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| Working Abroad Career Guide for Denmark |
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This is only a small part of the 75+ pages packed with information in the Going Global Career Guides: All you need to know to grab a global career in the country of your choice and work abroad. 75+ pages packed with detailed information from job sites to intensive interview advice, 500+ resources per guide researched and prepared by local experts. Each Country Career Guide is in PDF format that can be purchased, downloaded and printed for your personal use. An exceptional value for only $14.95 For more information and to check for updates, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/
Country Profile | Professional Resources | Job Search Resources | Financial Considerations | Employment Trends | Resume/CV's | Information Technology | Interviewing Advice | Engineering | Work Permits | Accounting & Finance | Cultural Advice | Sales & Marketing | General Business
Although Danish and English are the country's principle languages, a small German-speaking minority lives in southern Jutland; the Faroe Islands and Greenland also host Nordic Faroese-speaking and Inuit Greenlandic-speaking populations. Denmark is a nation of city-dwellers; about 85 percent of the country's 5.3 million lives in major urban areas, and one quarter of the population (1.4 million) reside in Copenhagen, the capital city. The Kingdom of Denmark (Kongeriget Danmark) is a constitutional monarchy ruled by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. The monarch has largely ceremonial functions; her most significant formal power lies in her right to appoint the prime-minister (currently Poul Nyruo Rasmussen) and cabinet ministers, who are responsible for administration of the government.
Dansk Industrie, a weekly Danish language publication, provides information on Denmark's industrial sector. The journal covers production and manufacturing resources, trade matters, and general financial and business news. The business directory Kraks Vejviser provides information on Danish business products and contact information. Danish libraries and telephone directories are also great resources for foreign job-seekers in Denmark. The Copenhagen Business School Library is an academic library, open to the public. Its collection includes information on accounting, advertising, banking and finance, computer science, foreign trade, law, marketing, statistics and social sciences. Infobel is a comprehensive English language telephone directory searchable by name, city, zip, and phone number. Job Resources Job fairs and career events are a great way to meet with employers in person and speak with representatives from a variety of different companies. Recruiters and hiring managers with staffing needs often utilize job fairs to fill positions quickly. These events, free of charge, are a convenient way to interact with employer representatives and ask questions about specific openings, benefits, and compensation in a more casual setting than the typical job interview. Most job fairs are advertised in newspapers, and many are now listed online. Career Days provides an online listing of career events worldwide. Once fairly uncommon in Denmark, temporary and contract work is now becoming more popular and widespread. Often a temp worker enters into an employment contract to complete a specified piece of work, or an employment contract by task "opgavebegrænset ansættelse." Temp agencies, such as Kelly Services, can often provide information on international work requirements and employment listings to meet individual qualifications. Financial Considerations The basic health care system in Denmark is not designed for expatriates who, for example, may want medical care in their home country or access to private facilities. Therefore, many expatriates find it advantageous to take supplementary health insurance. The Danish health service is divided into the primary health service and the hospital sector. Most Danes (98 percent) belong to health insurance group 1, which allows access to the health service through a general practitioner of their own choice. Only two percent of the population uses health insurance group 2, which requires members to absorb some health care costs, but does not require them to choose a regular doctor or be referred to specialists by a general practitioner. One of Denmark's most unique job benefits is its 24-week statutory parental leave period. The first 14 weeks are reserved for the mother, but the remaining 10 weeks may be shared between the parents. After the 24th week the father is entitled to paternity leave for up to two weeks. During leave, the parents are entitled to unemployment benefit, but most Danish wage earners are entitled to full wages as a part of their collective agreement. Employment Trends More than 80 percent of Danish employees are members of a trade union. The trade unions are grouped in national federations that are affiliated to a small number of central organizations. The employer organizations have a similar structure. The biggest central employee organizations are the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), the Salaried Employees' and Civil Servants' Confederation (FTF) and the Central Organization of Academic Staff (AC). The cooperation of these employers' and trade union organizations, widely referred to in Denmark as "social partners," is an integral part of the country's national labor market policy. Such groups have a major effect on areas primarily regulated by legislation, such as safety and health at work, placement activities, vocational training and the unemployment insurance system. The Danish government often consults the social partners on proposed legislation concerning labor market matters, before it is adopted. Resume/CV's Business qualifications follow, based on the requirements listed in the job advertisement, with work experience sequenced to match your business qualifications. Such a "functional format" is best utilized to match your resume to the demands of the position. Mid-career professionals should expand upon their responsibilities and accomplishments in both their current and previous jobs. The section on education (schools, locations, dates, majors, degrees, honors) should include relevant supplementary courses, language and IT skills, and a brief note on extracurricular activities, particularly those illustrating leadership or other abilities. First job applicants should also mention internships, volunteer work, and temporary and part-time work. End your resume with personal information, including date
of birth, marital status, number of children, nationality and, if a non-native, your work
permit status. Then, briefly list your outside interests, such as hobbies, sports, and
activities that give the reader a well-rounded picture of you as a person. Information Technology IT certification and education requirements in Denmark are much the same as with any industrialized nation. Most employers do not require degrees in computer science or computer engineering, but programmers and IT specialists should have a broad-based knowledge of computer languages (such as Java and C++) and technical experience. Private firms such as Microsoft and Oracle offer certification programs. Management positions typically require a university degree. The average computer programmer working in Denmark now earns a salary of 210,102 DKK or $25,893 USD. Interviewing Advice Show your interest by being familiar with the history and culture, and by using a few phrases of Danish. Danish is the first language of Denmark, but English is a close second, and translators are seldom required. Business practices vary from one company to another, but
some things remain constant: At the meeting, Danes quickly get down to business. Listen to the interviewer. Ask relevant questions, but never interrupt. Be prepared to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Usually, an applicant has several interviews before
receiving a job offer-the first, simply to get to know him/her; the second to introduce
the applicant to others; and a third, to meet with those in the specific work area. Typically engineers in Denmark are required to have a university degree. Certifications are dependent on the particular area of expertise. The Society of Danish Engineers, or "Ingeniørforeningen i Denmark," represents the professional and work-related interests of Danish engineers. The society is an excellent resource for engineering job-seekers in Denmark. Publications, such as Electra, are specifically geared towards engineering professionals.
If you're planning to stay in Denmark for less than 90 days, you can submit a short leave visa application. This should be accompanied by a recent photo as well as documentation identifying the purpose of the stay. In some cases, a Danish diplomatic mission in your home country can grant visa applications. In these cases, the processing time be a few days. In all other cases applications have to be submitted to the home office of the Danish Immigration Service. Citizens of the European Union (EU) and certain other European countries are allowed to live and work in Denmark with a visa or work permit. However, they must apply for a residence permit at their local police station within three months of entry, and provide proof of employment or income. In the United States, only three Danish diplomatic missions can take or process Danish visas for other than tourist stays. Applications must be made in person at these missions.
The Danish banking system shares many features with the systems of other industrialized Western European countries, which all operate under the set of joint rules adopted by the European Union. The Danish Banking System does have its own peculiarities, however. Today, distinct features of the Danish financial market include two bank-owned financial conglomerates. Together, they hold a significant market share in banking, insurance and mortgage credit. Typically, management workers in the finance and accounting professions require university degrees. Certified public accountants are organized in the Foreningen af Statsautoriserede Revisorer (FSR). Oekonomistryring og Informatik is a popular industry publication.
· Danes have a love for small cafés, pubs, and warm, intimate gatherings and spaces. This idea of hygge (which, loosely translated, means cozy and snug) is an important part of Danish culture. Often, hygge refers to creating a barrier against the "real world" and cultivating a private, warm, comfortable setting. If you're invited to a Danish home for dinner, thank your host for a cozy evening. · Handshakes are the accepted form of greeting and saying good-bye in Denmark. One should not be surprised when greeted with a firm handshake, even by a child. When this occurs, it is appropriate to reciprocate the handshake and give a brief bow. · Danes are generally conservative and likely to get down to business rather quickly. Business is conducted at a slow pace, but efficiently. The Danish are sticklers for detail, and it is very important to give detailed information in all business negotiations. Gifts, such as books that tell about one's home country, are appreciated prior to a negotiation. · Business entertaining is usually done at lunch,
and more rarely at dinner, in a restaurant. Men always handle the arrangements for
restaurant dining. One can expect the occasion to be long and also to include a lot of
conversation. Business, religion, and personal matters are subjects to avoid during
conversation; safer topics are food, culture and sports. It is also considered too
personal to compliment someone's clothes. Sales & Marketing Sales and marketing job-seekers in Denmark should have a university degree, but no specific educational background is required for most entry-level positions. Trade publications such as Net Market News and websites such as MarketingPower.com, the official site of the American Marketing Association, can provide users with links to information on topics such as careers, successful marketing and sales practices, locating suppliers and toolkits.
Typically, Management Consultants in Denmark require a university degree. Some professional certifications require a combination of education and experience, and senior positions may require a Master's of Business Administration (MBA). The average management consultant working in Denmark now earns an average salary of 308,523 DKK or $38,023 USD. Trade associations such as the Danish Institute for Certified Management Consultants (DICMC) are useful resources for business and consulting job-seekers. The DICMC acts as the Danish organization responsible for consulting certification. The organization maintains contacts with similar institutes in other countries, and participates in discussions about regulation of qualifications and certifications of management consultants. All members of DICMC are certified management consultants (CMC).
About Going Global Career Guides: All you need to know to grab a global career in the country of your choice and work abroad. 75+ pages packed with detailed information from job sites to intensive interview advice, 500+ resources per guide researched and prepared by local experts. Each Country Career Guide is in PDF format that can be purchased, downloaded and printed for your personal use. An exceptional value for only $14.95 For more information and to order, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/ Country Career Guides Table of Contents
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