By Karin Björkman, Founder & Recruitment Partner at Beyondo
Every week, I receive messages on our various channels from international job seekers. Many of them begin in exactly the same way: "Good day madam."
And often, nothing more. If I'm honest, my first reaction is usually frustration. Who are you? What do you do? Why are you contacting me? As someone working in recruitment, I receive a lot of messages every day, and a greeting without context can easily feel like spam. But over time, I've realised something important. What I initially saw as poor communication could also reflect different expectations about how to begin a conversation.
Respect looks different around the world
In Sweden, we tend to be informal. We use first names, skip titles, and generally get straight to the point. Most recruiters appreciate a short message explaining who you are and why you're reaching out. Something like:
“Hi Karin, I have X years of experience in Y and am looking for a role in Z in Sweden. Does Beyondo recruit for profiles like mine? Here is my LinkedIn profile with more information about my background.”
Replace X, Y and Z with your years of experience, professional field and the type of role you are seeking. Specific details help the recruiter understand whether they can assist.
A message like this gives the recipient enough context to respond. But communication norms vary between countries, workplaces and individuals. For some people, a formal greeting is an important way of showing respect before introducing a request. When someone writes “Good day, madam”, that may be their intention, even if the recipient needs more information to respond.
Why this matters in recruitment
International recruitment isn't just about matching skills with vacancies. It's about helping people navigate different expectations, communication styles, and workplace cultures. A highly qualified candidate can unintentionally create the wrong first impression simply because they have learned a different way of communicating. At the same time, employers and recruiters need to be careful not to judge too quickly. What appears ineffective through a Swedish lens may make perfect sense somewhere else.
This applies to all candidates, including those applying in Swedish. A polite greeting works best when it comes with context: who you are, what experience you bring and why you are contacting that particular recruiter. Adapting your message to the local market and the recipient makes it easier to understand your request.
A few tips for contacting recruiters in Sweden
If you're reaching out to recruiters or employers in Sweden, here are a few simple suggestions:
- Introduce yourself straight away.
- Mention your profession or expertise.
- Explain why you are contacting that specific person.
- Include a LinkedIn profile, CV, or portfolio.
- Keep your message short and personal.
- Check the recruiter’s area of focus and current vacancies before reaching out.
A message doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to help the recipient understand who you are and how they might be able to help.
The lesson I learned
When I receive a message that starts with “Good day madam”, I try to pause before making assumptions. The person writing may be navigating unfamiliar expectations or simply using a greeting they consider polite. I still need context to understand whether I can help, but I can ask for that information without judging the greeting. For me, that is an important part of international recruitment: being clear about what we need while remaining curious about the person behind the message.
What communication differences have you noticed when working across cultures? I’d love to hear your experiences. You’re welcome to email me at karin@beyondo.se.