Mitt Livs Chans Mentoring Program

Become a mentee and receive support in your job seeking

The next program start is in September 2024, and the applications will open again during the spring.

Since you are participating digitally, you can apply regardless of where you live in the Sweden. The program is offered in both English and Swedish. Would you like a reminder when the application opens? Register your email here:

Are you unable to find a job in Sweden in your area of competence? Do you have a foreign background and post-secondary education? In Mitt Livs Chans you receive support from a mentor regarding your job-seeking activities, opportunities to expand your contact network, and help in navigating the Swedish labour market.

As a mentee in Mitt Livs Chans, it is our aim that you:

  • Receive support, advice and guidance from a mentor who is established in the Swedish labour market. We match mentees and mentors to the greatest extent possible based on educational background, industry/sector and experience.
  • Develop an expanded professional network through your mentor and the other participants in the program.
  • Gain an in-depth understanding of the Swedish labour market and the job-seeking processes in this country.
  • Receive support and tools that help you refine your CV and cover letter and how you prepare for job interviews.

Who may apply as a mentee?

In order to be eligible for Mitt Livs Chans, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • You were born outside of Sweden, or you were born in Sweden but have two foreign-born parents

  • You have completed a post-secondary course of education

  • You don’t have a job that matches your qualifications, and you are an active job seeker

  • You live in Sweden

  • You have a residence permit in Sweden (or you are a EU citizen)

  • You can communicate freely in Swedish or English.

Structure of the program

Mitt Livs Chans offers two programs per year – one during the autumn and one during the spring. Each program lasts for 4 months, and participation entails a commitment of around 10 hours in total. Since you participate digitally, you are welcome to apply regardless of where you live in Sweden. We offer meetings in both Swedish and English.

During the program you are expected to meet with your mentor on at least four occasions, and you are responsible for booking these meetings yourselves. We match mentees and mentors to the greatest extent possible based on educational background, industry/sector and experience. As a mentee you also take part in the program’s joint meetings, where you have the opportunity to meet other mentors and mentees for networking purposes, and to gain more in-depth knowledge about the Swedish labour market.

Impact on our mentees

make valuable new contacts to add to their professional network

find a job or trainee position after the program.

gain new insights into how to prepare for a job interview.

gain new insights into how to reach their career goals in Sweden.

94% of the mentees would recommend a friend to participate in Mitt Livs Chans.

Stories

What do previous participants say about their experience of Mitt Livs Chans? Read their stories!

Mentee Jessie Leu: "Meeting other mentors and mentees was a great networking opportunity"

Mentee Nikola Veselská on the importance of networking

"Life do not come with an instruction manual" - Interview with our previous mentee Girish

Our partners

Our mentors come from a mix of different sectors and industries – just like our mentees! Around half of the mentors in our program come from Mitt Liv’s network of partners:

FAQ

How much time does it take to participate in the program?

The program lasts for 4 months and entails a commitment of around 10 hours in total. During the program you are expected to meet with your mentor on at least 4 occasions, and you are responsible for booking these meetings yourselves. You are also expected to take part in the program’s joint meetings. It is fine if you wish to combine your participation in the program with e.g. ongoing studies or an existing job.

In which languages is the mentoring program available?

Mitt Livs Chans is available in Swedish and English. When you apply, you choose the meetings you want to register for based on your preferred language.

Are all applicants offered a place in the program?

We always strive to accept as many mentee applications as we can. Whether or not we can offer you a place in the program depends on two things: whether you meet the application criteria, and whether we are able to find a suitable mentor to match you with. After the matching process, we notify all applicants via email as to whether or not we are able to offer them a place in the program on this occasion.

How do you match mentees and mentors?

The matching process is performed to the greatest extent possible on the basis of educational background, industry/sector and work experience. If this is not possible, we consider other relevant factors and perform the best possible matching we can – the process is designed to enable us to offer a place in the program to as many mentees as possible.

What can I expect from my mentor?

The mentor’s role is to act as a sounding board and to provide you with guidance based on your specific needs, circumstances and goals. You work together to navigate issues concerning the Swedish labour market, the job-seeking process or a specific industry or sector. The mentor’s assignment is not to find a job for his/her mentee; rather, the primary aim of the program is for the two of you to work together, with the help of the mentor’s support and guidance, to improve your possibilities of finding a job that matches your qualifications and skills.

Who are the mentors in the program?

Our mentors come from a mix of different sectors and industries – just like our mentees! Around half of the mentors in our program come from Mitt Liv’s network of partners. According to our latest Impact Report, the professional level of our mentors was as follows: 48% employee/non-managerial level, 26% middle management or head of department, 18% CEO or more senior position, and 8% self-employed/other.

Will I find a suitable job or trainee position through Mitt Livs Chans?

The aim of the program is to provide you with support, help and an expanded network, in order to increase your possibilities of finding an appropriate job in Sweden. During 2021, 44% of our mentees found a job or trainee position within 5 months of completing the program, and 88% of these stated that the job/trainee position was in their area of competence.

May I apply as a mentee if I am currently studying or already have a job?

Mitt Livs Chans is intended for individuals who don’t have a job in Sweden that matches their qualifications. If you currently have a job but it does not match your qualifications and skills, you are welcome to apply for a place in our program. You are also welcome to apply for a place in our program if you are currently studying, although in this case we recommend that you submit your application when you have entered the final phase of your studies and have started looking for a job (please state this in your application).

Does it cost anything to participate in the program?

No, the program is free of charge.

What do you mean by “post-secondary education”?

Post-secondary education is education that has taken place after completing upper secondary school. Examples of post-secondary education include university studies, higher vocational education and studies at a polytechnic or folk high school.

Is the Mitt Livs Chans program connected to the Swedish Public Employment Service?

No – the Mitt Livs Chans mentoring program is run and managed by Mitt Liv AB (svb), a social enterprise that finances the program through its own consulting activities, collaborations and partnerships. You don’t need to be registered with the Swedish Public Employment Service in order to participate in Mitt Livs Chans.

Contact

Do you have questions, or would you like more information? Please feel free to contact us!