Denmark Works

Prepare for your stay in Denmark, by reading our Workindenmark publications.

·         Welcome to Denmark

Workindenmark’s guide, "Welcome to Denmark” contains information for New Citizens about Danish Society as well as useful information which can make it easier for you to settle into professional and private life in Denmark. The guide can be downloaded or ordered in paper via Workindenmark.

·         Live and Work in Denmark

Do you want more information on living and working in Denmark? We have collected the most essential tips and information for you here.

·         Make it work in Denmark

Meet 7 expats currently working and living in Denmark. They share their experiences about working and living in Denmark to inspire others who are considering relocating to Denmark.

EU Financial Support Scheme for Job Seekers

If you are a citizen of EU, Norway or Iceland, you may receive financial support for job interviews or relocation from the EU

Targeted Mobility Scheme (TMS), previously Your first EURES Job, is an EU mobility scheme with the aim to increase mobility of workers and match those to employers with shortages in EU. Target groups are jobseekers aged 18 or older and employers from an EU country, Norway or Iceland.

If you are interested in TMS and aged 18-35

Visit Jobcenter Copenhagen's website for further information on TMS, age group 18-35

If you are interested in TMS and aged 35+

TMS age 35+ offer:

• Job interview allowance to cover the cost of travelling for an interview to another country (€100-350 according to distance)
• Relocation allowance and family allowance (support to get settled in the new country of work; this is a flat rate according to country of destination from EUR 700-1400).
• Language course: Recruited or pre-selected candidates can be reimbursed for shorter language courses up to max. EUR 2.000 per jobseeker.
• Recognition of qualifications: Payment of financial support may be claimed, flat rate of max EUR 400, after submission of the recognition request to the competent clarification body in the new country of work.
  
   

Conditions

• 35 years or older
• citizen of an EU country, Norway, or Iceland
• resident in an EU country, Norway or Iceland and apply for a job in another EU country, Norway, or Iceland
• must receive mobility services from EURES
• must apply for financial support at the latest one day before leaving the country of residence and before the starting date of the new job (or before an interview takes place in the case of job interview allowance).
• financial support cannot be paid retroactively, and you cannot apply after having already moved to the new country of residence
• receive an initial employment contract for at least 6 months from the company stated on the application form, and you are expected to stay the whole period
• working hours must be at least 50 percent of a normal working week
• fair wages and work conditions in accordance with national labour market law and praxis, such as collective agreements or minimum wage
• receive a salary from the employer and not just a percentage
• not receive paid travel nor temporary accommodation during the first stay from the employer, other project, or authority
• not apply for or accept a job with employment in one country and actual work in another country, so called posted worker.

Please find application forms and further information here

You are welcome to contact us

Workindenmark tel.: +45 7222 3300, e-mail: tms@workindenmark.dk.

If you are a citizen of EU, Norway or Iceland, you may receive financial support for a job interview or relocation from the EU

Understand Danish workplace culture and have a good start to your work life in DenmarkFlat Hierarchy

The hierarchy can be more flat and invisible than you are used to so far, and therefore hard for you to observe in the office layout for instance. Your new manager might not have his/her own office but is situated among all your other colleagues. Everyone knows who is in charge, it is just not 'shown' by a separate manager’s office. This means that there is an implied hierarchy, and decision lines are not always obvious. Therefore, it is important for you to ask and find out who the immediate manager is as well as the general layout of the hierarchy in the company.

Working in a team

The Danish way of working is very often in a team function, and everybody is expected to pitch in with ideas and opinions. Assignments are developed in collaboration with your colleagues, and you are free to contribute with your own ideas and opinions. However, you are expected to carry out your own individual tasks, and you have the responsibility to deliver the assignments on time.

Flexible Working Hours

In Denmark, a standard workweek consists of 37 hours of work, usually carried out from Monday to Friday.

Punctuality is important in Denmark. This means that it is more important that you meet your deadlines and show up on time to meetings than when or where you carry out your work. Employees at a Danish workplace are expected to show a high degree of independence, for instance in planning the tasks at hand.

In some workplaces, this high degree of independence also includes managing your own working hours. Meaning that the employer trusts you to plan your working hours for the benefit of both the company as well as your work-life balance. The main purpose of this is for you to be able to enjoy a life outside work.

Acting Proactive

Responsibility of completing a task is often shared when working in a team. Even if someone else takes the lead on an assignment, the other team members still have an obligation to help the team succeed in completing the assignment.

The responsibility is both for you as an individual and for you as a part of a team. Once you have accepted an assignment, you are expected to keep your manager updated if you do not have the resources to complete the assignment. It is important to show initiative when you stumble upon problems in your work life. Do not leave other people to take care of it.

You can show initiative in a specific assignment where you solve a problem that you come across in your work process, but you can also show initiative by acting on a small practical matter. If for instance the printer is low on ink, replace the ink cartridge instead of waiting for others to take care of it.

Informal Tone of Communications

Generally, the Danish workplace culture is characterised by being quite informal. There is no dress code and people talk informally to each other. When introducing yourself, you can use your full name if you like. After the first introduction, it is standard for everyone to use your first name, as well as for you to use their first names. Yes, also the person in charge.

Also, your title and status are not overly important in your everyday work life. In fact, it is common to be humble about your status. Your colleagues will ask if they want to know more about your academic background.

We recommend that you take our e-learning course "Introduction to Danish Working Culture" to get a deeper understanding of Danish workplace culture and to find out how you deal with situations that may be unfamiliar to you.

E-learning course: Introduction to Danish Working Culture

Danish employers expect that you are well prepared when applying for a job, and if you are a match for a position they might want to invite you to a job interview. Here, you can read some good tips to prepare yourself for the job fair.

When applying for a job:

Focus on how your qualifications match the requirements mentioned in the job ad.

Your job application should consist of your CV and a cover letter. Usually, you submit your CV and cover letter electronically – the company will contact selected applicants to be interviewed.

Thorough research is a must. The more you know about the company, and how your professional qualifications can contribute to their business, the better.

If you have graduated recently, it is a good idea to enclose a copy of your diplomas. If you have years of work experience, you should only enclose diplomas if requested in the job ad.

Most employers decide whether you are an interesting candidate within minutes. This means that both your application and CV must be well written and to the point.

We have gathered our best tips for you when applying for a job in Denmark. Learn how to create a great CV and cover letter, how to apply unsolicited and how to prepare for the job interview.

Your CV (workindenmark.dk)

Your Cover Letter (workindenmark.dk

Unsolicited Application (workindenmark.dk)

Preparing for the job Interview (workindenmark.dk)