Losing your Professional Identity when moving to Sweden

When Your Career Doesn’t Cross Borders: Losing and Rebuilding Professional Identity in Sweden

When many of us first moved to Sweden, we carried big dreams and a clear vision of our careers. Some of us came here to study, some followed a partner, and others simply wanted the adventure of living abroad. The stories are different, but there’s often a common thread: once we arrive, our professional journey can suddenly feel… irrelevant.

I’ve seen this pattern again and again over my seven years here. Friends, colleagues, and especially women I’ve spoken with share the same frustration: feeling “not enough” for the Swedish job market. It’s not about lacking education—most have at least a bachelor’s degree, plenty of work experience, and often even speak Swedish. Yet somehow, there always seems to be something missing when it comes to getting that job.

Recently, I came across a study by Sara Verderber (2024), The professional identity of highly educated migrant women: a multinational study of migration processes from a gender and educational perspective. She interviewed 36 highly educated migrant women across the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Germany. These women had diverse professional backgrounds and had migrated for studies, family reunification, or work. Despite their qualifications and experience, many struggled to maintain their professional identity.

Verderber’s research resonated with me because it shows how migration, combined with gender and education, often leaves women feeling deskilled or marginalized. And the saddest part? This topic is often overlooked, because higher education is assumed to be a “guarantee” that women will “find their way” abroad. But we know—it’s not that simple.

Ana’s Story

One story that always stays with me is of a woman I’ll call Ana.

Ana has a PhD and years of professional experience in her home country. Back home, she built a respected career. But after moving to Sweden, she struggled to find work. Eventually, she accepted an unpaid internship—hoping it would give her contacts and a Swedish reference to finally land a job.

Now, don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing bad about internships. For some women, they’ve been a stepping stone into the job market. But Ana’s case was different. She already had experience. She already spoke the language. She had already proven herself. Internships might have made sense at the start of her career, 15 years ago—but not now.

Ana’s story is not unique. Many professional women end up starting from scratch, questioning their identity, their worth, and even the decision to move abroad.

My Story

I’ve lived this too.

Back in Costa Rica, I was a full-time recruiter specialized in leadership positions, working in three big international companies. But when I landed a job in Gothenburg, I wasn’t trusted to lead the process myself. Instead, I had to present lists of candidates that another recruiter would review one by one, asking me why I thought they were a good match.

The interviews I was “trusted” to handle were only phone screenings and some LinkedIn messages. As much as I insisted that I could run the full cycle, it was as if they couldn’t hear me.

Once, when I mentioned that I had worked full-time while studying full-time at university, the response I got was: “That must have been an internship. It’s impossible to work and study full-time at once.” Comments like this made me question whether taking this opportunity in Sweden was the right choice for me.

I want to tell you—you are not alone in this. It is painful. It is energy-draining. I’ve been there: sending out 200 applications before landing one interview, being “tested” with tasks I had already mastered in my very first internship 10 years earlier, being called “new and inexperienced.”

But I also want to tell you this: I overcame that stage. I still face challenges, and I know bias is still there, but I’ve come out stronger, more mature, and more confident about who I am and what I want professionally. And you will too.

Gentle Tips for the Journey

💜 Acknowledge the loss.
Losing your professional identity is a kind of grief. It’s okay to feel sad, angry, or exhausted. If you can, seek support—from therapy, friends, or networks of other foreign women. Most importantly, remember: this is not your fault.

💜 Focus on skills, not titles.
Job titles change from country to country. Skills do not. Your ability to solve problems, lead projects, or build relationships—that value is yours everywhere.

💜 Build your people.
Networks matter. Surround yourself with other migrant women, mentors, and allies who get it. The moment you hear “me too”, you’ll feel less alone.

💜 Redefine yourself.
You are more than your CV. Your job doesn’t define you. Neither does your degree. For me, starting this community has been about asking myself: “What would I do if money wasn’t an issue?” That question opened new doors.

💜 Claim your narrative.
When you move to a new country, others often define your story for you: “new,” “inexperienced,” “starting over.” One of the most powerful things you can do is reclaim your own narrative. Write down your achievements, your projects, and your professional journey exactly as you experienced it—even the small victories. Speak about your skills and experiences in your own words. Share your story publicly if you can (through a blog, LinkedIn posts, or community groups). When you take control of your story, you remind yourself—and others—that your professional identity didn’t disappear; it just needs to be voiced and recognized in a new context.

You Are Not Alone

If you’ve read this far, maybe you see yourself in Ana’s story. Or in mine. Maybe your chest feels heavy because you thought you were the only one feeling this way. You are not.

This is bigger than you, bigger than me—it’s a shared experience among thousands of women who moved here with dreams and found themselves starting over.

So please, don’t carry this silently. Share your story. Reach out. And remember: even if your professional identity feels lost, your worth never is.

And please remember to share this article with any other women is going through this!