The videos are published on the website of Workindenmark, part of the EURES network and the Danish Ministry of Employment.
As the expats talk about their work challenges and home life, a number of common factors emerge: the lifestyle, the sense of community, and the lack of hierarchy that means anyone can achieve what they want to.
Portuguese engineers Cristina Ferreira and Pedro Santos have had a positive impression of that equality. “The organisation is very flat. You can talk with all the workers, and all workers can give suggestions and come to the chief and say, ‘we should improve that,” Cristina says. “Denmark is a small country, like Portugal, but it has so many strong companies, so for an engineer I think it’s the right place to be.”
German geoscientist Hannes Koopmann’s experience has been similar: “If you want responsibility, then you’re going to get it. A very good impression I’ve had of working in Denmark is the flat hierarchy… you can basically talk to any boss above your level face to face.”
For Spaniard Maria Perez, a doctor, being able to swap her three-hour commute for a short bike ride to work is one of the many changes that have transformed her family’s life since they moved to Denmark. “I decided to come to Denmark because I needed change in my life,” she recalls.
“Highly qualified candidates are always in high demand in Denmark, especially engineers, IT specialists, life science specialists and medical doctors,” says Shoji Igi, of the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment in Copenhagen.
In addition to the videos featuring expats’ testimonials, Workindenmark has a series of tutorial videos that explain the processes that international jobseekers often find difficult or unfamiliar. They offer support with things such as using the vacancy database and preparing a cover letter.
The application process in Denmark may be different to what they are used to, Shoji explains. “In their job search, many international candidates are surprised that their application and CV should be tailored specifically to the job adverts they are applying to, and that it’s common to make a call to potential future employers before sending an application.”
Related links:
“My Big Danish Moment” video series
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Details
- Publication date
- 9 May 2018
- Authors
- European Labour Authority | Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Topics
- Business / Entrepreneurship
- External stakeholders
- News/reports/statistics
- Social media
- Youth
- Related section(s)
- Sector
- Accomodation and food service activities
- Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
- Activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods- and services
- Administrative and support service activities
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Construction
- Education
- Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
- Financial and insurance activities
- Human health and social work activities
- Information and communication
- Manufacturing
- Mining and quarrying
- Other service activities
- Professional, scientific and technical activities
- Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
- Real estate activities
- Transportation and storage
- Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities
- Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles