Good job hunting: thinking Danishly Danish work culture is unique but many internationals fail to adequately consider it in their applications

Job-hunting is an unappealing prospect at the best of times, not least during a global pandemic. For those looking to not only embark on a new career but do so also in a new country, the struggle is even greater.

There are a number of obstacles between applicants and their dream job abroad – some of them obvious, some of them less so. Fortunately, in Denmark there is a plethora of resources out there to make the challenge that bit easier, moving you one step closer to a new life of a more Danish variety.

A Danish Draw

For many internationals, a move to Denmark is hugely appealing. With a high quality of living and a work-life balance famed the world over, the small European state has much to envy. Furthermore, with some of the best English-speakers outside of the Anglophone world, many from these countries might think the move to be a simple one.

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A similar set-up is available for those who move to Denmark as a result of their partner’s career. The Copenhagen Career Program is a free five-day job-hunting course, also run by the City. It represents a conscious effort to encourage assimilation into the workforce, and includes matchmaking events and company visits.

Left In The Cold

Others, however, are left without the same welcoming party on their arrival in Denmark. For those that are neither partner nor student, kicking-off a job search in Denmark can be a formidable task. This is the case for a number of reasons: the language is one most internationals are unlikely to be unfamiliar with; the work culture, though an improvement on most, is a unique one; and that’s before they set out on tackling the whole pile of paperwork!

Whilst English is a tongue that the majority of Danes can slip into with ease, Danish is still the language of business domestically. Whilst perhaps not explicit, there is certainly a sense in which employers expect Danish proficiency from their employees – a hurdle unexpected by many job-seekers. With all these obstacles, you might be forgiven for thinking it is more trouble than it’s worth, but thankfully there are many organisations and individuals out there eager to motivate and support your job search.

A Welcoming Smile

One such organisation is English Job Denmark – a relocation and accommo- dation service consultancy located in the centre of Copenhagen. Its guiding mission is to ‘provide support every step of the way to a new life abroad’. Itself run by expats, the organisation provides support for everybody from those first thinking about making the leap to those already embedded in Denmark looking to further assimilate.

For job-hunters more specifically they offer 1-2-1 coaching sessions, CV reviews, LinkedIn support, and presentations concerning cultural integration. Their services provide talented internationals with guidance on how to shape their skills and experiences to specifically Danish employers.

Leslea Petersen, the CEO at English Job Denmark, puts it simply: “It’s about understanding what you have and what you can offer.”

The Importance Of Culture

You might have the perfect CV, fantastic previous experiences and great interview technique, but what Duevang believes many overlook are the cultural differences between Denmark and the applicant’s country of origin. Danish work culture is unique, and something people here take great pride in. Without taking it into consideration, many applicants are likely to fall at hurdles they didn’t even realise were there.

“The biggest challenge is cultural understanding. People can arrive in Denmark with the best, most accomplished CV and some wonderful experience, but unfortunately unless you understand how to communicate that to a Danish workplace then you’re not going to succeed,” Petersen contends.

“It’s not just about the salary at the end of the month here. What recruiters in Denmark are looking for are people that are committed to their values –their mission as a company.”

Your First Assignment

One way English Job Denmark in particular has sought to raise awareness here is through the ‘Academy’ – an organisation set up by the group to ‘guide, advise and support internationals into employment in Denmark’. This is achieved through courses, workshops and up-skilling programmes, with regular Q&As with recruiters and events covering everything from CV writing to an ‘employment assistance hotline’.

One happy graduate, Geoff Oakley, stated that it provided him with the “confidence, tools, and cultural awareness that I feel I need to truly understand Danish market conditions, Danish society, and etiquette.”

For Petersen, there are three golden rules: “one, prove that you can deliver on the job; two, prove that you can fit in with the existing team; and three, prove that you will stay once you get that position”. With these in mind, the job-hunt might just get that little bit easier.

Petersen describes the market for English-only speakers as “tough” but, to paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, nothing worth doing comes easy! 