First Day of Work!

Here's where I sit at work...

My first few days of work in Stockholm went well. I got a ride to the train station in Knivsta (even though I am living in Uppsala, this seems to be the quicker way to go and it is the method friends are using). From there I took the train to Stockholm.

It really couldn’t have gone any better and everyone was very friendly but, boy howdy, I am glad that now I have a few days’ work under my belt. It’s hard to be “the new kid.” I would like to blend in but I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. that’s a strange English expression, isn’t it? I think about language so often now…)

The offices are airy and light, just over Kungsbron. I have not yet ventured very far into the rest of the city. The last time I was in Sweden was over three years ago and I never even went to Stockholm so it has been quite awhile. It’s fair to say that I don’t know the city at all.

My job title is Technical Writer and as such I was given (to use) a laptop, a mobile telephone, some sort of key fob that opens the front door, and a card key for getting into the building after hours. What I wasn’t given was a desk. I am sharing one with someone who apparently doesn’t often come to the office. The company is growing so fast that they cannot keep up with the space demands. They are expanding into the offices across the hall but these won’t be ready until after the new year. Oh, and I was also shown a proof of business cards that will be ordered for me so that made me feel like I had really arrived as a Swedish worker.

This well-lit space is used as an ad hoc meeting area and eating meals...

Previously I worked in what we jokingly called a “cube farm,” meaning lots of cubicles, but in my new job, all the desks in each room are near each other and there is no divider between them. People talk across desks but it is not loud and one can always use headphones, which many people do.

This is the first time I have worked in an office with no land lines, only mobile phones. When the mobiles ring, people are very good about walking into an empty conference room with their phone when it rings.

I was very impressed by how many people came up and introduced themselves. What good social etiquette these Swedish workers have, I thought. Turns out there was a company-wide message mentioning my arrival and inviting people to introduce themselves. People are probably tired of introducing themselves, actually, because the company has hired approximately 30 people this year. But they took the time to do it with me so maybe Swedes do have social skills, after all. 

Exterior of my building. I love how so many Swedes bike to work...

Kristin Lund

November 29, 2011

• first day
• jobs
• moving
• Technical Writer
• Work visa