Student blogs

Hello everyone! In this post I want to share my recent job-hunt in HEPM in Sweden. Ever since I handed in my master’s thesis in Health Economics, Policy and Management (HEPM) and walked across the graduation stage, you have been asking what the Swedish job market is really like. So here it is: the search, the interviews, and all the highs and lows in between.

A quick word on focus

Before we dive into application forms and interview rooms, it helps to know what I was actually looking for. As a junior health-economist my goal wasn’t a flashy corporate title straight out of university. I wanted a role that would let me deepen my modelling skills, explore different evaluation methods, and keep learning every day. That naturally steered me toward academic research posts, plus a few training-friendly entry roles in industry where curiosity counts as much as years of experience.

Where I Looked (and Why)

Most of my hunting ground was online, but each place served a different purpose:

• LinkedIn – perfect for spotting fresh ads, checking a team’s vibe, and seeing if I already knew someone inside.
• University job portals – underrated for research assistantships and PhD tracks.
• Networking – the real game-changer. When someone who has seen your work vouches for you, the application pile suddenly feels less like a lottery. After a few polite coffees and conference chats I realised one encouraging message from a mentor is priceless.

With that groundwork set, let me walk you through the three positions I chased and what each experience taught me.

Job 1: Research assistant in academia

This was the first job I applied for, right around the end of my thesis. I already had a clear idea of the path I wanted to take—academic health economics—so I focused on departments doing solid methodological work.

As part of the application, I was given a case task to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) in Excel, using rand generated input values. I delivered a basic CEA, added a subgroup analysis, bootstrapping, one-way sensitivity analysis with a tornado diagram, and even threw in a few epidemiological touches like relative risk and number needed to treat (NNT). I wrapped it all up in a short report with my own recommendation.

That led to a first interview, an hour-long online session where we discussed the report, the methodology, and my motivations for applying.

Then came the surprise: a second interview, in person. That was new to me. Back home, one 30-minute chat usually gets you the job but in medical fields. But here, the process was clearly more layered. This round focused more on soft skills: time management, leadership, conflict resolution, teamwork, and future plans. The interview wrapped up with a short tour of the department (including where I might have fika if hired. Very Swedish, very nice).

From what I gathered, they initially interviewed about 10 candidates, then narrowed it down to 2 finalists for the second round.

Pro tips:

– I had my professor, George Keel, review my report. That meeting quickly became a mini masterclass in advanced health economics.

– Be patient. The entire process from job ad to final reply took over three months. Swedish hiring is thorough, not fast, but not all.

Job 2: Student assistant at a health technology assessment (HTA) company

This position caught my eye on LinkedIn, it stood out because it welcomed students, offered mentorship, and promised long-term career potential. The application process began with a casual, conversational interview with some of the staff. It wasn’t technical at all, more of a vibe check. They wanted to know why I applied, how I handle detailed data work in Excel, and how I adapt to tasks that require focus and patience.

Shortly after, I was invited to a second interview and given a case assignment: review a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a diabetes medication and write a brief report on whether I would recommend the drug for reimbursement.

So I dove into HTA reporting formats, looked at cost vs. effectiveness, checked the side effects, and tried to understand long-term outcomes. My medical background definitely helped, it made it easier to interpret the trial, assess comparators, and grasp clinical relevance. The second interview, again, was a calm discussion around my findings.

Compared to the first job process, this one was lighter in tone. But I knew competition was tough. From what I heard, many experienced applicants (yes, even for a student assistant role!) applied. And, unlike in Job 1, I had no networking edge here, no one to vouch for my rookie potential, no internal reference to boost my odds.

Still, I was glad I made it to the final round. It was a great learning opportunity, and it made me sharpen my HTA skills quickly.

Job 3: Research assistant position

Back to academia again. This time, I applied for a research assistant role I hadn’t even spotted myself. Thanks to my supervisor, Associate Professor Filipa Sampaio, who not only recommended the position but also kindly agreed to be my referee, I submitted my application.

Soon after, I was invited for an interview with the principal investigator (PI). It started off with a short round of soft-skill questions, but very quickly turned into what felt like a mini thesis defense before my actual thesis defense had even happened!

The PI asked me to screen-share and walk through my thesis model: open up the Excel sheet, explain the structure of the decision tree and Markov model, show the dynamic fields, cost and probability inputs, Excel formulas, and even VBA code. I also presented R scripts I had written for this project and another model I had built separately. It turned into an impromptu crash course in health economic modeling complete with live critique.

The interview also touched on broader skills. The PI asked about my experience with systematic literature reviews, database management, and programming tools like SQL or Python. I admitted that I was still new to the latter two but explained I had started Coursera courses and was eager to learn more. The PI appreciated the honesty and openness to upskilling.

Unlike the first two jobs, there was no second interview for this one, but from what I understood, the competition was still stiff. This interview was hands-on, technical, and refreshingly direct, and took no more than 2 weeks. It was clear they were not just looking at potential, but also at how ready you are to hit the ground running.

Final notes

I won’t lie, during my entire time in the program, I stayed laser-focused on what I really wanted to work on. Coming from a different background, I knew I had to be intentional in how I navigated this new field of health economics. First, I dedicated myself to developing the skills I believed any entry-level candidate should have. Then, I spent time figuring out my niche: where I wanted to go, what kind of roles matched my interests, and how I saw myself growing over the next few years. Watch out that our program can also lead into policy and management fields in addition to health economics.

One thing I’ve mentioned again and again is how much your thesis supervisor matters. I was lucky to work with an amazing supervisor who not only pushed me beyond what I thought I could do but also believed in me enough to recommend me for jobs. That kind of mentorship and support is priceless and a perfect example of how powerful networking can be.

Lastly, a reality check: even entry-level roles (yes, even internships) can be extremely competitive. You’re not just applying alongside your classmates, but also people with several years of experience. So it’s completely normal to feel the pressure. But trust me if you focus on your growth, find your direction, and keep showing up despite the rejections, things will start to click. I highly reccomend you read this blog “Where do HEPM graduates go?“

That’s it from me for now, the three jobs I applied for. I hope this gave you some insight into the process, and maybe even a bit of encouragement if you’re job hunting too.

And now the fun part, can you guess which of the three jobs I got?