1. careers
2. resume writing and advice

Graduate guide
InterResource,
Business and Social Sciences
2012
Target your CV
You are judged in 30 seconds
Hr panel
how to impress at
the job interview
Oleksandr
Gerasymovych
”Everybody accepts and supports me.”
How to
Negotiate your salary
TESTS
They also
help you!
Your career in Denmark
Hr panel
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
HOW TO
WRITE A
GOOD
APPLICATION
6
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
14
22
40
Learn Danish
How to
negotiate
salary
30
Unemployment
Survival Guide
36
A big congratulations on your Master’s
degree from Aarhus University
In the Autumn of 2011, Aarhus
University - Business and Social
Sciences, was elected the most
innovative Business School in
Northern Europe. We received
the honour because Business and
Social Sciences covers a wide field
on a high international level: Here
it is possible to gain core academic
qualifications, while at the same
time open up to true interdisciplinarities. So, now you can establish
a profile on both an ever stronger
education brand and a high academic level that makes you an asset
for your future employers.
But even though you will be an asset for a fortunate private or public
company, you have to make things
happen yourself. As CEO Morten
Højbjerg also takes note of in his
article about the labour market
in the year of 2012 on page (x),
you must be proactive and show a
sincere interest as a new graduate
job hunting. The same message
recurs when former students such
as (NAME) and (NAME) talk
about the jump from student life
to business life. You can read their
portraits in this guide, along with
many other articles with good
advice on how to land your first
full-time job.
Portrait of
Oleksandr
Gerasymovych
12
Job hunt
Now it is time to say goodbye to
several years of lectures, long days
in the study hall and exam stress.
You must now go out and engage in
the business life where you can use
the knowledge and tools, university
has equipped you with. And with
a diploma from Aarhus University - Business and Social Sciences,
you are well off, as you are among
the first ones to graduate with a
diploma from the new main area.
A fact that you can use to your advantage, when you are going to sell
your talent on a labour market that
is under pressure right now – but
that will change.
I wish you good luck, and hope
that you will stay connected with
Aarhus University as a member of
AU Alumni for many years to come.
43
Create your
own job
Svend Hylleberg, Dean
Aarhus University,
Business and Social Sciences
Your career in Denmark
InterResource
Project
2
34
Portrait of Kristina
Sedereviciute
Graduate guide
page
InterResource Project
Targeting your resume
Be yourself when applying for a job The one and only
4
8-11
12
13
HR Panel: How to write a good application
Start a business in Denmark
Be successful in your job interview
Tests help you, as well as the employer
14-15
16-17
18
19
HR Panel: How to impress at the job interview
How to negotiate your salary
Graduate Panel: Good advice on how to get the first job
The Alumni Network
Graduate Panel: Negotiate your salary
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
Unemployment Survival Guide
Portrait: Quality, equality – and plenty of exercise
Portrait: There has to be change
Portrait: Top grades not enough
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
Learning Danish will get you a job
Create your job in a small or medium-sized enterprise
Danish companies miss out on global talent
What should I do when I graduate?
40-41
43
44
45
3
4
Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
INTERRESOURCE
PROJECT
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
5
AU Career partners:
Dansk Supermarked
The aim of the project is to benefit international
students by increasing the awareness of Danish
companies in regards to the value of employing
international students.
The goal is to help create a professional network in Denmark for
international students, and to guide
them in finding study-relevant positions during their education, and
afterwards in the form of a full-time
job. Involved in the project is the
entire Aarhus University, as well
as AU Herning, the Aarhus School
of Architecture, and Studenterhus
Århus.
The InterResource project
organises a variety of different
events, such as:
• CV and cover letter seminars
• Lectures on Danish culture
• Networking events for
internationals
• Entrepreneurship events for internationals
• Informative events for students who are about to graduate
• Competence assesment
workshops
The InterResource project also
provides different services:
• Quick CV and Cover Letter counseling
• Focus Profile Feedback
• Advice on job interviews and salary negotiation
For more information, visit:
www.au.dk/interresource
Facebook fan page:
InterResource
E-mail: interresource@asb.dk
Junior Consult
Se mere om mennesker og ambitioner
dongenergy.com/job
Ambitious people
Invest in your future - start a career in Nordea
The will and ambition to develop and build a career are
important. When you grow as a person, we also grow. Nordea,
the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic
Sea Region, offers a wide range of career opportunities.
The breadth and diversity of our business give our employees
great possibilities to develop and pursue a variety of careers
locally, nationally or internationally. Meet our employees on
nordea.com/career and learn more about working in Nordea.
We have an ambitious long-term objective of providing reliable energy without CO2.
We therefore need people who share our ambition and dedication in turning visions
into reality and developing sustainable and CO2-free energy solutions. Ambitions
may appear in many ways. They can be personal and relate to your professional
development and career or they can be about being somewhere where you can
participate in complex projects together with skilled colleagues; and finally your
ambitions can be global and be about making a difference in the world.
You invest your talent – we grow together
DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe. We are headquartered in Denmark.
Our business is based on procuring, producing, distributing and trading in energy and related products in
Northern Europe. We have approximately 6,000 employees and generated DKK 55 billion (EUR 7.3 billion)
in revenue in 2010. For further information, see dongenergy.com
Making it possible
8
Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
9
Example of a well structured resume
Targeting your resume
targetin
resume
Many students do not think about what makes a CV interesting to
read. The CV must reflect your value so that the company just have
to hear more and invite you for an interview.
By Trine Lundgaard, Career Consultant, CA a-kasse
You have about 30 seconds to
qualify for an interview. Typically it
takes 30 seconds to scan each CV in
the pile of applications. Therefore,
your CV must be focused and show
the skills that make you the right
person for the job.
Tailor your CV for the job
Tailor your CV to suit the job you
are applying for. If responding to an
job advertisement, find out which of
your skills and experiences are relevant. Highlight these in your CV so
the employer can see at a glance, if
you have what they are looking for.
Structure your CV
Since you will only have 30 seconds
to catch the attention of the reader,
your CV should be structured and
manageable. It may well be several
pages long, but it has to be manageable and easy for the reader to
get an impression of your data. You
can structure the CV chronologically
or according to your skills. Our
experience is that the chronological
CV is best for students and recent
graduates as they usually have
limited experience to list. Furthermore, employers are more used to
the chronological CV. When writing
Checklist
You need to make an effort
when working with your CV
so that it looks fantastic! Use
the checklist and be sure that
you are on the right track. Let
a professional check your CV
thoroughly, if possible. Contact
CA’s career consultants at
coaching@ca.dk they can help
you with your CV. It is free.
• The layout is nice and there is
structure and overview
• Page number and name
on all pages - if possible as a
footnote
• The photo is a sensible photo
with a plain background
• The CV is saved as a pdf file
to keep all settings
a chronological CV, always list the
most recent experience first, and
work your way back in time.
Chronological CV
The chronological CV is usually
divided into different categories.
For example:
• A short introduction containing
personal data and contact
information.
• Training and qualifying courses.
Highlight the relevant skills you
have acquired through education.
• Work experience: Describe previous jobs you might have had and
elaborate on relevant experience.
• Language skills including level of
speaking and writing
• IT knowledge and level.
• Foreign experience. E.g. studies or
work abroad.
• Profile: Who you are, your personal interests, what you are passionate about besides your job.
• References if the company asks for
it in the ad.
The order may be different from
person to person. If you have a
broad work experience, you might
want to prioritize work experience
before education.
Competency CV
A competency CV is also called a
function-based CV. The idea is to
focus on different functions
rather than places of employment
and education areas. Focus on three
to five qualifications that in your
opinion are the key to success in
the job, and describe your skills and
experience in these areas. Besides
qualifications, a competency CV
must also contain personal data and
contact information. You may also
consider supplementing the skills
with a brief chronological overview
of education and work experience.
It gives the reader an opportunity to
maintain a continuous overview, the
lack of which could otherwise be a
disadvantage to the competency CV.
CV Page 1
Contact information
Please write “contact info”
here and / or on top of the page.
Enter the complete address,
phone number and e-mail.
Berit Petersen,
Stavnsgade 34,
4, 8000 Aarhus
C, Tlf. 2020 202
0, mail: berit@pet
ersen.
dk
Contact inform
ation
Curriculum Vita
e
Name
Address
Headlines
Let your CV be inspired by the
Table of Content in a book - create headlines and subheadlines
in order to enhance clarity.
Education
Place your education before
work experience, as your primary
skills at this stage are derived
from your education.
Grades
Only share your grades
if they are good.
Practical Results
If you have just graduated it is
important to show that you are
able to transform theory into
practice. If you don’t have a
reference from your thesis, major
projects in cooperation with
companies may also be relevant.
Berit Petersen
Stavnsgade 34,
4
8000 Aarhus C
Tel.
2020 2020
Mail
berit@petersen.dk
Marital status Gir
lfriend with Jens
Date of birth Ma
rch 3rd 1985
Insert
your own
picture
Personal profile
I would describe
myself as a trustw
orthy and dedica
responsibility. Du
ted person who is
ring the course of
keen to adapt
my education, I
have worked wit
have worked on
h many different
projects where I
types of people fro
to take the role as
m
different backgroun
coordinator, and
ds. I like
ensure that we alw
interested in a job
ays reach our goa
where I can draw
l. I am
on my commitme
cultural understan
nt
and
ding.
ambitions and use
my
Education
2009-2011
MSc. Internation
al Business, Aa
rhus School of
Academic focus
Business (ASB)
areas :
International bus
iness
Financial analysis
- including interna
tional capital mo
Project managem
vements
ent and leadershi
p
International ma
rket research
Grade average: 9.5
Thesis (For Dan
Wear Collection A/S
)
“Implementation
of production stru
ctures in Danwear
Collection A / S ‘s
subsidiary in the
Czech Republic “.
Practical result
(Grade 10)
:
Quote from assess
ment:
“We now apply the
results Berit reache
d in her analysis.
Specifically,westa
rtedacourseinqu
alityassurancefor
employees in pro
our
duction”. (Ove Nie
lsen, Managing Dir
Danwear)
ector of
Key learning:
- Experiencein
quantitativeand
qualitativemarke
presentation of the
tresearchand
results
Project managem
ent
Perform critical eva
luation of a given
market
2006-2009 HA
- General, ASB
Thesis:
“Market assessme
nt of the sales pot
ential of PH-lamps
in collaboration wit
in Australia”
h Louis Poulsen (Gr
ade: 10 - New sca
le)
2003-2006 A-leve
ls from Silkeborg
Gymnasium, lan
guage line
Page 1 of 3
Marital Status and Age
Evaluate whether it is an advantage to state your age and
marital status at the beginning or
end of the CV.
Portrait
Insert a neutral photo, as it gives
a face to “match” your skills.
Personal profile
Prepare a paragraph about your
personal profile. It can be a good
idea to start the CV with a brief
summary that provides a label
for your competence profile.
What is your “contribution” to the
company. You can also mention
your wishes for a future job. Do
not use more than 3-5 lines.
Academic focus areas
Describe what you have worked
with in your study. Don’t use subject titles but describe the work
areas included in the subjects.
Choose areas relevant for the job
you are applying for.
Key learning
What do you take with you from
your training to your next job?
What does the company ‘get’ by
hiring you?
10 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
ersen.dk
0, mail: berit@pet
C, Tlf. 2020 202
4, 8000 Aarhus
Stavnsgade 34,
Berit Petersen,
CV page 2
Job Description
Workplace: E.g. the company
and its size if the company name
is not a well known one.
Tasks
What specific tasks did you
perform. Be very specific and if
possible quantify your job. Most
jobs can be measured in one
way or another.
2011
Results
Positive sales results and
other success stories shows a
future employer what you have
achieved. If possible, mention
percentage increases in sales,
knowledge, satisfaction etc.
Concrete results greatly improve
your CV.
CV page 3
!
Bureau SEARCH
iewer, Analysis
Telephone Interv
er satisfaction
Tasks:
sumer and custom
in the areas of con
Market research
ess database
Data entry in Acc
stionnaire
dents ) and
- Testingofque
veys (350 respon
er satisfaction sur
Analysis of custom
twriting
subsequentrepor
ch and methods
Key learning:
of consumer resear
Practical knowledge
ds
tho
me
g
win
rvie
s inte
ephonebased
Insight into variou
estionnairesfortel
preparationofqu
in
nce
erie
Exp
-
market research
2005-2006
Include numbers
Here is an example of how to
include numbers. They highlight
your work success.
sy in Prague
ship at the Embas
Business Intern
y:
ilit
sib
a for
Area of espon
demographic dat
l information on
Produced statistica
panies
Danish export com
Republic in the EU
ish exhibit: Czech
Managed the Dan
w attendees )
sho
de
tra
ing
-speak
(Primarily English
tsforthefair
pan
tici
par
sh
ani
dingD
8
- Assistedinfin
the food industry(
ish companies in
Telephoned 50 Dan
)
ion
ibit
exh
the
tion
participated in
,DatabaseRegistra
work(reception
- Generaloffice
)
ting
wri
er
lett
(Access),
The Czech
Results:
food industry in
assessment of the
Produced market
Foreign Ministry.
ish
Dan
the
of
website
ch Republic.
Republic for the
salers in The Cze
rk for food whole
Created a netwo
ay.
tod
sy
bas
em
the
at
This is still in use
rket
lementations of ma
Key learning:
of the practical imp
dge
In depth knowle
n Europe.
partners
research in Easter
potential business
king contact with
ope
Eur
n
Experience in ma
ter
Eas
of
e
iness cultur
Insight into the bus
-
2008-2010
11
Berit Petersen, Stavnsgade
34, 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Tlf.
2020 2020, mail: berit@peter
sen.dk
e
Work Experienc
2011 -
Your career in Denmark
Learning
What do you take with you from
this job to the next? Your future
employer will want to benefit
from the learning you take with
you from previous jobs. Focus on
useful skills who’s value make a
real difference.
Font
Choose a font that is readable,
simple and in a readable size.
Some of the most common are
Arial and Verdana.
Posten
iewer, JyllandsTelephone Interv
Tasks:
scriptions
of newspaper sub
Telephone sales
and events
pers at campaigns
Hand out newspa
-
last year
Results:
the sellers in my
per cent among
ands-Posten’s
Jyll
at
Was in the top 5
s
yee
plo
ator for 25 em
Was elected coordin
l.
nderborg Festiva
events at the Ska
é (part time)
et, Frederiks All
Føtex supermark
istant Cashier,
2006-2008 Ass
Tasks
n
Product Registratio
vice
and personal ser
Customer service
Page 2 of 3
Volunteer work
Do not underestimate the knowledge you gain from volunteer
work and positions of trust.
2001-2004
Unskilled student/spare time
job in various industries
Gardening, agriculture and manu
facturing
Key learning:
Insight into what it means to
be an unskilled worker
Insight into stock registration
and logistics
Description
It is not necessary to repeat
Tasks/Benefits if they have
already been mentioned. Also,
consider how many jobs you
describe (as a rule not more than
three - the rest you can mention
under Other jobs/Vacancies)
Volunteer work
2008
Language
There are many different subdivisions of language: Written,
spoken, understanding and
at which level (native, fluent,
conversation, understandable,
knowledge).
Key learning:
Insight into B2C customer beha
viour and how campaigns
work in retail
- Insightintothequalities
foralotofB2Cproducts
Was able to maintain a high
level of service to the customer
also late in the day.
Assistant Cashier, Føtex supe
rmarket, Silkeborg (Full time
)
As above
Student induction superviso
r (Aarhus School of Business
)
Tasks:
Planning of induction week
Responsible for the induction
of 45 students
Team building and social event
s
Key learning:
Experience in management of
major events
Training in communication
Foreign travel
2010
2006
IT
If you have skills that go beyond
being a user of the program,
then include it here.
Czech Republic
Trainee
Australia
Backpack traveling for 6 mont
hs
Worked at a nursery and a hotel
Key learning:
Become more independent and
take care of myself
Tolerance and understanding
of another culture
Leisure
Write two or three lines about
what you do in your spare time
and why you do it. Exciting and
unusual interests/hobbies can
differentiate you from other
applicants.
Language
References
Consider when it is best to
disclose your references. Often
the employer will ask for them at
the interview.
Danish
English
German
Scandinavian
: Mother tongue
: Negotiation level
: Can make myself understoo
d
: Conversation
IT
Super User
User
Knowledge
: Word, Excel, Access
: SPSS
: SAP (Logistics Module) and
Logistical
Other information
IplayvolleyballandIamintere
stedinfinecuisine,literaturea
ndskiing.
References
Referencesavailablebyrequest
.
Page 3 of 3
12 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Be yourself when applying for a job
The one and only
In the repercussions of the financial crisis,
it can be tempting to apply a scattergun
technique in your search for a job. However,
you should consider what it takes for you to
thrive in a job.
Make the company feel like you have a
special interest in them when you write an
application and, likewise, let your future
employer know why you are the one and
only for them.
By Susanne Søes Hejlsvig, Career Consultant, AU Career
By Susanne Søes Hejlsvig, Career Consultant, AU Career
Reflect on your personality and
Business area, location,
professionalism
salary…
Become more aware of your persoConsider which areas you will be
nal characteristics. The employer
willing to comprise on, and on
will definitely take the time to find
which you will not. It could be
out if you have the proper professiothe business area, the company’s
nalism and personality. Think about
product, the company size, location,
how you work. It can be in a student
salary, work environment, further
job or in your study group. Before
education, working hours etc. You
you graduate, you have the poscan start by outlining your dream
sibility to have
scenario, and
a professional
then look at
“You run the risk to appear to work focus
how many of
your wishes you be untrustworthy, if you write profile done
something that you are not.” at AU Career.
are willing to
Then you are
compromise on. Susanne Søes Hejlsvig
also prepared
for what it means to take such a test,
Mentally prepare yourself for
before you come across it at a job
the job interview
Be very aware of your motivation for interview.
applying for the job at a particular
Handle the pressure
company. Why have you chosen
Take confidence in the fact that you
them? What do they do that you
have some abilities and qualities
would like to be a part of? And not
which are valued on the labour marleast: What do you believe you can
ket. Be honest with yourself about
contribute with?
Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
When you write an application,
it is essential that you show a
sincere interest, and make the
company feel special. Point out to
your future employer why their
particular company is the only
right place for you. At the same
time, you must keep in mind that
the company is looking for a new
employee because they need help
to solve specific challenges. Therefore, your application should
be a description of how you will
handle the challenges in the particular company.
your skills – and also about your
limitations. You run the risk that
you appear to be untrustworthy, if
you write something that you are
not. Stand by who you are, and what
you bring to the table.
If you can dream it
When you have worked out why
you want the job, what you can
gain from it, what you can offer the
company, how your personality
fits the job, and you are still true
to yourself - then you can start
imagining what it will be like to have
the respective job. Top athletes do
it all the time: They see themselves
crossing the finish line first, scoring
the decisive goal, or what it will be
like to be on the rostrum. As Walt
Disney said: If you can dream it, you
can do it.
A good application consists of
at least the following important
elements:
2: Motivation
Why are you applying for exactly
this job at this organisation or
company? Why are they interesting for you? Are there specific
projects or challenges that attract
you? Show that you know what
the company does, and convey
that their work has relevance and
makes sense to you.
13
1: HEADLINE
Application for the posi
tion
Dears,
international intern at the
Inte
A catchy headline that exudes
energy. Not a fancy line, but a
headline that fits you and the type
of job.
rResource project
I am particularly interest
ed in the internship opp
ortunity at the InterResourc
international student in
e. As an
Aarhus School of Business
I consider this as a great
me to get an insight of the
opportunity for
Danish working environm
ent and to establish a netw
international community
ork among the
and Danish companies in
the region.
I am in the third semeste
r of my Master of Marketin
g programme and I am eage
solid theoretical knowledg
r to apply my
e into practice. During my
education I have gained
academic insight of the
not only
field but have also mastere
d my computer skills, in
MS Office tools, statistica
particular using
l software such as SAS and
SPSS and design applicati
Adobe Illustrator and Pho
ons such as
toShop.
During my Bachelor stud
ies I have had the opportu
nity to gain some work expe
traineeship and a study
rience through
related job. Following my
traineeship in BenchMark
had the opportunity to assis
Finance JSCo I
t in project development
and organization of diffe
related to the projects.
rent events
Working both independen
tly and in teams with othe
employees with different
r trainees and
backgrounds, helped me
to enlarge my network and
creativity and organization
to test my
al skills.
Continuing my educatio
n in Denmark, I realized
that I was missing the proj
and the dynamic work envi
ects3:
, pres
entations
ronment. I had a chance
Professional
to get back to it by participa
event organized from Inte
ting in an
rResource – Nearly Grad
uating. Within this even qualifications
company I used to work
t I represen
for – Taxback.com. Duri
a
ng my employment in Taxb Whatted
responsible for organizin
kind of professional/ack.com I was
g the client documents and
participating in different
related to local and inte
pres
colleague
rnational projects.
entations will they get if they
hire you? Focus on the relevant
4: Personal qualifications
Who are you? Goal-oriented,
structured, independent? Make
sure to hand-pick few and wellchosen words about yourself, and
remember to substantiate them
with examples and/or explanations. This yields credibility.
Furthermore, I have wor
ked extensively in an inte
rnational environment in
challenges of the job, and use
As a hostess at the Loew
my various jobs.
s Coronado Bay Resort,
USA, California I often cam
with business executives,
examples
from your CV. Only
e into
contact
academic and community
leaders. The restaurant
Coronado Bay Resort prid
with
in the Lowes
mention
examples of direct value
es itself on excellent cust
omer service and we wer
do whatever was necessar
e encourag company
y to ensure that custome
to
and the job.
rs had a superb experien to theed
helped me to develop conf
ce. This job
idence and flexibility to
work with people from diffe
society and to deal with
rent levels of
unexpected tasks.
I enjoy being surrounded
by people all the time and
I communicate really easy
Full of energy and ideas,
with others.
I look forward to working
on new projects, thus I am
you will consider me for
hopeful that
an internship in the Inte
rResource.
Yours sincerely,
Ivanka Parvanova
5: Ending
Convey which expectations you
have for the employer, and write
that you look forward to hearing
from them. By doing this, you state
an expectation of hearing from
them.
14 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Target and
motivate your
application
Hr panel
HOW TO
WRITE A
GOOD
APPLICATION
What should you write in your application in order to
get a job at PwC?
One of the big mistakes that many applicants make
today is that they write an application that repeats
their CV. Here lies the biggest risk of being rejected
in the application process.
I recommend that you begin your application by
describing your motivation: Why are we the right
company for you? Why should we hire you – what
can you contribute with? In the next paragraph, you
present your education, and tell us what you can
use it for at our company. After the presentation of
your education, you should briefly explain what you
Interview with
Peter Lyager,
HR Consultant , PwC
HERE, A NUMBER
OF HR EXPERTS
HIGHLIGHT THE
DOS AND DON’TS
WHEN YOU
WRITE AN
APPLICATION
TO THEM:
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Christian Lausten Sørensen,
Consultant, Town Hall, Aarhus
Dos
A good application gives the impression that you
want exactly that job and not just any job.
A good application tells us why you want the job,
why you are the right person for the job, and which
perspectives you see in working for us. Look at your
qualifications in relation to the job advertisement
– and use your academic abilities to research the
needs of the company.
Donts
Do not make a copy/paste application! We will
notice immediately. Applicants who don’t relate
to the specific company and the specific job
don’t stand a chance of getting through to the job
interview.
Luise Drachmann Steuch,
HR Manager, Plesner
Dos
That the application seems credible and targeted,
and that it is written in a clear and well-formulated
language. It should, furthermore, give the impression
that the applicant has made himself acquainted
with our company, and wants to be there.
Dont’s
It might seem trivial, but unfortunately we often
see that applicants are careless about the grammar in the application, or sometimes state another
company name. That gives a negative impression.
and the CV is to win the sympathy of the reader.
And then there are the finishing touches. Read
through your application, and have someone else
to read through the text afterwards. It will be evident
that your document is something that you have
spent time doing. If we receive 100 applications, we
will not have 10 minutes to read through each one.
What does it take for an application to stand out?
Therefore, it is so important that
It is a matter of making yourself
the application is well structured,
look good. If you focus on what
“If you focus on what you proof-read, and that you have put
you can contribute with, and not
can contribute with, and
the right company name on it.
only on your previous experinot only on your previous
ences, you have come a long
Why is it important to research
way! That is exciting reading for
experiences, you have
before you write an application?
us. It might be that this advice secome a long way!”
If you understand the company
ems trivial to some – that that is all
Peter Lyager
and its business areas, you can
it takes – but if they go home and
target your application which is
read through their application,
particularly important when you are a new graduate.
they will find out that they have not described their
Because the less experience you have got, the more
motivations for applying. Do that, and you will stand
important your application is. Research is, therefore,
out from the rest. The whole point of the application
can use your work experience for and, at the end,
you describe your personal qualifications. The whole
point of your application is to explain how your skills
and experiences, listed in your CV, are relevant to
this position.
Lotte Fensbo,
Head of Department, PPR,
Aarhus Municipality
Dos
Have a short and well-formulated application.
Describe why you want the job, which relevant
experiences you have, what you are interested in,
and why that is interesting to us. Many new
graduates have relevant student job experience
– that is a huge experience and a big plus.
Don’ts
“I hereby take the liberty of writing you...” – stop that!
It is silly to waste space on being formal. Neither
should you begin your CV with the fact that you have
been a babysitter during high school. I do not want
to waste time reading about irrelevant experiences.
Also, avoid being careless with the application. I look
through 150 applications, and if I come across one
which is difficult to read, it is thrown away.
Christian Mouroux, KaosPilot,
Zupa Recommended
Dos
You must first and foremost prove that you understand what the position involves, and explain to us
how your qualifications match those tasks. What are
your skills? And how can those skills be of use to us?
Don’ts
It is important that you do not use a lot of clichés like
“Your company is known to…” “Where there is room
for differences”, or “I think, I would fit in.” You know
nothing of that yet, and it is these kind of phrases you
find in applications on the internet.
Tell us what your skills are, why you have those skills,
and how you have learned it.
Your career in Denmark
15
almost decisive, because the receiver can really see
that you have prepared yourself, and that you relate
to the company, and that makes your application
stand out.
When is an application thrown directly into the
wastepaper basket?
That happens when you do everything the opposite
of the above mentioned. That is when your application does not attract the attention of the reader, for
instance if you just repeat your CV – or when your
CV repeats your application. It is uninteresting. In
short, a CV describes what you have done, while an
application tells us how you can use your knowledge.
If you do not deliver the goods, then your application
will be thrown in the big pile of candidates who do
not manage to stand out, or if it is completely bad;
in the worst pile where the applicants do not know
how to organise, and for instance begin their sales
letter with stories from preschool.
Ulla Kjær, Senior HR Manager,
Arla Foods
Dos
Target your application at the specific job advertisement. Explain why you are applying and why it
should be you who gets the job. Those are the two
most important points in an application. Write your
application yourself, and do it in a positive style that
matches your personality. Think about the structure:
Both application and CV should be easy to assess.
Don’ts
Do not address your application to another firm!
That will leave you a step behind. If there are one or
two demands from the job advertisement that you
cannot meet, you should not elaborate on this in the
application. We can talk about it at the interview.
Be critical if you attach a photo: festive holiday
photos do not belong in an application.
16 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
Advice from
entrepreneurs
Find more valuable advice
from entrepreneurs here:
a business
Start
Start a business in Denmark
Entrepreneurship in
Denmark has asked some
entrepreneurs for advice
on starting and running a
business:
entrepreneurshipindenmark.dk
Do you have an entrepreneur hidden in you, and are you considering
taking the plunge and starting your own business? Entrepreneurship
in Denmark offers free guidance and counselling for all international
entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs.
• Perceive your international
background as a strength for
the Danish job market
Lisbet Friis Møller, Communication Consultant, Entrepreneurship in Denmark
Getting a job and becoming an
employee in a company or organisation is not the only possibility of
making a career in Denmark. More
and more internationals choose to
start their own businesses – and you
don’t have to do it all alone.
Entrepreneurship in Denmark organises events and one to one counselling sessions in six municipalities
in Denmark, including Aarhus. No
matter what your idea is, you can
book a session with a consultant, or
attend a course that can help you
with, for example budgets, developing your business plan, marketing
and sales.
Starting a business is easy
In Denmark, starting a business is
easy, and you can do it very quickly,
according to Consultant Mogens
Thomsen, who represents Entrepreneurship in Denmark’s local unit in
Aarhus.
“Danish rules have very few requirements for entrepreneurs in relation
to, for example annual revenue and
insurance. That makes starting a
business a lot easier in Denmark
than in several other countries,”
Mogens says.
• Search for and utilize opportunities for free counselling.
knowledge. You often know about
other markets and cultures, and if
you can exploit that, you can obtain
a competitive advantage.
Bulgarian Zina Jensen-Maar has
launched her own consultancy
firm, East World
Consult. She
However, the
“Danish rules have very
utilises her culpreparation and
few requirements for
tural background
planning that
entrepreneurs in relation to give Danish
goes with being
to, for example annual
companies advice
self-employed
revenue and insurance.
on how to behave
is not as simple,
and become sucbut guidance
That makes starting a
cessful in Eastern
and professional
business a lot easier in
European marassistance can
Denmark than in several kets.
help you move on
other countries.”
Zina recommends
with your ideas
Mogens Thomsen
other foreigners
and develop your
in Denmark
business further.
not to perceive their international
backgrounds and maybe not entirely
Use your global knowledge
perfect Danish language skills as
One of the advantages you have as
obstacles in becoming part of the
an international wanting to start a
Danish society. “You have so many
business in Denmark is your global
17
• Do the research and write a
business plan. Denmark is a
small country with only 5.5
million inhabitants, so you
need to be sure that there is a
market and that your business
will be profitable.
Zina Jensen-Maar
other qualifications that the Danes
need,” Zina says.
Upon arrival in Denmark, Zina
wondered how she could make
herself attractive to the Danish job
market, and she chose to start her
consultancy firm where she makes
use of her global knowledge on a
daily basis.
More about
entrepreneurship
For start-up stories, tools, information on events and counselling all
over Denmark visit
• entrepreneurshipindenmark.dk
• facebook.com/
EntrepreneurshipInDenmark
Contact Consultant
Mogens Thomsen to get
free counselling in Aarhus:
STARTVÆKST Aarhus
Tel.: 25 32 40 30
mt@startvaekst-aarhus.dk
For counselling in other cities,
contact:
Entrepreneurship in Denmark
Tel.: 70 22 01 96
info@etniskerhvervsfremme.dk
”I would recommend all entrepreneurs and company owners to
make use of all the free counselling
and help, they can get. In Denmark,
you have the possibility of receiving a lot of help when you want to
start and run a business. Everyone
should use this opportunity to get
valuable advice.”
Giang Nguyen Jensen, Co-owner of
the travel agency, Vietnam Travels
• Denmark is a good country
to start a business as it is free
of charge and easy to do –
you can get a CVR-number
(registration number of the
company) today, and start
your business tomorrow.
• Search for networks to join.
Danish culture is based on
trust - people will happily let
you into their network, if they
feel that you have a good idea.
• Learn Danish.
18 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
1. Research
Be successful in
your job interview
10. Goal
Are you worried about how it will go
when you go for a job interview?
If yes, then you can overcome your
nervousness by being well prepared.
Follow our steps for a smooth job
interview – and thereby for the job.
Now you have got the
job, or you have been
called in for the second
round of interviews. If you
have got a rejection, contrary to all expectations,
then use it constructively, and ask
for feedback
that you can
use, when next
applying for
a job.
9. Follow-up
It is perfectly all right
to follow up on the
interview by calling
or writing, especially
if the company does
not get back to you at
the promised time. This
shows them that you
are proactive and
motivated.
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Read about the
company in their annual
report and on their website. Talk to people who
have worked there etc.
Research the interviewers
on Google and
LinkedIn.
2. Prepare
your
answers
The interviewer will dig
into your personality, professio3. Dress neatly
nal qualifications and
If you are in doubt you can get an
your motivation! Think
impression of the firm’s dress code on
about strengths/weaktheir website. Men should usually wear a
nesses and prepare a
suit or neat trousers + long-sleeved shirt.
short presentation of
Women should wear a dress,
yourself. Prepare
suit or neat trousers + shirt/
your salary level.
blouse. The more traditional the company, the
more formal the
4. Pack
dress
your bag
code.
Remember to bring
documents
such as diploma,
recommendations, references, application, CV and the
job advertisement. Also bring
the list of clever questions
that you have prepared in
advance, as well as a
notepad.
8. How to round
off the interview
Make it clear that you are
very interested in the position.
Ask about the number of
applicants and how many have
been called in for interviews.
Make enquiries about the
next step in the
process and ask
when you will
hear from
them.
7. the finer
points
Explain what you can
contribute with to the
company. Be honest about
your qualifications, and provide
specific examples of how you work.
Ask questions and elaborate, and
relate your background to the
position.
6. job interview
basics
It is okay to be a little nervous –
that shows the interviewers that
the job is important to you. Look
at the person you are talking
with. Do not just answer
questions with a
yes or a no.
5. On the day...
Arrive well in time for
the job interview, preferably 10-15
minutes in advance. But do not show up
several hours before.
Your career in Denmark
19
Tests help you, as well as the employer
By Finn Havaleschka, Researcher and Developer of dialogue tools, Garuda Research Institute
You cannot fail, but the more you
identify yourself with the answers
you give, the more useful the conversation about the results and your
personality will be.
In most cases, almost no matter
which type of job you are applying
for, you will be asked to fill out a
personality test. The word test is
misleading in this context, as it calls
forth associations to something that
you can fail. You are the person
you are, and as such you cannot fail
or pass. At Garuda we, therefore,
do not use the notion test, but the
notion dialogue tool. We prepare
the basis for a conversation about
whether you, with your knowledge,
and the person that you are, will be
able to thrive in a certain job.
Job and personality must match
Your personality finds expression
for a job within information and
in everything you do. The way you
advertising. Therefore, the purpose
approach and process tasks and
of all dialogue
problems. The
tools is to prepare
way you relate to
“Absorb all information
other people. Your
during the conversation. the basis for a conversation about
way of handling
Ask questions to find
your possibilities
adversity and
out as much as possible to thrive and have
resistance. If you
success in a given
are applying for
about yourself”
position.
a job as a comFinn Havaleschka
puter technician,
New knowledge about yourself
certain ways of approaching and
The result can never be used as
processing problems is virtually
an answer book. But some of the
a condition for success, while the
results will show the experienced
same way of working will be in the
HR manager if your way of procesway of success, if you are applying
Facts about tests
You are not being tested for
being either good or bad. The
test forms the basis for a conversation about whether you
can thrive and develop yourself
with a certain type of tasks and
responsibility.
sing problems will make it very
difficult to thrive with tasks that
has to be solved in a certain job. In
this context, it is a very good idea
to listen to, and accept the advice
from, the HR Manager. Because a
test result does not only benefit the
company – you can benefit from
it yourself. Absorb all information
during the conversation. Ask questions to find out as much as possible
about yourself and your potential to
achieve success in a given position.
When you fill out a questionnaire,
you should not think about what the
right and wrong answers could be.
The test result is not an
answer list but an outline for a
conversation.
The more openly, constructively and positively you
engage in the conversation, the
more you will be able to gain
from it – no matter whether you
get the job or not.
Never let your responses in
the questionnaire be dictated
by what you think will give you
access to the job.
Such attempts will almost
always be obvious, and they
will stand in the way of a good
and open dialogue about your
possibilities.
20 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
21
Be well prepared
and reflective
Hr panel
How to
impress at
the job
interview
How do I impress you at a job interview?
By being well prepared, committed and interested.
As an applicant you should research the company
before going to the interview. Prepare some questions for the interview. Present yourself in a nice
and natural way: Give a good presentation of your
background and your CV, explain why you want the
job and why we should pick you.
What do you find important at the interview?
Being able to communicate why you are applying
for the job, and why we should hire you. We have
to see a match between personal and professional
qualifications, as well as our values and culture. It
also makes a difference whether you have reflected
on your qualifications, and on how they can come
Interview with Ulla Kjær,
Senior HR Manager,
Arla Foods
HERE, A NUMBER
OF HR EXPERTS
HIGHLIGHT THE
DOS AND DON’TS
WHEN YOU ARE
AT AN INTERVIEW
WITH THEM:
Your career in Denmark
Christian Lausten Sørensen,
Consultant, Town Hall, Aarhus
Dos
You are invited for an interview because we assume
that your qualifications fit us. Therefore, the two
decisive factors at the job interview are that you can
relate your qualifications to our tasks, and that there
is personal chemistry. Prepare to tell us how you will
contribute to develop our company. And remember
to have eye contact with everyone at the interview.
Don’ts
Do not present yourself as something, you are not.
The job interview exists for us to get an impression of
each other. Therefore, we should be honest to each
other. Be self-assured, but not nonchalant. Have a
sense of occasion, listen and contribute. And be sure
not to be late for the interview.
Luise Drachmann Steuch,
HR Manager, Plesner
Dos
Reflect on the choices you have made during your
studies and previous jobs. We are not out to ask
tricky questions at the interview but, on the contrary,
to engage in a comfortable and open dialogue that
the candidate should preferably take part in, without
us having to drag out the words from him. Actually,
the candidate has himself good opportunities to
influence the interview and the outcome.
Don’ts
It is important that you prepare for the interview. It is
always a shame when a candidate arrives too late
for the interview, is unprepared, or cannot answer
why they apply for the position, and when, generally,
they have not reflected over the situation, they are in
as job seekers.
into play in the job, as well as your expectations
for the job. Last but not least: That you show a true
interest in the job.
That you do not show up too late – or at least inform
us, if you do, as well as being loyal to your former
employers. Do not talk badly of them.
How important is your first impression of me as an applicant?
on your qualifications, and
The first expression plays a part
on how they can come into What is the biggest mistake an
in the evaluation, but it is not
play in the job
applicant can make?
decisive. Even though you feel
It is difficult to answer clearly. But
that you have had a bad start,
Ulla Kjær
you should refrain from indicait can be corrected along the
ting that you are primarily applying for the job in
way. It is the overall picture from the whole interview
order to get an entry ticket to Arla. We focus on the
that counts. But you make a good impression by apdevelopment of our employees, but we would also
pearing forthcoming and smiling when you are met
like to start with the right person in the position.
at the reception. Eye contact and a firm handshake
And then, of course, there are the many little things:
is a good start.
Is it an advantage to follow up with a phone call?
You are welcome to call and ask further questions,
but seen in isolation, it does not give any plusses.
Can you discuss salary at the first job interview?
We always ask the applicants about their present
salary level and expectations for
salary in the advertised position –
It also makes a difference
whether you have reflected that is a standard part of the first
interview.
Lotte Fensbo,
Head of Department, PPR,
Aarhus Municipality
Dos
Be prepared to elaborate on your application. Show
us that you have thought about what you want to
point out, what you attach importance to, and what
you have experienced so far. As you will be talking
with families and children, sometimes in difficult
situations, you must have good conversational skills.
Don’ts
Do not start by asking questions. Start by talking
about yourself. We are interested in you, and must
have an impression of you as a person. It should,
however, be mentioned that we get a lot of applications, and that all of them are very qualified. When
we choose between candidates, we are skimming
the cream. Therefore, it is extremely rare that we
experience an interview that goes wrong.
Christian Mouroux, KaosPilot,
Zupa Recommended
Dos
Be yourself completely. If you are a bastard, it is no
fun either to you or to us that it is not revealed until
later. The more honest and authentic you are, the
easier we can evaluate whether you could be a
match for us. And not least, whether we can be a
match for you – you also have a right to honesty from
our side.
Don’ts
Do not hide your opinions. Give something of
yourself instead. If you are critical about some of the
work we have done, then tell us about it.
The balance is to do it with humility. And then, it is
also a golden opportunity to prove why we need
someone exactly like you.
Do you continuously develop your job interview
“model”?
We continuously develop all our tools and processes,
including the interview tools. One of the reasons for
this is to ensure that we have as high an accuracy as
possible. Our employment process is very thorough,
and most often we find a suitable candidate for the
position.
Peter Lyager, HR Consultant,
PwC
Do’s
At the job interview, we have reset the score: You
are no better or worse than the four other people
we have called in. The one who does the best at the
interview, is the candidate we hire. A good first-hand
impression is important, but it is okay to be a bit nervous – it shows that the interview is important to you.
Open up for a dialogue and have counter-questions
ready for us. Be reflective of your CV and your choices – it does not matter that it took you three years
before you begun your studies after completing your
A-levels, as long as you can explain your choices.
Dont’s
Your application does not speak for itself! A job interview is a killer, if the candidate answers in monosyllables and doesn’t demonstrate an interest.
22 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
How to negotiate your salary
By Helle Venø, Chief Consultant, DJØF
Prepare yourself for your first
salary negotiation
It is very important that you, when
preparing for a job interview, and
eventually for a salary negotiation,
reflect on your market value – that
is what you are worth as an employee. As a new graduate, you can
for instance focus on the fact that
you possess the newest theoretical
knowledge within one or more areas
of expertise which are important to
the company that you have sought
employment in. Many new graduates also have specific work experience from relevant student jobs.
you should consider your absolute
Others have maybe been involved in
limit. Knowing how low you are wilvolunteering, where being extrovert
ling to go can really help you focus
and relating on many different leduring the
vels have been
paramount. It
“It is very important that you, negotiation,
and make sure
is important
when preparing for a job
you don’t agree
that you think
interview, and eventually for to something
outside the box
you will later
to find out what
a salary negotiation, reflect
regret. It is
it is that makes
on your market value – that
important
you unique as
is what you are worth as an
that
a new graemployee”
you are
duate and fuHelle Venø
both
ture employee.
ambitiWhat unique
ous and realistic. You must
contributions can you make to this
set your salary suggestion,
particular position and company?
so that you have room to manoeuvre during the negotiation,
Name your price and know
and yet reach a reasonable result.
your limit
At the same time, the fact that your
It is important that you take the
initial demand should be realistic,
time to decide on a negotiation strameans that you must always be
tegy. You must be clear about how
able to justify it: Why are you worth
much you will aim for in salary, and
the salary that you are asking for?
what your starting demand will be.
Remember that you can negotiate
As part of your negotiation strategy,
23
negotiate
How to
Can you negotiate your salary as a new graduate, and is
there even anything to gain?
In most cases, yes! But it does
require that you, as a new graduate and future employee, are bold
enough to give up on modesty, and
take up the challenge of negotiation.
Remember, that you will rarely get a
bigger paycheque unless you ask for
it yourself – this is also true at the
first salary negotiation!
Your career in Denmark
about everything! The negotiation is
not limited to your salary. It could
also be full salary during holidays
from the date of commencement,
maternity terms or free mobile etc.
the employer, and how to handle
Choose your arguments
these. As a part of your preparation,
with care
it can be a good idea to contact your
When you have put forward your
trade union to gain knowledge resalary demand, it is important that
garding salary and conditions. Here
you can justify why you should have
you can also get access to various
exactly that salary. Choose two or
salary statistics, which can help give
three arguments that best support
you an indication of the salary level
your market value. And you must be
for a newly graduated candidate. At
prepared to defend your arguments.
the same time, your trade union will
If they are not accepted at first,
often have specific
you must repeat,
knowledge about
elaborate and
“If you reach a point
the work place
specify your arwhere you sense that
and the terms and
guments. In other
possibilities it ofwords, you must
you cannot get any
be persistent and
further, then remember fers its employees,
and you can get
prepared to deto give in slowly.”
feedback on your
fend your salary
Helle Venø
individual prepaexpectations. If
ration.
you reach a point
where you sense that you cannot get
Have I fought in vain?
any further, then remember to give
No. Your salary negotiation is rarely
in slowly. Do not sign away everyin vain. If your future employees are
thing at once. Also, during your preunable to offer you a higher salary,
paration, consider the counter arguyou have already set the course for
ments you can expect to meet from
the next salary negotiation. You
will probably be remembered at the
next salary round, and if you have
otherwise contributed with a decent
piece of work, and remember to
make your good work results visible,
then it is highly probable that the
paycheque will be bigger after the
next round of negotiations.
GOOD ADVICE ON SALARY NEGOTIATION:
• Know your market value
• Gather relevant information about the company
• Define your initial demand, the realistic goal, and how low
you are willing to go
• Be ambitious – but realistic
• Consider your arguments
• Consider your counter arguments
• Threats and ultimatums do not work in a negotiation
• Know what your message is
• Be curious, think creatively and ask questions
• Listen to the employer’s viewpoints and acknowledge them
• Pay attention to your body language
24 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
25
Graduate
panel
Good advice
on the first job
International
graduates
share their
experience on
how to get
the first
full time job
Elizabeth Jones, Brand Manager,
Cat© Bags and Luggage with Grown Up Licenses
Kristina Sedereviciute,
Business IT graduate at Novo Nordisk A/S
Oleksandr Gerasymovych, Area sales manager,
Eastern and Central European markets
Andreea Codruta Folea,
Application Manager, Maersk Oil Trading
Radu Simian George Rares,
HQ Controller, SeaGo Line A/S
What is your best advice on how to get a job as an
international in Denmark?
Network, network, network. The real world is all
about networking. Join academic organizations and
join sports clubs – the more people you meet, the
better your chances will be. Think outside the box
– if you read an article about an organization or a
person that interests you, come up with an idea, and
approach them with your idea.
What is your best advice on how to get a job as an
international in Denmark?
Be honest (know yourself), be original and be
prepared to pitch yourself 24/7. If you apply to an
international company, the same criteria will apply
to you whether you are international or Danish. If
you aim for a company with Denmark as their main
market – you will have to learn Danish.
It is helpful to know some Danish and to have lived
in Denmark before you apply. As a student you
have to understand that an employer only wants a
few things: you have to have the skills and knowledge to do the job, you have to fit the culture of the
company and you have to be motivated.
What is your best advice on how to get a job as an
international in Denmark?
For me it was to work for a small mentor company
in Herning where I helped out with projects for my
boss. He has a large network, so I got to know a lot
of people. When I finished my studies, I applied for
different positions, but I lacked experience etc. and
decided to use my network. I wrote to the managing
director of a company with 80 companies in its network. He spread the word, and one of them needed
a person like me. So, network is very important: Get
to know as many people as possible. I was also
very active during my bachelor. People knew me at
school, because I was trying to do something.
What is your best advice on how to get a job as an
international in Denmark?
Apply, apply, apply! You apply for tons of jobs, you
are invited for a number of interviews and, in the
end, you get a job. Even if the process can be nerveracking, and you get disappointed along the way,
continue to apply. You never know when your time
will come, so don’t give up when it gets hard!
What is your best advice on how to get a job as an
international in Denmark?
You have to define exactly what type of job would
suit you, and try to narrow it down to a profile as specific as possible. If you have studied subjects like Finance or Marketing or International Business – which
are very broad – then look at various job profiles in
your field and consider which one suits you best and
what kind of tasks and environment you would thrive
in. Ask people you know who are employed in your
target industry – ask about their tasks and consider
if that is something you would like to do. Once you
know what your target is, you will be a few steps
closer to landing that job.
Look for companies that fit your profile. If there are
no positions - write a project, use your course-mates
as a network to get first contact, sign up and participate in all company events that AU Career arrange,
attend career fairs etc. Use your imagination!
What is the best thing you have done to kick-start
your career?
Not being afraid of changes. I was living in Herning
and moved to Hjørring, a small village. A change of
environment is a big thing, especially in Denmark
where it’s not so easy to make friends. It takes quite
some time to break through this barrier. But you’ll
get to know the job and everything will be fine. Even
if I am working for a small company, I feel great
because of my colleagues - everybody accepted
me as I am.
What is the best thing you have done to kick-start
your career?
The best thing I have done is to accept a job offer
when I got it, even though it was not my dream job.
But my unsettled feeling in that position led me to
continuously search job ads and websites, waiting
for my dream job ad to come along. And it finally did.
What was your biggest challenge when entering
the Danish job market?
The Danish language was the biggest challenge for
me. I came here to study my Masters with 4 years of
full-time work experience – which should have been
a marketable attribute. But it was challenging to
find companies willing to communicate in English
with me. My greatest successes in terms of landing
interviews was with large companies. But the
company I ended with, that was my dream position,
is a smaller, international company called Grown
Up Group.
What worked for me were achievements in academic and business areas that made me a person
employers wanted to hear more about. On top of
that I took Danish classes which gave me insights
into various companies in Copenhagen. I volunteered in New Media Days conference which enriched
my network in Copenhagen, I joined Nykredit mentor network, which strengthened my confidence, I
went to a career fair in Copenhagen to meet Novo
Nordisk. After talking to them I was determined to
apply to Novo Nordisk, where I currently work.
What was your biggest challenge when entering
the Danish job market?
To find a job through job ads or websites. I tried but
I didn’t succeed. To convince an employer that you
can do the job, that is the biggest challenge.
What is the best thing you have done to kick-start
your career?
To get a student job relevant to my field of study. I
attended a summer school course with a classmate
who worked for an energy trading company. As part
of the course, we presented the company with a
project. They were pleased with my work, and offered me a position as a student assistant in the survey
department. The knowledge I gained from this job,
and their references helped me get the position as
Application Manager at Maersk Oil Trading.
What was your biggest challenge when entering
the Danish job market?
It is a big disadvantage, if you do not speak Danish
when you want to apply for a job in Denmark. A
Danish company is more open towards employing
a person who speaks Danish, than a person with
similar qualifications, in terms of education and student jobs, who doesn’t speak Danish. They will only
hire an international new graduate who does not
speak Danish, if the company has an international
focus, or if that person has an outstanding profile.
What is the best thing you’ve done to kick-start your
career?
To take Danish lessons. Nobody expects you to be
fluent, but putting in an effort to learn shows commitment, and a future employer will appreciate that.
Also, I optimized my CV by asking consultants and
other jobseekers for their opinion. I went to the
Career centre to do a profile test, which was useful
when I was defining my strengths and weaknesses.
What was your biggest challenge when entering
the Danish job market?
Being patient. No one knows how long it will take to
find a job here. Some of my international colleagues,
which had a CV similar to mine, found their job right
after the thesis. It took me 8 months after graduating,
before I got a job.
WELCOME
TO MY WORLD
BRINGING THE ALUMNI
NETWORK to life WITH
NAMES, FACES & STORIES
JYSKE BANK, Silkeborg DK
Saji Nair, MA Corporate Communications ´10
Marketing Consultant
Catch an unseen glimpse of one of Denmark’s most
innovative banks and learn what a marketing consultant
actually does including the ups and downs of being a foreign
student and employee.
//SEE MORE VIDS
28 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
29
Graduate
panel
negotiate
your salary
International
graduates
share advice
on how to
negotiate
your salary
Elizabeth Jones, Brand Manager,
Cat© Bags and Luggage with Grown Up Licenses
Kristina Sedereviciute,
Business IT graduate at Novo Nordisk A/S
Oleksandr Gerasymovych, Area sales manager, Eastern and Central European markets
Andreea Codruta Folea,
Application Manager, Maersk Oil Trading
Radu Simian George Rares,
HQ Controller, SeaGo Line A/S
Did you know what salary you wanted when you
were offered the job?
It is always important to research average salaries
for your field/position before your interviews. I had
done my homework, knew what salary I already
had, and went in, prepared to negotiate for what I
thought I deserved.
Did you know what salary you wanted when you
were offered the job?
I have a range, which is based on the notion that
one has to have enough money to support him/herself after setting aside 20% to invest in assets.
Did you know what salary you wanted when you
were offered the job?
Yes, I knew the range because I had asked for
advice from Career Steps in Herning before the
interview. I also had some advice from my brother
who lives in Kolding and some friends.
Did you know what salary you wanted when you
were offered the job?
Yes, I had an idea about how much the salary should
be for a new graduate with my type of education
and with some work experience obtained during the
study period. I also talked to some friends/colleagues, and I knew the industry standard. Plus, I had attended some interviews before, and I gained some
more knowledge, in terms of what other companies
with similar positions would offer. However, when
negotiating my salary, I got more than I asked for.
Did you know what salary you wanted when you
were offered the job?
Research is the key. I asked Danish friends and
colleagues which salary level one should expect to
ask for in an entry-level position in your field. Then I
prepared before going to the interviews and stuck to
that salary level.
How did you prepare for negotiating your salary?
And did you have a strategy?
I read articles and visited websites for tips and
tricks on negotiating. I also conversed with a career
counselor at the AU Career for advice, especially
because cultural backgrounds can play a role. I
know how to navigate the negotiation scheme in
the US, but it can be different from what is ok/accepted in Denmark. It was all about utilizing the resources and network that I had at my fingertips. The
job interview is the most important exam you will
ever have to prepare for. And you should prepare
for every single one of them.
How did it go?
Negotiating is not a comfortable thing for most
people, especially women. But if you go into the
conversation knowledgeable and well-versed, you
should have no problem. In my negotiation, I made it
clear that I viewed each new position as a step up in
my career path - and that monetary compensation
is a motivating factor to me.
How did you prepare for negotiating your salary?
And did you have a strategy?
I did not have to negotiate as the salary was within
my range.
What would you advise other internationals to do
salary-negotiation-wise, when they get their first job
offer?
Have a fair and honest range. If you are open and
honest, and you are facing a company that needs
you and is like you- nothing can go wrong.
Did you have a strategy for the negotiation?
When the employer asks you about salary, you have
to prove you are worth the money. If you can prove
you are worth it, you can go for big money. I did
some negotiation, but not so much. I told him a sum
I would like as a minimum to start. Taking my education and my time in Denmark into consideration,
and that I would have to move to a part of Denmark
which is not very populated. He didn’t agree at the
first interview, but he almost agreed at the second.
In any case, you have to start somewhere. And you
shouldn’t set the limit too high, or you might scare
off the employer. He doesn’t know yet, if you will be
able to bring value to the company, to compensate
for what he is paying you. In the end, you could just
leave a bad impression by setting your salary too
high, and not meeting the expectations.
How did you prepare for negotiating your salary?
I did not prepare that much to be honest. I just talked
to my friends and colleagues about it. My strategy
was to ask for a reasonable amount: not undervalue, not overvalue myself, compared to what other
candidates might ask for. If you ask for less than the
going rate, they will feel you are not experienced
enough and that your skills are insufficient. At the
same time, if you ask for more, you will appear arrogant. I think you have to balance the two, when
negotiating your salary.
What would you advice others to do?
To talk to Danish friends or colleagues who have a
job, and ask them about salary levels for new graduates. Also, you should get advice from the professional associations and from your a-kasse.
What would you advise other internationals to do
salary-negotiation-wise, when they get their first job
offer?
You must have realistic expectations – especially for
entry level positions. The company offers you the
position because they believe in your potential. So,
the right mindset would be that you accept their
offer – if it is within your salary level – and then you
prove your skills in the job. If you perform well and
prove that you can add significant value to that
company, then you will also have solid arguments
for future salary negotiations.
30 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Unemployment
Survival Guide
31
guide
Survival
If you do not have a job when you graduate, you might
need a little financial aid – also named unemployment
benefit - while you are out job hunting.
By Jane Midtgård Madsen Project Manager, InterResource
you graduate, as there are different rules for graDepending on your country of origin, your work
duates. Interresource can assist you in getting in
history in Denmark etc., you need to meet diffecontact with unions and unemployment funds.
rent requirements. As a student from abroad who
has completed a graduate
If you meet the requireprogram in Denmark which
“Make sure to contact these
ments to join an unemployis at least 18 months in dufunds before you graduate,
ment fund, signing up is
ration, you can join a Danish
easy, and can often be done
unemployment insurance
as there are different rules
online. Membership fees are
fund if:
for graduates. Interresource
usually around 400 kr. per
can assist you in getting in
month, but some are free
• You had a permanent adcontact with unions and
as long as you are studying.
dress in Denmark no later
unemployment funds.”
And do take advantage of
than one day before the start
Jane Midtgård Madsen
your membership. All funds
of your education.
offer personal guidance regarding your job search and
• You are in Denmark no
your rights and duties.
later than 14 days, including weekends, after
you end your education, i.e. you must apply for
EU versus non-EU citizen
membership within 14 days of completing your
Membership of an unemployment insurance fund
education.
is a precondition, if you wish to receive unemployment benefit. EU citizens will be entitled to
We recommend that you contact one of the uniunemployment benefit as Danish citizens. You
ons or unemployment funds to get advice on your
situation. Make sure to contact these funds before can find out more at www.statsforvaltning.dk. If
Your career in Denmark
a month after completing your education. Your
education is considered complete when student
activities have ceased, and you have received your
final grade and passed your exams. If your certificate is issued when your student activities end,
then the date the degree certificate is sent will be
1. Register at the jobcentre
considered the date your
On the first day after your
graduation, you must
“As a new graduate you will education ends. If your education ends with a thesis,
register as a job seeker at a
receive graduate privileges, then your education will be
jobcentre – anyone in the
which entitle you to
considered complete when
country will do. The easiest
you receive an advance apunemployment benefit a
way to do that is to just show
proval from your examiner
up. At the jobcentre, they
month after completing
or supervisor. It is necescan inform you about the
your education.”
sary that all grades have
registration procedure, your
Jane Midtgård Madsen
been awarded, and that
rights and your duties when
all student activities have
unemployed.
ceased. Student activities include participating in
tutorials, exams or defending a thesis etc.
2. Send your application form to an
unemployment insurance fund within 14
3. Tax card
days
Unemployment benefit is taxable income in
The 14 day deadline is extremely important! As
Denmark. The Danish tax authorities – SKAT a new graduate you will receive graduate privilecalculate your tax, issue your tax card and offer
ges, which entitle you to unemployment benefit
first day after your graduation
2. Send your application-form to an unemployment insurance fund within 14 days
3. Get a tax card
Photo: Colourbox
you are not an EU citizen, you must hold a valid
Danish work and residence permit, or a permanent residence permit, in order to receive the
monthly unemployment allowance. You can find
more information at www.newtodenmark.dk.
Important to-do list
Ok, so you meet the requirements mentioned
above. But you are not done yet. You can only get
unemployment benefit if you remember to:
1. Register at the jobcentre as unemployed on the
personal information and guidance on tax questions. You can read more at www.skat.dk. You will
find the tax authorities at either the International
Citizens Service in Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense or
Copenhagen, or at the local tax offices.
What is an ‘a‑kasse’?
The Danish word ‘a‑kasse’ is an abbreviation for ‘arbejdsløshedskasse’ which means
unemployment insurance fund. Most professions have their own specialised a‑kasse.
When you become a member of one, you
are guaranteed a regular income if you
become unemployed, giving you time to look
for the right job, pay your bills – and in fact
help you to find a job.
An a‑kasse is financed by the Danish state,
and out of your monthly membership fee of
DKK 433,00 a total of DKK 306 goes directly
to the state. The a‑kasse receives an administrative fee.
32 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
33
Moving from Teheran to Aarhus to do a
Ph.D. has been easy for Soheil Abginehchi.
He has – happily - spent the better part of the
past three years on campus.
By Tina Lee, journalist, InterResource
“I found it easy to adapt, and as a Ph.D. student you
don’t spend much time in society. I am spending my
time on campus among colleagues who have become
good friends – and I have been so busy that I haven’t
been homesick even for one day,” says Soheil
Abginehchi.
Higher quality Ph.D.
In Iran it takes four years to do a Ph.D. and you are
still a student, because you do not get paid. After
meeting their supervisor, Ph.D.-students are not
obliged to stay on at the university and do research.
A few of them can earn money by doing courses
– but most have to work outside campus.
Soheil Abginehchi says:
“Because it’s a job in Denmark, we spend much
more time at the university which greatly enhances
the quality of the Ph.D. here.”
Encouraged by a friend
Soheil Abginehchi was doing his Master in Industrial Engineering in Teheran, but wanted to go abroad
to do a Ph.D. A friend encouraged him to apply for
a Ph.D. at Aarhus University - Business and Social
even if Danish isn’t mandatory, he wants to learn
Sciences, where he had been a Ph.D. exchange, and
the native tongue in order to integrate himself in the
had had a great supervisor. His previous studies
Danish society – which he hasn’t had time for while
were in line with a Ph.D.-posiworking on his Ph.D.
tion available at BSS, so he got
”The chance of employment
the job. As things turned out,
A healthier life
here is higher for me now,
Soheil was appointed the same
In his old life, there was another
because people know
supervisor as his friend.
thing he did not have time
Aarhus University as a
“It was a surprise to me how
for – exercise. The only way to
high ranking university...”
much my Danish supervisor
get around in Teheran is by car
Soheil Abginehchi
helped me. He came to my
because of the infrastructure,
office with new ideas, we had
and because the city lies in a
many meetings and we went through research
valley, making it uphill wherever you want to go.
together,” explains Soheil Abginehchi who has just
When he lived there, Soheil Abginehchi was always
submitted his thesis.
busy, not least because he spent a lot of time in traffic jams. The rest of his hours were spent studying,
Danish skills not paramount
so exercise was not a familiar activity to him.
The Ph.D. student from Teheran doesn’t speak
“I do much more exercise here in Aarhus than I ever
Danish, and it hasn’t been a problem while working
did back home. Every day I ride my bicycle to work,
at Aarhus University. E-mails are translated into
and I go to the gym.”
English, and his Danish colleagues switch to English
But the thing he enjoys the most about Denmark is
when he goes to lunch with them. If he wants to stay
the system of equality, as he calls it. Danes do not
and work, he doesn’t need to speak Danish in order
want to show off, they are relaxed and informal –
to work for large international companies, such as
together with the fact that he is paid to work on his
Novo Nordisk and Lego.
Ph.D., this causes less stress for Soheil Abginehchi.
“And the chance of employment here is higher for
“I am relaxed, and I can focus a 100 percent on my
me now, because people know Aarhus University as
Ph.D. Although it is not easy to be a PhD student
a high ranking university,” says Soheil Abginehchi.
in general, I have enjoyed every moment of it. The
But if he does get a job in one of the big companies,
standard of life is great here in Denmark.”
Photo: Anders Warrer
Quality, equality
– and plenty of exercise
Blue Book
Name:
Education: Title:
Nationality: Soheil Abginehchi
Master in Industrial Engineering
Ph.D. in logistics and
Supply Chain Management
Iranian
34 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Your career in Denmark
35
There has to be change
Kristina Sedereviciute knew she wanted
to study abroad, so she spent a semester
in Lund, Sweden, during her Bachelor and
came to Aarhus for her Master’s. She also
knew that she wanted a high profile job with
new challenges – so she went straight after a
graduate position.
Different work culture
One of the things that she came to enjoy in Novo
Kristina Sedereviciute searched for a company that
Nordisk is the project and team based work apcould combine her interests in management consulproach – by contrast, the approach is more indiviting, project management, IT and communication,
dualistic in Lithania.
To this end, she started participating in different
“I was used to doing things thoroughly on my own,
company events, mentor programs and career fairs
investing a lot of time, and coming up with a solu– and she moved to Copenhagen.
tion in the end. It doesn’t work like
Here, Kristina Sedereviciute started
that at Novo Nordisk, because the
”I knew the company
attending Danish classes. She
cases you work on are more comwas a perfect match
also applied, and was accepted to
plex, and you are very likely to miss
for me. I really liked
Nykredit’s mentor program, which
some aspects of the problem, you
the people I met.”
helped her expand her network. As
are solving. You have to involve and
Kristina Sedereviciute
part of Nykredit’s mentor program,
collaborate with many stakeholders
she met people who introduced her
because you are always aiming for a
to Copenhagen as a place for internationally minded
high quality result.”
career people. “Copenhagen is the capital, but in
Kristina Sedereviciute also appreciates the flat structerms of the number of global companies that opeture of the organisation and the approachability of
rate from here, it’s still a small town,” says Kristina
the senior management.
Sedereviciute.
“At first, it seemed strange to me to talk to seShe had Novo Nordisk, A.P. Møller Mærsk, and
nior managers and call them by their first name.
McKinsey & Company listed as her priorities.
However, I believe it’s a very positive approach. The
By Tina Lee, journalist, InterResource
Photo: Anders Debel
Blue Book
Name:
Kristina Sedereviciute
Age:28
Education: MA, Corporate Communication
Nationality:Lithuanian
Position: Business IT-graduate
at Novo Nordisk A/S
“All companies were very good, but when I met
Novo Nordisk at a career fair, I knew the company
was a perfect match for me. I really liked the people
I met,” she says.
It turned out her profile was a perfect match for
Novo Nordisk too.
culture here is very friendly, and everyone is free to
express their ideas and thoughts.”
A fresh start every six months
For Kristina Sedereviciute relocating to a new country or city is a bit like starting a new job. You have to
start from scratch.
“But I like that. It’s always exciting to start something new.”
The two year graduate program consists of four
rotations and she just had a fresh start with a new
manager and a new project as a result of her second
rotation. Her current project entails rolling out a
CRM application for iPad for Novo Nordisk’s sales
representatives around the world. Kristina Sedereviciute will be responsible for the localization of the
application and the training. She will also serve as a
key figure for the roll out in Russia and Mexico.
The third rotation will be abroad which suits the Lithuanian graduate perfectly – traveling is important
to Kristina Sedereviciute who first went to Sweden,
and then to Denmark to study. But despite all the
moving about, she still manages to feel at home in
Copenhagen where she is currently located.
“I like meeting new people and discovering new
places. Moving about is a natural state for me. I like
change – in order for me to thrive, there has to be
change.”
36 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Top grades not enough
Oleksandr Gerasymovych was 18 years old
when he came to Denmark. He learned the
language, gained relevant work experience
and finished his Master’s with the highest
grade point average in his class. But it
wasn’t enough to get him a job with a Danish
company.
By Tina Lee, journalist, InterResource
“In this job market and with the competition from
Danish graduates I never got an interview, which is
where I could have proven to a future employer that
I could do the job,” says Oleksandr Gerasymovych.
In the end, he had to use his network to get a chance
to prove himself.
Job in a small town
The chance he got was with a small Danish company
that engineers and manufactures high-end light
weight armour solutions, but it meant he had to
leave Herning, where he had lived for six years,
and move to Hjørring, a town with a population of
25,000 in northern Jutland.
“Only very few young people live in Hjørring, so it
was a big change, but in a good way. I am more focused and structured now, than when I was a student,”
says Oleksandr Gerasymovych.
His friends joke about his new home town and ask
him, what life in Hjørring is like.
“I tell them I am happy! I am the youngest employee
depends on my decisions for the future.”
in the company, the second youngest is maybe 40
Decisions which are based on Oleksandr Gerasyyears old – but everybody accepts and supports me,
movych’s great knowledge of Eastern Europe and his
and that gives me a lot of energy.
international perspective due to
There is a positive culture here,
a multicultural background. As
“I want to learn
which I really enjoy,” says a smian added bonus for the company,
something new every
ling Oleksandr Gerasymovych.
day, and I do in this job.” he speaks Russian, Ukranian,
English, Polish and Danish.
Oleksandr Gerasymovych
Big responsibility
“You should be able to speak the
Even though the job is in a relatilanguage of the country you live
vely small company in a small town, it has everyin. For me it shows respect.”
thing Oleksandr Gerasymovych was looking for in
his first position. He says:
Prefers Denmark over Ukraine
“I want to learn something new every day, and I do
Oleksandr Gerasymovych has lived a quarter of his
in this job. I have a lot of responsibility and freedom
life in Denmark. His brother lives here too, and
to develop ideas and do projects that I find interealmost all of his friends. He only goes back home to
sting. I work in a perfect place where I am not just
visit his parents and a few old friends.
a little fish in a big sea; I make a difference, a lot
“I would say right now I prefer living in Denmark
instead of Ukraine. I have got used to it. I like that if
you want to do something and make an effort, you
Blue Book
are able to accomplish it.”
The ability to have fun and at the same time do a
Name:Oleksandr Gerasymovych
good job is also something Oleksandr Gerasymovych
Age:24
Education: Master of Science in Economics appreciates.
and Management
“When I talk to people back home, they say that I am
Nationality:Ukrainian
different. That I think differently. My basic values
Position: Area Sales Manager, Eastern and will never change, but it’s true – I do have a different
Central European markets at view now on how life should be. And I prefer the
Scanfiber Composites A/S
Scandinavian balanced lifestyle.”
Photo: Anders Warrer
Your career in Denmark
37
join us for
a life-changing
career at
novo nordisk
Let your talent benefit you,
and millions of others
Join the fight against diabetes
Novo Nordisk is a world leader in diabetes care and
employs more than 32.000 people in some 80 countries.
We offer great opportunities for people who want
more than just a job. We empower our employees to
deliver ambitious results and innovative solutions. In
return we encourage and support both professional
and personal development. Join Novo Nordisk and use
your skills in an international environment where you
can change the lives of millions of people around the
world for the better. We call it life-changing careers.
Ready for a career climb?
Base Camp is Novo Nordisk’s graduate programme. As
the name indicates, it is a platform for steep career
climbing, and you will need all your skills, talent and
experience to get there. But once you are part of the
expedition, you will have a unique opportunity to bring
your Master’s degree to life in a global landscape. With
a Master’s degree in e.g. Marketing, IT, Finance or
Science and an international mindset, you could very
well be exactly the person we are looking for.
As a graduate you will explore Novo Nordisk in
at least three job rotations in Denmark as well as
internationally.
Learn more about Novo Nordisk and Base Camp at:
novonordisk.com/careers
Scan the QR code
with your smartphone
and visit our website.
Student jobs
Internships
Study projects
Graduate jobs
Ph.D. and research
- and jobs abroad
jobbank.au.dk
og
AU
projobjekt
bank
AU job and project bank
Find or post jobs and projects on jobbank.au.dk, Read company
profiles, career related articles and create a job alert.
40 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Learning Danish
will get you a job
If you can add Danish to your language skills you will greatly increase
your chances of getting a job both in Denmark and abroad.
By Antoniya Doneva, Career Counsellor, Career Steps
employed in Denmark, I have experienced that
humour is important in the coffee breaks at work,
and that the salsa club is a place where contacts
and useful information are exchanged.
Your first mission in Denmark is completed – you
have passed all your exams and received your
AU diploma. Today is the day when you close the
university door and you are standing at a new and
exciting door – the door leading to your professional life.
Every graduation speech has some advice, and
so will mine. My piece of advice to all of you
who have started your job hunt, and are not sure
which way to go – learn Danish. It’s worth the
effort.
2) You increase your chances of finding a
job in Denmark
Even if your Danish is not perfect, having some
knowledge gives you a competitive advance.
Even if the job does not require fluent Danish,
the employer will always be more willing to hire
a person who is able to understand a little of the
written material, and who is able to small talk
with colleagues in Danish.
My experience: When I found my internship,
the position was for an international student
and Danish skills were not a must. However, by
Three reasons why
My three reasons why you should learn Danish in
order to land a job are:
1) You can network yourself to a job
More than 80 percent of the jobs in Denmark are
never advertised. Organizations in Denmark find
new employees through the company’s network.
There is the “who-you-know” culture where trust
and connections are paramount. As a foreign
professional, you need to expand your network
among Danes in order to access job opportunities
that are not advertised on JobIndex. Speaking
Danish is obviously important for networking:
you will be able to communicate and interact con-
Blue Book
fidently with the locals. As Nelson Mandela put it:
If you talk to a man in a language he understands,
that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his
language, that goes to his heart.
My experience: During the years I have been
Name:
Antoniya Doneva
Age:25
Education: Master of Arts in
Corporate Communication
(Danish line), AUBSS
Nationality:Bulgarian
Position: Career Counselor at AU Herning
Learn
Danish
knowing some Danish, I had an advance over
other internationals, as I was also able to solve
work assignments in Danish.
classes, however, is not enough; you also need to
work on your own. Here are some more tips on
how to make your language learning more effective and fun:
3) You increase your
“During the years I have
• Join a society or associachances of finding a job
been employed in Denmark, tion or sports club: There
abroad
you will meet people from
If you decide to leave DK
I have experienced that
different walks of life and
and work elsewhere within,
humour is important in the
of all ages. They will not
for example, leisure and toucoffee breaks at work, and
necessarily all be good at
rism, or in the EU, knowing
that the salsa club is a place speaking English, and will
Danish can be your unique
where contacts and useful
give you more chances to
selling point. Danish can
also be your key for finding a
information are exchanged.” practice speaking Danish.
job with a better salary.
Antoniya Doneva
• Use every opportunity to
My experience: When I was
speak Danish and answer in
investigating the job opportunities in my home country, Bulgaria, I found Danish, even when the locals switch to English.
out that if I were to get a customer service job in
• Watch Danish films with Danish subtitles – can
Danish, I would receive twice the average salary,
be hard in the beginning, but you will learn SO
only because there are very few candidates who
MUCH. Plus, Denmark is a country with a long
are able to speak Danish.
and internationally recognized cinema tradition.
Plenty of good films are in store for you.
The fastest way to learn Danish
I was almost fluent, and started my Master’s
• Read the free newspapers: the language there
degree in Danish after studying the language for
is relatively simple, and you will be updated with
two and a half years at Lær Dansk. Taking the
Your career in Denmark
41
the latest news. And hey - those newspapers are
free of charge!
The best part about learning Danish
• It is not hard! The pronunciation is unique, but
after you develop some special muscle groups,
you will be able to talk and be understood.
• Afterwards, you can easily learn Swedish and
Norwegian.
Free language courses
LærDansk offers Danish language courses.
These courses are provided for free by the
Danish government and they take place during the academic year. Read more on
www.laerdansk.dk
To improve your Danish skills or simply
learn the basics, you may join one of the
various classes. LærDansk also offer language exchanges.
Online language resources
www.netdansk.asb.dk
www.dansk.nu
Workindenmark.dk/
students
Finding a relevant student job
Workindenmark connects Danish enterprises and international job seekers. This site presents all online job ads
in English posted by Danish organisations and companies.
Check out workindenmark.dk/students
On this site, you can:
• post your CV and present your qualifications to
Danish companies
• search for relevant student jobs, etc.
• get advice on how to apply for jobs in Denmark
• find information on rules on residence and work for
students
Personal support
You are always welcome to contact your local
Workindenmark centre if you need support or advice on
how to find a student job in Denmark.
Workindenmark West
Nordhavnsgade 4-6
8000 Aarhus C
Ph. +45 72 22 33 60
Mail: west@workindenmark.dk
West
East
South
Small and medium-sized enterprises - SMEs – make up
the majority of all businesses in Denmark. There is a huge
and untapped job potential in many of these companies.
By Ann Cathrine Lebech Hoe, Business Consultant and Contact Intermediary (Kontaktmægler)
A large number of small and medium- sized
enterprises are not used to recruiting graduates,
and unfortunately there are even fewer SMEs
with experience in recruiting international scholars with a Danish education. Some companies
are sceptical about what an academic can offer,
and what you can offer them as an international
academic.
As a newly qualified graduate you can make a
huge effort to inform businesses about which
skills they can gain by hiring you in particular.
With your international background, you have
both many professional as well as cultural skills
to offer the company. It is also important that you
emphasise your language skills.
Workindenmark South
Dannebrogsgade 3, 1.
5000 Odense C
Ph. +45 72 22 33 30
Mail: south@workindenmark.dk
Workindenmark East
Nyropsgade 1,1.
1602 København K
Ph. +45 72 22 33 00
Mail: east@workindenmark.dk
Create your job in a
small or medium-sized
enterprise
Examples of tasks in SMEs:
Many small businesses have a website. But often
it is in Danish only. One possibility could be
to inform them how they could benefit from a
company website in several languages – and of
course help them accomplish the task.
Does the company export, or are they considering
a start-up? Offer to explore market opportunities
in the country where you come from. You know
the language, and you have cultural insight and
knowledge of the country.
In your research, you can spot several possible
ways to create your own job. Be aware that small
businesses may require you to perform many
different tasks, as they inherently have limited
resources in terms of staff.
Tips on how to get a job
Useful knowledge about SMEs
In a job interview, you will find that small
businesses focus more on personal chemistry and
job motivation – whereas bigger companies tend
to focus more on relevant work experience.
• Research, research and research!
• Learn Danish and immerse yourself in
Danish culture
• Contact the company by phone or in
person prior to applying for a position
• Be respectful of the history and culture of
the company
• Be humble, but also curious about the
company
• Ask about the company and determine
their needs
More than 50 percent of SMEs fill vacancies
through their network.
It is usually a good idea to contact a SME before
you send an unsolicited application.
Most SMEs think it is a really good idea for
candidates to call, before they apply for an
advertised job - provided you have relevant
questions.
44 Your career in Denmark
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
InterResource Graduate Guide 2012
Danish
companies
miss out
on global
talent
Every year a large number of international
graduates leave Denmark after completion
of their degrees. Danish companies thus miss
out on the competitive edge that comes from
recruiting global talent. AU is supporting a new
research project that looks into how universities
and companies can facilitate the integration of
international talent in the Danish labour market.
Every year global talent leave Denmark
Over the last decade, the international Master
study programmes have attracted an increasing
number of international students to Danish
uni¬versities. However, according to figures from
the Agency for Universities and Internalisation
(Styrelsen for International Uddannelse) only 50
per cent remain in Denmark one year after their
graduation. After two years, this number drops
to 44 per cent, and after three years, only 39 per
cent remain in Denmark.
It is safe to assume that some of the international
graduates who leave Denmark never intended to
stay after completing their Master’s degree. Still,
the figures indicate that there is a much greater
Your career in Denmark
Learn
to do
potential for integration of international graduates in the Danish labour market.
How can universities and companies help
facilitate the integration of international
graduates into the labour market?
A new research project looks into how the integration of international graduates can be strengthened. The point of departure is that companies
Did you know?
18 of the largest Danish and international
companies based in Denmark have joined
forces in The Consortium for Global Talent.
The task of the Consortium is to attract and
retain skilled global professionals in Denmark
and to contribute to making Denmark one of
the best places to live in, work and study.
www. http://consortiumforglobaltalent.dk/
and universities play an important role in ensuring a better and more sustainable integration,
and that companies, educational institutions, the
international graduates, and society as a whole
can benefit greatly from this.
Universities especially have a close interaction
with the international graduates during their studies, and have the unique opportunity to initiate
the integration of the young talents into the social
sphere of the Danish society on the one hand,
and act as a bridge between the graduates and the
Danish business arena on the other hand.
The project is undertaken by Danish/Norwegian
research consultancy DAMVAD and Management Engineering at the Technical University
of Denmark (DTU) and is funded by the Danish
Industry Foundation. The project is based on a
survey and qualitative interviews with international alumni from the former Aarhus School of
Business (now AU) and DTU, and will examine
barriers and opportunities related to the integration into the Danish labour market, and gain insight into what motivates international graduates
to work for a Danish company. The project also
looks into what barriers and opportunities international graduates experience in relation to their
integration into the Danish labour market.
Chief consultant Niels M. Søndergaard from
DAMVAD, says:
“There is great interest from some of the biggest
Danish companies in attracting and retaining
global talent. The project will give us insight into
how companies and the university can improve
the way they approach international graduates,
and will suggest new ways of organising the meeting between international graduates, companies
and the university, for the benefit of everybody”.
As part of the project a survey is carried out
among international alumni from AU from the
years 2005 – 2010. Please help the researchers
help future international alumni by filling out the
survey, if you belong to this group.
What should I do when I graduate?
Contact CA-A-kasse within 14 days of
your graduation
http://www.ca.dk
Start looking for a job
Work in Denmark
www.workindenmark.dk
Find an apartment, as student accomodation is no longer an option for you:
BoligPortalen: www.boligportal.dk
Join AU Alumni
http://bss.au.dk/da/videnudveksling/
aualumni/
For more information,
check the links below:
The Danish State Information Service
www.denmark.dk
The Royal Danish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
www.um.dk
The official portal for foreigners
and integration
www.newtodenmark.dk
Life in Denmark
www.lifein.dk
Akademikernes A-kasse
www.aak.dk
Tryg
www.tryg.dk
45
WELCOME TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
International Community is a network for international graduates
and employees, their families and
internationally minded companies
and Danes in East Jutland.
Our aim is to give you the best possible
experience of living in Denmark and make
you feel at home.
International Community is a great place
to meet new people and enlarge both your
social and profes¬sional network and possibly increase your career opportunities in
Denmark.
Most of our activities are free of charge
We offer our members:
• Events and seminars: Visit companies,
associations and cultural institutions in the
Aarhus area, learn about Danish culture and
society, how to write a CV and cover letter
and much more.
• A weekly newsletter with news from Inter-
national Community and information about
upcoming events in and around Aarhus.
• An online community, InterCom – connecting you with internationals and Danes.
• Practical assistance through our website
www.internationalcommunity.dk, workshops and personal support.
R FREE!
O
F
P
U
N
G
SI
• Information on living and working in
Aarhus and Denmark.
Visit us at the International Citizen Service
in Aarhus. Check www.icitizens.dk for
location and opening hours.