In Sweden the cover letter is called a personligt brev, a personal letter. The name is a clue: it should sound like you, not like a template. Its job is to connect your experience to this particular role and employer, in a way your CV cannot.
One page, three moves
A strong personal letter fits on a single page and does three things. It opens by saying which role you are applying for and why it interests you. It then gives two or three concrete examples from your experience that match what the employer is looking for. It closes by signalling availability and a warm, confident interest in talking further.
Resist the urge to restate your CV in prose. The recruiter has already seen the list of jobs. The letter is where you explain the thread that connects them and why it points to this opening.
Match the employer, not just the job
Swedish workplaces care about fit with the team and the values of the organisation. Spend a few minutes on the company’s own site and recent communication, and reflect something genuine back. A single specific sentence about why this employer appeals to you is worth more than a paragraph of generic enthusiasm.
Keep the tone plain and direct. Swedish business writing is understated. Overstated claims and superlatives tend to lower trust rather than raise it.
Language: write in the language of the advert
If the advert is in Swedish, try to write at least part of the letter in Swedish, even if it is not perfect, and say honestly where your level is. It signals effort and respect. If the role is at an international company working in English, a clear English letter is completely fine. Many large Swedish employers run in English, but most advertised jobs still assume good Swedish, so be straight about where you stand.
A simple structure to follow
- Greeting: address a named person if the advert gives one, otherwise a simple “Hej” or “Hello” works.
- Opening line: the role and a real reason it caught your attention.
- Body: two or three short paragraphs, each tying one of your achievements to a requirement in the advert.
- Close: note when you can start, that you would welcome an interview, and thank the reader.
To find roles worth writing for, browse Platsbanken from the Swedish Public Employment Service. With your CV and letter ready, prepare for the conversation itself in our guide to the Swedish job interview, and revisit writing a Swedish CV if you need to align the two documents.