How to Get a Job
– in Norway
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Can I get a job in Norway and how?
This is a good question, and we would like to give you a good answer.
The short answer: YES, you can! You may even have an advantage and a better possibility than native Norwegians. We would be pleased to tell you how to get the job.
Why is NowGuide the right place to get the answers for this question?
As a matter of fact, we are dedicated to giving this type of help, along with help for business and education. Contrary to all other websites, we also offer a complete toolbox to get you there. Also of great importance is that we ARE Norwegians and we KNOW Norway.
Get your tools and the required help
The article will now tell you how you can get the job in Norway, and along the way we will present the great tools that will enable you to get the most out of it, to get the personalized information that you need and the tools to help you present yourself the best possible way to the Norwegian job market.
Increase your opportunities even more
You may do this by becoming a member of NowGuide. Recommended.
For members
Extended help is available to our members. Membership only costs EURO 10/month. In the supplied article links you will find good information and will learn what benefits you get as a member. At the end of the page, you will find links so you can read more about the membership and how to register. Register today and enjoy your new benefits immediately!
EU and non-EU/EEA citizens
Some internet sites state that Norway is part of the EU but this is not true; Norway is part of the EEA (European Economic Area) and gives the same 4 freedoms as the EU.
The freedom of movement is of 1) people, 2) goods, 3) services and 4) capital. Any EU citizens are welcome to obtain employment. This is all in accordance with the mentioned EEA rules.
Non-EU/EEA
Any non-EU/EEA individuals may make themselves needed in Norway, or document that their stay is beneficial or self-sustained. To look into how to remain legal in Norway, please look at the article How to Remain Legal in Norway.
How can you find an advertised job?
You may have a look at the latest jobs provided in our public daily recommended new work positions.
But for your convenience, we don’t recommend reading all the information in every job advert, but just those that fit your skills and topics of interest.
- Get the new Work Positions in Norway to your inbox.
The article Hundreds of Work Emails will guide you to get the personalized email service you are looking for from the 3 main suppliers of work ads.
We will strongly recommend you to apply for the job before you leave your country.
How to apply for a job before you leave your country.
Face-to-face
It is often more effective and easier to get a job if you meet the people you are going to work for face-to-face, but let’s face it, if you are not already in Norway the cost of traveling and accommodation may be a financial burden if you have no job or income. (Keep reading, maybe you will come to Norway anyway, but not at your own expense).
Skype meeting – interview
The way you may now meet people face-to-face is by Skype. Most businesses and individuals have Skype, and may be happy with a Skype meeting.
Recommendations for a Skype meeting:
- Make an agreement for a meeting on a specified day and time.
- Be punctual.
- Be prepared. Throughout the presentation provide information about yourself, your qualifications and what you can offer. If you are well prepared you will also be relaxed. Have a look at the article ‘Be prepared for an interview’.
- Be a good listener and show interest.
- Dress appropriately.
- Be aware of where you are sitting; ensure it is neutral and tidy. Face the light and do not have a window or any dazzling light source behind you. This will just turn you into a black silhouette.
- Make sure your interviewer has eye contact with you. You do this by:
- Not wearing sunglasses.
- Finding out where the camera is and looking into it as much as possible to ensure natural eye contact.
A common mistake is looking at the screen/picture of the person you are talking to because to him/her, it will seem like you are looking at something different. Looking into the camera will give you a feeling of being connected.
Ask for a brief Skype meeting
As you are not in the country yet, but would appreciate saying hello face-to-face as part of your application for the work position, you may ask if the employer is willing to have a brief meeting with you for 10 minutes maximum.
Your agenda
This will be a meeting where you have the agenda.
Let them know that you would like to clarify some facts in your CV and that you have some questions about the company and the position.
Start the meeting
Start with a polite greeting like, ‘Hello, my name is [your first and family name (say it slowly and clearly)]. If your name could be difficult for a Norwegian to pronounce give them a way out. Say ‘but you may call me [nickname]. Continue by saying, thank you so much for giving me this time to get to see you, and to talk about some details of the position.’ If you know the contact person’s name ask: ‘Do I now have the pleasure to speak to [use first name and family name].’ If you do not know their name, ask ‘May you please tell me your name?’ Be sure to get this right. To get the personal name right will be noted.
Present your agenda
Continue and let them know what you will be talking about in the meeting.
Plan 2 or 3 main points maximum. Find the best points that make you the best candidate for the job. Ask them if this is what they are looking for when the advert asks for… [mention the criteria in the advert]. Explain how these criteria is a part of what you may offer them and that you really think you will fit into the company [mention what you have read on their website].
End the meeting on time
Be sure not to spend more than 10 minutes, including the greeting, the answers you receive and the final comments.
Wrap it all up by repeating the main points and now end your meeting by asking them if there is anything they would like to add to the already informative conversation. Next, thank them using their name, say thank you [first person’s first name and family name] and thank you [second person’s full name] and then express your appreciation for their time and their useful answers. Tell them you are looking forward to hearing from them when the CVs have been considered. Give them a “Have a nice day!” or say, “I would like to say this to you in Norwegian: Ha en flott dag!” and then bye with a smile.
Before the interview
Before the meeting/interview, it will be of great value to find out as much information as possible about the company.
What are the company’s working fields? What do they really need? How can you be the resource they are looking for?
Use the company’s website and do a Google search. We also offer a guide on investigating a Norwegian company.
Remember the perspective of the interviewer.
What may be the interviewer’s concern? If they would like you to be part of the team, they will want you to feel like part of the business. That you fit into the team. Take into consideration that what young people may have as habits may not be appreciated by an older generation, such as spending time on social media or gaming.
Before you get as far an interview you have to apply for the position or positions you are interested in.
There are two different kinds of interview
In addition to the usual interviews, which are mostly referred to in this article, where you explain and sell yourself to the employer, we have another one, which is an interview at a consultant bureau.
This kind of interview is more like cooperation. This will be more like a meeting for joined forces so to speak. You have a common goal, to get you into the work market.
The bureau is not going to hire you if they are not able to sell you to another employer. If they are able to, you will earn money and they will earn money from you. You have a common interest. So in this interview you do not need to sell yourself, but you may point out important facts, give them arguments to be able to sell you to others, explain your expectations, your goals, your requirements and your flexibility. Listen well to their reply and reply accordingly.
As this is a much more informal interview, you may even ask for advice for your further presentation and ongoing process to become part of the job market. The consultant bureau may point out details that should be clearer in your CV. The salary is also often an open issue in this setting. Here you may explain your requirements and be agreed on the salary that will be right for you.
Some bureaus keep the rate asked for as the customer secret for you (their candidates), but if you are willing to ask for a lower salary to get into the work market, let them know you expect the bureau to lower the rate too.
The consultant bureau will write your CV on their form and will sell you using positive language. Be clear with them that they should always inform or ask you about the positions they are applying for, as you should not apply for the same jobs. They will be fine with you applying for jobs yourself too.
When the consultant bureau finds an interested employer it is up to you to take it further in an interview process with the future employer.
Before you get as far as an interview, you will have to apply for the position or positions you are interested in.
You are the right person!
It is of great importance to get the employer to also understand that you are the right person for the position!
Here we will describe the fundamentals for this task, get this right and get your name on the short list. Be the favorite!
Pay attention to the next steps described in this article.
Should you give references in the CV?
Some say defiantly no to this, wait till you are asked for it.
We say: if you have good information, show your contacts, this may give the employer a fast and good opinion about you. Your reference may show you have valuable connections or goodwill with a customer.
As a minimum you should mention you will provide references as soon as they are asked for.
Your contact information
Be sure to use a Skype name and email address that is appropriate, nothing that include words like sexy, beauty, lover, wild, fancy…
Just use your name, clear and simple.
You will find a very good tool for getting your CV layout right for the Norwegian work market at CV – Get it Right.
Cover Letter
You will also need a cover letter to go with your CV.
This may be a letter on paper with your signature if you send it by mail, or it may be your email text if applying by email. Often in Norway you will apply through the internet and will just paste the text in a website window.
The cover letter will be the introduction to your CV.
We recommend using the cover letter provided in the Cover Letter article.
Here you may download a cover letter for advertised jobs, but also the text for a speculative application for non-advertised positions. You may also find a list of desired qualities and it would be useful to select 3 that describe you and include them in your cover letter. By providing a reference to NowGuide you will also show the employer that you have done your research and are not taking this lightly.
Should you apply for many different positions at the same time?
You would like the employer to understand that you are really interested in the position you have applied for but are still flexible.
In huge enterprises and multinational companies it may be necessary to complete separate applications for different positions. In smaller companies you may mention that your application is for the position you would prefer, but your appreciation of the company and your skills will also make it in your interest to consider the other jobs.
As for separate companies, you may send out your applications, but if you want to cooperate with a consultant company you should not apply for the same position as an individual as you do though the consultant company/recruitment bureau.
If you use the copy/paste tool [mark the text, ctrl+c/ctrl+v] to copy your cover letter, be sure not to copy another company name as part of the cover letter that you send.
The employer may ask you in an interview if the job you are applying for with them is the only job position you are applying for. We then recommend you are honest with them and reassure them that you would be very happy if they offered you a job. It may be in your favor that a company knows about the competition for your skills.
If you are determined to work for a certain company then let them know too, as this may open up other doors.
What more could a Norwegian employer ask for?
References
In Norway references are very important. You are often asked for 2 or 3 references. This may be people you have worked for or previous colleagues. It is understandable if you do not provide a reference from your current job (as you may not want your boss to know).
A referee may be a person to call, which means your referee needs to be able to speak Norwegian or English.
You may also have your referee sign a statement. This statement may be written by them. Or you may want to give them a helping hand, as long as this is something they agree with. Every referee should be asked in advance.
Posts
Every post you have previously held, as the CV shows, should be documented.
Courses
Many people know Norway as a country for offshore work in the oil and gas business, with average annual payment of more than NOK 800,000. This is of course a business with high requirements for safety and health issues. To be able to travel offshore you need some basic training in safety and drilling routines. If you become employed your employer will pay for this training for you. If you have already had the training this is preferential, as the first course takes one week. Lost income for the employer and the cost of about NOK 15,000 for the course will be saved.
Only advertised jobs?
No, not at all! There is so much more for you.
In this article we have stated the newest open advertised positions in today’s market. One of these jobs may become yours. We also now have a country in development. New needs in Norway need to be met. As Norway is currently oil driven, Norway would like to get into new businesses and make money in different ways.
Norway needs new knowledge and resources.
If you have experience within new energy and alternative solutions for using natural resources, or know about the alternatives, you may find niches outside the advertised work positions.
If you are looking for work within the public services sector, for an individual or for a business, you may also have a look at the article ‘Hidden Jobs’. There are only a few jobs advertised compared to the many positions available.
How flexible should you be?
To get a new start and to get an arrangement in place it is worth being flexible.
This may relate to working hours and salary and the standard of life you start off with.
Just make sure that you are not asked to work for a salary under the minimum wage. Have a look at the ‘Public Salaries’ article.
You also need to ensure you can cover your living costs, even if the standard is reduced.
The flexibility that is not very appreciated in Norway is the flexibility that you do not really care what work you do as long as you get payed. Be clear when communicating what you are good at, what you prefer and what you have most experience doing.
Then be clear that you also have other skills and can master this and that, and that you are ready to do this kind of work and have enjoyed it before, even if it is not your best skill.
Welcome to Norway
We welcome you as a new employee in Norway, and would also like you to be aware that some professions in Norway need special recognition.
Summary
You may now be well positioned to adapt to the new requirements in Norway.
The daily updates on work positions have shown you the number of advertised jobs.
The tools and help included in this article leave it up to you when to start and when to succeed in the Norwegian work market. The best and most simple way to start is to set up the personalized work email services.
In the ‘Get Prepared for the Interviews’ section you already have the information that the employer may like to pay for your trip to Norway.
Be a smart user of Skype meetings, be sure you have your skills well documented and be flexible.
Always refer to NowGuide.
You are welcome here!
Best wishes for coming to work in Norway!
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