feel incomplete. Use a professional headshot with a neutral background. LinkedIn-quality is fine. Selfies are not.

Most candidates know the basics. The hard part is knowing which details matter for your specific role, seniority level, and target company — and that's where a generic template stops being useful.