”At weekends I long for Monday”

Amin Abdi, 22, came to Sweden from Somalia in 2017. He and his family live in Broby. He smiles, in spite of the fact that he and his family must leave their flat in Broby.

– That's life, it smiles at us and then starts to get angry again. But I still feel that I'm the happiest person hereabouts. I hope I'll soon get a permanent job. That's something I've been working hard to find all the time, says Amin Abdi.

In 2021 he took part in the municipal labour market campaign Göingematchning.The purpose of the programme is to help people in Göinge to find jobs – and businesses in Göinge to find workers.

– When I heard about the municipal labour section and Göingematchning, which would help me with my Swedish and also to find a job, I told my administrator at the Job Centre that I wanted to take part in the scheme.

– It's absolutely the best thing I could have done, for it has led to my having a job today.

Thomas Oscarsson, factory manager, says:

– We have a very good working relation with the municipal labour section. They are good at finding quick solutions, in our branch things happen quickly. They can rustle up six or seven candidates for quick interviews in no time at all. Amin is one of seven or eight temporary employees who can go on working here.

– Considering what is going on in the world around us it is difficult to predict the future, but it looks good.

Amin is a good worker.

– He 's very go-ahead, he really wants to learn and has an enquiring mind. I'm very pleased with him, says Thomas Oscarsson.

Amin learned welding, but could not find a job as a welder. So he looked around for other possibilities.

– Having a job means a very great deal to me. Now that I've started working I feel different, he says.

– I love my job. In my own country I always had a a physical job.

They co-operate well.

– We work well together if we have to. You don't have to talk so much, you know what the other person is going to do.

– We get on really well with one another, says Amin.

Trying to find a job has not been easy. Amin says he searched every day, both online and directly with employers.

– Yes, it can be really demanding, sending your CV to different employers all the time and often not even getting a reply, a lot of people feel the same.

– You must be patient. It's important to find a job that matches your competence and background, says Amin.

Amin talks about his job with great enthusiasm, he gets up two hours before he starts work in the morning to be well prepared.

– At the weekend I long for Monday. I really feel I'm in the right place here, says Amin Abdi.

Finding a job isn't easy, have you any advice to new arrivals?

– The best thing you can do if you're new here is to find a trainee job as soon as you can. That increases your chances of getting established in Sweden, because you soon encounter the Swedish way of life, learn the language and make contacts.

– Have a positive attitude, be open for other jobs. You can always learn something new, everywhere. Having an open mind is an advantage, you learn the language better.

How is the atmosphere at your job?

– I feel at home. My job helps me to become integrated in the community.