5 tips for internationals to find a job in Denmark

We all have had the same struggle at some point or another; find and land a job! We all come from different backgrounds and have different life experiences but we can relate to the job search struggles.

Even if this article is more focused on the Danish market, many of these tips can be used globally, no matter your background.

If you are more of an audio person and would like to listen to the tips instead, click here for part 1 and click here for part 2 from the show, You've Got 5 Options.

Otherwise, just keep reading to get the 5 tips and enjoy!

1. Recognize Your Own Strengths

Sometimes, it does not always work out for what we originally set out for when we go down the path of life. Maybe you studied political science and you were not able to get that PhD that you wanted or maybe you studied art and you can't get the job at the museum you dreamed of working at.

We set our focus in our studies and expect that we will do what we originally set out to do. Many internationals who come to Denmark expect that we can use our degree when coming over. This mindset is a trap and many of us fall into it.

When we live in another country, we have to change our mindsets. We have to change how we think, feel, etc. as we have to adapt to another culture, another way of life, another way of thinking.

Many of us should consider to re-invent ourselves, digging deep and reflect on our overall life experiences. So how do you change your mindset?

Reflect on your overall life experiences in a 360 degree angle. What internships did you do and what skills and competences did you learn? What are your job experiences? What did you learn at university and the clubs that your participated in? What did you learn in your courses? In middle school? Also, elementary school?!

Think outside of the box. Maybe as a kid you tried to start your own business and sold lemonade at your self-made stand. You then maybe learned how to be an entrepreneur, how to negotiate prices and how to handle finances.

Be honest with your experiences! If you are not honest with yourself, the company interviewing you sure will. It will come back to bite you.

2. Analyze Your Options

Once you are able to recognize your own strengths and are honest with yourself, analyze the market.

How do you go about finding out what available in the Danish market? There are many different choices to chose from for you to try out.

You can go to New in Denmark (NyiDanmark) and check the Positive List. The Positive List is a list of professions where the Danish government posts twice a year on what occupations are needed in the Danish market.

You can also use different job search portals in Denmark like JobIndex, WorkinDenmark, etc. and use your key words to find out how many jobs are posted in the field you want to go into.

Once you have an idea of the how the Danish market is at that time, look at your list of your strengths and compare them to the Danish market. Are there a lot of jobs or very few? Should you still pursue the career path you originally set out to do or are you willing to be open to change your mindset and try something new? Should you start your own business?

Only you can find your own questions and reflex on them yourself.

3. Use Your Network

In Denmark, using your network is so vital and so crucial in getting a job. There are so many creative ways in creating your network if you don't have one already.

There is no room to be shy in Denmark. For many of us, it is very difficult to go out of our comfort zone. To create your network, you have to simply do it. If you have a hard time and need to go out of your comfort zone, talk to a family member or a friend. Get the encouragement you need to help you break the ice.

Join clubs, communities, organizations, courses and participate in events. In this way, you can grow your network and meet new people, possibly meeting new friends.

There are so many Facebook and Linkedin groups that you can find based on keywords like "Aarhus Internatonals," "Vejle Football Club," etc. Then you can make your posting or find events near your area to join.

Starting your new network from scratch takes time and hard work. But will help you in the long-run.

Maybe after some time in building relationships with others in Denmark, whether that be through an event, your Danish course, etc. you can use your network to help you in your job search. Post on Facebook on what you are looking for, your skills, your CV, etc. Use your Linkedin Network.

If you have a network on Linkedin, post on Linkedin or ask your network to post for you. Danish culture is so kind, caring and helpful. Some will even go out of their way to help you and this is a rare gift so don't abuse it. Use your previous employers, have them write a recommendation on Linkedin and ask them if they can help and post your plight if you have a good relationship with them.

4. Target Your Application

Many of you who are already reading the fourth tip have probably heard this a lot. But targeting your application goes beyond your CV and application.

You need to call the company to find the gaps in the company website and job posting.

So how do you go about analyzing the job posting and company website to find these gaps?

Find key points that are missing. For example, if the company website does not tell you about their values, ask them. If the job posting does not mention the company culture and not on the website, ask them.

Be curious but be prepared and write down your list of questions! Remember, it is not only about showing what value you bring to the company but to find out if this company is the right fit for you. All of your notes will help you in your CV, job application and finding out if the company and job is right for you.

Also, take the notes and listen to their answers because your CV and cover letter should be flexible and changeable that can be added and highlighted in your application. You should not give the same CV and cover letter to every position that you apply for.

But don't ask questions for the sake of asking questions. Ask the right questions. If company values are on the website, don't ask because they will tell you already that it is on their website and shows to them that you did not do your homework.

Asking these questions is also vital to give a first good impression. Your end goal is that they start asking questions about you and them asking for your name. Once you have these two things down, you have more than a 90% chance that you got the job interview.

This is an art and takes practice. It is tough and for most of us, it is very difficult to do. But practice makes perfect.

The only exception that should be made are the language skills. If there is a job posting in Danish, try to write in Danish if possible (if you can't, write in English. You need to be honest. Honesty/Truthfulness is one of the pillars of Danish society) and ask if Danish is important for them or not. If it is important for them, why? Ask them if they can help you understand. When you ask them, show them the value that you can bring to the company and show that you are trying. This is highly valued in Danish culture and the company will give you respect for your honesty and your effort.

If you live in Denmark (or any country for that matter), you need to learn the language. But knowing the language will go a long way in the long-term to help you get promotions, to be taken more seriously and to build a relationship with your team. It is possible to get a job with limited Danish but your level of Danish will take you further in your career.

5. Stay Positive

This is probably the toughest part throughout the job search. You send out many applications and get a lot of interviews but you don't get that job. This is a tough one for us to swallow and many of us have experienced the low more than the high.

Everything is about changing your mindset. If you are negative, the negativity will stay with you. It might even show in your job application. If you are positive and self-confident, maybe you will be successful in landing that interview or even the job itself.

You can change your situation by chosing how you deal with it.

My next article, "How to Stay Positive in Your Job Search" further expands on how to stay positive.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. This is about sharing each other experience's as we all have different ways on finding and landing a job in Denmark (or getting a job anywhere in the world for that matter).

Do you have any tips or ideas that you would like to expand upon that worked for you or know that has worked for others?

Thank you all for your support!