Hi everyone,
I frequent many expat online communities and have found that I am posting the same links in all of them. Sooooo, I thought it might be helpful if I had a post which contains recommended reading for any expat, whether new, old or would-be. I hope this will be of use.
Worktrotter
If you are already an expat in Denmark, chances are that you have already heard of Dagmar Fink, the woman behind Worktrotter. The Worktrotter website has plenty of great advice for the newly arrived expat or indeed the expat who might be finding settling in Denmark a challenge (who hasn't). Dagmar has also written two very useful guides - the Worktrotters Guide to Denmark and Business Dances With Danes - Decoding Danish Workplace Culture. Dagmar has helped many an expat settle into life here and regularly gives talks - keep your eye out for her, she is an inspiring woman.
Expat In Denmark - blog
The website itself has very similar links to the Worktrotter website. However I really love the blog on this website. The contributors are made up of both Danes and expats alike and the blog posts give both personal experience and advice at the same time. My favourites are this post by Hannah West regarding starting your own business and this post by Anna, who documents her experiences of being a "trailing spouse".
Københavns Kommune
Local government website for Copenhagen. If you are living in other parts of Denmark then look up the city name followed by 'kommune' e.g. Aarhus kommune. The ones I know of all have their websites in English as well as Danish so I would think it is the same throughout.
JobIndex
Job portal for Denmark. All in Danish however a few of the job postings, particularly within sales and marketing, can be found in English.
Have I missed any obvious ones out? Feel free to leave them below.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteLovely Blog and refreshingly honest - well done! I hope you don't mind but I've listed my experience below as I can relate to everything you have written :-)
I've lived in Denmark now for 4 years and am also married to a Dane :-)
Coming from an international background and being a native English speaker is actually a benefit and the corporate language is often English (especially in our industry). Obviously it’s better if you can speak Danish but it’s not essential. Since arriving I've reinvented myself, shifted my ambitions and moved out of my comfort zone. Yes it's been tough financially (and personally) but I am now very grateful to have had this experience. If I hadn't moved to Denmark I would never have been so creative about making the changes I have had to. You have to turn the fact you are an international job seeker in to your selling point and not see it as a disadvantage, but that can mean rethinking your whole career strategy.
I now run my own consulting business as well as a blog aimed at international parents. I would never have had the confidence or time to do this back in the UK.
A positive attitude is essential but is impossible to maintain consistently. Time and acceptance are also very important. It took a life time to create a network/reputation in your home country – unless you happen to be very lucky and meet the right person straight off (and they trust you) it is likely to take years to build up a new network in your new home.
50% of jobs are never advertised here, employment is done through professional networks. Trust is important to Danes and Danish society so a lot of recruitment is done through their own networks. This means it takes longer if you are coming from outside Denmark. You are more likely to be invited in for a coffee than an interview.
You are doing all the right things by volunteering, increasing your linkedin network and creating self motivated projects. I know how you feel but as someone who’s been through it and come out the other end look at this as your cocoon phase! When you relocate you recreate.
Here’s a few more links for your list (all free services):
Contact the Department for Integration and Language at Jobcenter København and ask for the brochure ‘International Job Seekers in Copenhagen.’ This will give you details of Employment with salary subsidy which is a great way in for many expats.
http://www.forstejob.dk/
http://icitizen.dk/
http://www.jobsincopenhagen.com/
http://ibmp.dk/
http://www.spousecareerfair.dk/
http://www.facebook.com/cphhostprogram
http://www.facebook.com/CopenhagenCareerProgram
http://www.facebook.com/VangardConsultingServices
http://www.top1000.dk/en
http://subsite.kk.dk/sitecore/content/Subsites/CityOfCopenhagen/SubsiteFrontpage/Business.aspx
http://www.bureaubiz.dk/ (for marketing / pr / digital)
P.S. Ignore comments in forums - it used to depress me too - buts as with most things it's the loud anonymous minority and not the silent content majority.
Those are great links, thank you! I wish Blogger would properly link web addresses in comments :(
DeleteAnd also thank you so much for sharing your experiences and your advice. It's good to know somebody that has come out of the other side! I'm glad to report that whilst on honeymoon I was offered a job in Copenhagen K - I start on 3rd June and I am really looking forward to it!
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