By David Langran
dl@adm.au.dk
If you want a job in Denmark, check the relevant websites – and often. Pubs here in Aarhus such as Tir Na Nog and Sherlock Holmes often state whether they’re hiring or not on their website. The Danish government offers a website tailored specifically for foreigners looking for work in Denmark. ASB offers a handy job-bank, which has details not just of jobs, but also of opportunities to take part in research – this is often paid, and there are occasionally positions requiring native speakers of languages other than Danish or English. Be aware of the limitations though – for example, those of you from outside the EU are limited to working no more than 15 hours a week outside of the summer holiday.
It’s not what you know, but who you know
Check with your Danish friends or partners as to whether they can help you. This is how Julia Wagner, studying English at AU, found her job as a helper at a kindergarten:
“I found my job because I have a Danish boyfriend who works in this area – he was able to help me send in my applications,” she says. Having the right connections might help you to find employment in otherwise unlikely places.
Learn Danish, learn Danish, and learn Danish
“No, it’s not the easiest language to learn, and no, you might never use it again once you leave, but learning Danish can make a huge difference to finding employment here. Even a small amount can be an asset,” says Colin Rugg from the Golden Lion:
“Speaking some Danish is a big help so that you can at least understand customers ordering in Danish,” he says.
Rike Israel, studying International Marketing at Business Academy Aarhus, doesn’t think she would have her job as a waitress if she couldn’t manage with basic Danish:
“It’s really important to learn the language – being able to speak it opens so many doors,” she says.
What else is there?
Ultimately, even if you do your utmost to try and find a job here, it’s still going to be an uphill struggle. Nevertheless, there are other options you can look into. For example, every one of you possesses an asset in the language you speak – why not see if anyone is interested in learning it? Posting a few flyers around campus about what you can offer in terms of language or other skills might reap considerable reward in the long term.
