Mulighetsdager Norge - Sverige (08 September 2022)

Looking for work in Norway 

Information to job seekers from NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration 

1) INTRODUCTION 

2) EXAMPLES OF CV AND APPLICATION LETTER 

3) LEARNING NORWEGIAN  

4) USEFUL NORWEGIAN WEBSITES 

5) INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN NORWAY 

7) HOUSING 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Looking for jobs in Norway requires at least good English skills – but in many cases Norwegian skills, and then a good dictionary or translation tool. 

A useful brochure to read is “New in Norway”. It contains lots of valuable information about the public services in Norway (moving to Norway, children and schools, health, taxation, etc) 

Formalities 

The official guide Work In Norway gives you a step by step guidance for your formalities when working in Norway: recognition of your education, taxes, social security, and more. 

The labour market 

Population: 5 435 536 pr 30th March 2022 

Developments in the Norwegian economy 

The Norwegian labour market has recovered fully after the downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate is very low (2,1% in May 2022) and the demand for workers very high. 

What is the demand for workers? 

Tourism and hospitality: cooks and chefs; waiters/waitresses; bartenders; hotel workers; both permanent staff and seasonal staff (summer and winter) 

Construction and civil works:  

Carpenters; electricians; drivers of construction engines and cranes; roofers; plumbers; welders 

Engineers (water and water treatment; civil works: roads, tunnels, bridges, railway and building; HVAC). 

Transport: lorry drivers C and CE; bus drivers D and DE  

Health care: nurses and specialized nurses (theatre nurses, intensive care nurses …); doctor specialists (mental health, substance abuse treatment, oncology, neurology, rheumatology, internal medicine, radiology…); pharmacists; optometrists. 

IT: professionals within software development/ system development; digital communication; information security and computer security; data analysis; AI; machine learning; service design. 

Services: Car mechanics, heavy vehicle mechanics, construction engines mechanics; machine mechanics 

NB! Please note that many of these professions require a good knowledge of the Norwegian language, especially those which require a contact with customers, clients or patients. 

Looking for work 

We recommend that you register your CV on the EURES portal www.eures.europa.eu, where Norwegian employers are likely to be looking for European candidates. 

 

Where to find the jobs 

The easiest way if you don’t speak Norwegian is to search for jobs on the EURES portal www.eures.europa.eu. Indeed, all the job vacancies published on the national NAV job portal are listed on this portal. You can then use the search function in your own language and access the job vacancies. Check first the job vacancies “with EURES flag”, it means that the employers are actively looking for European candidates to these jobs. 

You can also access the job vacancies in English which are listed on the NAV job portal. 

If you understand Norwegian, you access most of the job vacancies in Norway on the NAV job portal www.arbeidsplassen.no. 

Recruitment agencies 

The private recruitment agencies have a big share of the job market in Norway, and there are numerous. You should consider registering at a few of them. A few examples: 

www.manpower.no 

www.adecco.no 

https://www.randstad.no/  

www.jobzone.no   

https://www.experis.no/ 

There are many more recruitment agencies, you can find them via the Yellow Pages www.gulesider.no. Write “bemanningsbyrå” in the search field. 

Trade Unions and professional bodies 

Trade Unions and employers Unions are very present and play an important role in the Norwegian society. And they can be a good source of information about the job market, working conditions, salaries etc. in their respective branch or sector. You can find them in the brochure “New in Norway” in the chapter “Trade unions”.  

The largest trade union is LO www.lo.no/english. 

The largest employer’s union is NHO www.nho.no/en.  

When you find a job, it is recommended to apply for membership in a trade union (many workers in Norway are member of a trade union). You can ask on your workplace which trade unions are relevant to you.  

Applying for a job 

You can either apply for advertised jobs or send open applications to targeted employers. Both are common in Norway. It is indeed important to send open applications as many job vacancies are not advertised on the traditional job databases. Use the business directory Yellow Pages www.gulesider.no to find companies in the professional categories most relevant to you. You can search by using keywords in English.  

The golden rule when applying for a job is: 1 application for 1 job. You should indeed always match your application, your CV and your skills & competence to each single job vacancy or each employer you apply to. Avoid using a standard application letter. When sending an open application, always check the employer’s website to match yourself to its activities/products/services. 

You will see that most of the job ads are in Norwegian – it is the national language - but you can use a translation tool (egs. google translate) to get an idea of the job. Then you can apply in English, as most Norwegians speak quite good English. 

It is not common in Norway to mention the salary in the job ads, that’s why you won’t find much salary information. 

In each job ad there should be the name of a person to contact at the company/employer: use them! If you have questions about the job, the salary or possibilities for accommodation, don’t hesitate to contact the person mentioned and ask him/her – even before you apply. This will also allow you to check if the job is interesting for you, if you are qualified for the job and if the company seems interested in receiving your CV.  

When applying for jobs, you might experience not getting an answer from the employers. In that case, you should call or mail the employer/recruiter. We recommend anyway that you always follow up any application you send, either just after the last date of application (søknadsfrist) or about 8-10 days after having sent your application. Use this follow up to get information about the appreciation of your CV to such and such job. 

Use also LinkedIn and Facebook, as many Norwegian employers are present there and use these social medias to recruit.  

Important 

Remember to bring along to Norway all your certificates of education and work, translated into English or –preferably- Norwegian. 

Recognition of higher education and qualifications; regulated professions 

NOKUT www.nokut.no/en  is the Norwegian authority to contact for the recognition of foreign qualifications in Norway.  

There are 4 main types of recognition: 

• higher education (Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.) 

• vocational education and training  

• tertiary vocational education 

• teacher qualifications – school and kindergarten 

NB: about 180 professions and crafts are regulated in Norway, which means that you must obtain an authorisation to practice your profession or craft to be work as such in Norway. Check if your profession or craft is regulated in the “List of regulated professions” on www.nokut.no/en.  

Examples of regulated professions and crafts: electrician; crane operator; forklift truck operator; health care personnel; accountant/auditor … 

2) Example of a CV when applying for jobs in Norway  

General rules on writing a CV  

A CV should not be more than 1 page long, if possible.  

No photo required, unless stipulated in the job ad, but otherwise allowed.  

Do not use sentences, but bullet points, to describe your work experience or studies/trainings.  

Translate abbreviations or shortly describe what they mean, unless they will not be understood by the recruiter. 

Mention the website of your previous place(s) of work, so the recruiter gets an idea of where you have worked / what you have worked with. 

Mention 1 or 2 references at the bottom of the CV. References – with full name, professional role, e-mail and/or phone number – should be able to speak English or a Scandinavian language in case they are contacted by an employer/recruiter. 

NB! Electronic/digital CV and applications are more and more common. You might need a translation tool as the application form is often in Norwegian. 

Application letter 

The application letter should be typed and be approximately half a page long (no photo). Think about the following: 

• Read the job vacancy carefully, and make sure you respond to what it asks for.   

• Your letter should explain why you want this specific job. Describe your motivation for applying for this job, and why you want to move to Norway. 

• Make it clear to the recruiter that you are familiar with the company, the required qualifications and especially how your skills and qualifications match the job or the company. 

• Send your application by e-mail or as required in the job description (for eg. digital application) 

Example of a letter of application for a job as a lorry driver. 

Sir, Madam, 

I refer to your job vacancy for a lorry driver published on the NAV website www.arbeidsplassen.no. 

As you can see from my attached CV, I am a professional lorry driver, with the proper vocational certificate, and furthermore ADR certificate. I am very fond of my profession, that I discovered during my military service. I have driven both nationally in my country Ireland, but also, for the last 3 years, all around Europe.  

I consider myself a reliable person, eager and serious at work and very social. Because driving is not only sitting at the wheel, it is also meeting the customer at the end of the trip. And that is a part of my job that I enjoy very much. 

I was on holiday in Norway last summer and really enjoyed the country, and especially the roads without too much traffic! That is why I would like to work in Norway. Furthermore I heard that Norway needed lorry drivers. 

I know that the weather conditions can be harsh in Norway, but having driven many times over the Alps and around Eastern Europe, I am quite used to it. 

I am working in Ireland right now, but I can leave my job with 2 months notice. 

Do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions, or to call Mr. Kenny, my boss and referee mentioned on the CV. 

Looking forward to your answer, 

Best regards 

John Jobseeker 

3) LEARNING NORWEGIAN 

We strongly recommend that you start learning Norwegian as soon as possible. Not only will speaking Norwegian considerably increase your job opportunities, it will also be very important for your social life and your integration in Norway – no matter how long you intend to stay. Furthermore, getting a social network could also increase your chances to find a job. Many people indeed find a job through personal contacts. 

These websites provide online Norwegian language courses (examples): 

www.ntnu.edu/learnnow  (free of charge) 

www.migranorsk.no 

www.fu.no  

Many municipalities in Norway provide Norwegian language courses. These courses are payable. To find the website of a municipality, use this template www.nameofthemunicipality.kommune.no. For eg., the website of the municipality of Oslo is www.oslo.kommune.no.  

You can find other approved providers of Norwegian language courses in Norway on the official website for adult learning Skills Norway.  

Useful tip: when in Norway, practice your Norwegian skills actively by meeting people, participating in your local community or join local associations or clubs.  

4) USEFUL WEBSITES 

Public services 

www.workinnorway.no the official guide to working in Norway 

The brochure New in Norway A « must read »! practical information in English (and other languages) about the different public services in Norway. 

www.nav.no/en  the Norwegian Labour and Welfare administration, included social security. 

www.sua.no Service Centres for Foreign Workers 

www.arbeidstilsynet.no The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority – with important information about wages and working conditions in Norway. 

www.skatteetaten.no/en  official tax information 

www.udi.no the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration 

www.studyinnorway.no information about studies in Norway 

www.studyinnorway.no/living-in-norway information about the Norwegian society, way of life, culture and more 

www.toll.no Customs 

www.politi.no the Norwegian Police 

www.norway.no All Norwegian Embassies and Consulates abroad 

www.invanor.no Innovation Norway 

www.ssb.no Statistics Norway, the national bureau of statistics 

www.fhi.no Norwegian Institute of Public Health  

https://reopen.europa.eu/en Reopen EU, provides information on travel and health measures in EU and Schengen Associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Newspapers 

www.klartale.no “easy to read” newspaper in Norwegian, for foreigners in the process of learning Norwegian.  

https://www.newsinenglish.no/ https://www.thelocal.no/  

https://norwaytoday.info/ https://www.norwaynews.com/  

Recognition of qualifications 

www.nokut.no Recognition of foreign qualifications and diplomas 

http://helsedirektoratet.no/English  official information on “Authorisation and licence for health personnel” 

Trade Unions 

www.lo.no The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions 

www.akademikerne.no The Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations 

www.ys.no The Confederation of Vocational Unions 

www.unio.no The Confederation of Unions for Professionals 

Start a business in Norway 

https://www.altinn.no/en/start-and-run-business/  start and run business in Norway 

Study in Norway 

www.studyinnorway.no Studies in Norway 

www.samordnaopptak.no The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service 

Traineeships 

http://www.karrierestart.no/traineeordninger.aspx  

www.trainee.no  

Internships (short term stays) 

http://www.karrierestart.no/internships.aspx  

For researchers  

www.euraxess.no  EURAXESS Norway 

www.forskningsradet.no   The Research Council of Norway 

www.forskning.no online newspaper on Norwegian and international research 

Others 

www.norwayexports.no Norwegian export companies and business sectors 

www.visitnorway.com the official Tourism portal 

www.gulesider.no Yellow Pages in Norway 

5) INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS 

www.oslointernationalschool.no  Oslo international School 

https://internationalschool-oslo.no/ Norlights International School Oslo 

www.deutscheschule.no Deutsch-Norwegischen Schule in Oslo  

https://lfo.no/en/ Lycée français d’Oslo 

www.isstavanger.no  The international School in Stavanger 

www.biss.no British International Schools of Stavanger 

http://www.sdis.no/ Sandnes International School 

http://uwcrcn.no Red Cross Nordic United World College 

www.isob.no International school of Bergen  

https://aais.no/en/ Aalesund International School 

http://this.no Trondheim international School 

www.birralee.no  Birralee international School Trondheim 

https://fagerhaugoppvekst.no/en/ Fagerhaug International School in Stjørdal 

www.skagerak.org Skagerak International School in Sandefjord 

http://istelemark.org  International school Telemark in Porsgrunn  

www.aischool.no  International school in Arendal 

https://www.minskole.no/kis Kristiansand International School 

www.kischool.org  Kongsberg international School 

https://cisschools.no/ Children’s International Schools in Fredrikstad, Moss, Sarpsborg and Ullensaker 

www.gjovikis.no Gjøvikregionen International School in Gjøvik 

www.askeris.no Asker International School 

https://www.trint.org/ Tromsø International School 

6) HOUSING 

A widely used website is www.finn.no/eiendom.  

It is a private website where anyone (private persons and real estate agencies) can put an advertisement. “Bolig til salgs” means housing for sale, “Bolig til leie” means housing for rent.  

Other relevant websites (non-exhautive list): 

- https://www.utleiemegleren.no/english agency specialized in rentals.  

- www.hybel.no website for rentals 

Since the housing ads are most often in Norwegian, here are some relevant keywords translated into English: 

• leie pr måned = rental price pr month 

• depositum = deposit, caution 

• boligtype = type of housing 

• leilighet = flat, apartment 

• 2 roms leilighet = flat with 2 rooms in addition to kitchen and bathroom (for egs. 1 living room and 1 bedroom)  

• Hybel = studio, very small flat  

• sokkelleilighet = a studio or flat which is part of a villa, on the ground floor, with its own entrance door  

• tomannsbolig, 2 mannsbolig = villa divided into 2 separate independant apartments. It can be divided vertically ("horisontaldelt): there is an independant flat on each floor. Or it can be divided vertically ("vertikaldelt"): each independant flat has 2 or more floors. 

• firemannsbolig, 4 mannsbolig = villa divided into 4 separate independent apartments  

• bruksareal = the size of the livable part of the apartment/the house (bathroom, bedroom, kitchen…)  

• møblert = furnished (with furniture) 

• delvis møblert = partly furnished 

• umøblert = not furnished 

• husdyr = pets  

• ikke husdyr = pets not accepted  

• ikke røyk = smoking not allowed 

• primærrom = primary rooms or necessity rooms: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room  

• soverom = bedroom  

• stue = living room  

• spisestue = dining room  

• peisestue = living room with a fireplace  

• kjøkken = kitchen  

• bad = bathroom  

• bod = small room for storage  

• hvitevarer = "white furniture" as fridge, freezer, washing machine, dish washer, oven, cooking plates etc  

• P-plass, parkeringsplass = parking lot  

• heis = elevator  

• barnevennlig = children friendly  

• gulvvarme, varme i gulv = floor heating  

• strøm = electricity  

• vann = water  

• Bredbåndstilknytning = connection to broadband 

NB: please note these important points: 

- in Norway, the WC are in the bathroom. 

- some rentals will include electricity and/or water (in the rental price), some rentals won't. 

In the brochure New in Norway, you will find relevant information about housing in the chapter ”Moving to Norway”.  

Covid-19 information (entry in Norway, public health information) on Reopen EU. 

For more information, please contact:  

NAV EURES Norway Service Centre 

• eures@nav.no 

• Chat with EURES Norway, Fridays 10.00-13.00 (CET)  

NAV EURES Norway, 2022