Can I get a job in Denmark eventhough I can't speak the lingo?

Question

I want to go to Denmark, Aarhus with my girlfriend who will study law there. I would like to get a job there but I only speak English. Does this mean nobody would employ me there?
Also where should we look in order to get a flat to rent there, how does electricity bills etc work there?
I appreciate any advice you can give, many thanks!

Answer 1

Is your girlfriend Danish? If so, she will probably already be aware of some of the housing opportunities to be found - for students getting good housing is actually quite easy these days. The university or business school should be able to help you with information about that. Here are a few links that may help you in your search (the problem is that most of the information is in Danish, but you can find at least some in English and can certainly find someone to contact for further info):
http://www.kollegie8000.dk/
http://www.boligportal.dk/index.php
http://www.portaldanmark.dk/velkommentilaarhus/html/index.html
(the second link is the most extensive, covering all sorts of information about living in Århus, but I think its only in Danish - so hope your girlfriend can speak Danish).
And be careful, though most people are legit, there are a few hustlers out there, so the first link might be the best place to start - they are used to helping new students find a place to live.
When you find a place to live, electricity, heating and water may actually be included in the rent, at least if you get a place specifically for students, otherwise a bill will come in the mail, and you go to the post office to pay it, or if you have home banking you can pay over the internet. Or when you get a bank account you can simply check a box on the first bill (the service is called PBS) when you pay at the post office and it will be payed automatically each month (you will get a notice that so and so bill will be payed).
Getting a job could be very difficult when you don't speak the language, and it might even be illegal for you to work there, depending on where you're from. But you can try looking at the university itself, f.ex. going to the English department and checking out their noticeboards outside the secretary offices for people seeking someone with a good knowledge of English (might be for teaching purposes or study help). Although practically all Danes speak fairly or very good English, Danish really is essential for most jobs, but perhaps taking out newspapers and ads, a cleaning job (though even there they mostly require Danish) - or perhaps you already have skills that would qualify you for a much better job. Look in the yellow pages when you get there, find the businesses and try your luck. But really, the best advice is to learn Danish as quickly as possible, take a course for foreigners and then simply practice, practice, practice - and make sure you insist on speaking Danish with people, because when they find out you speak English most will simply switch.
And remember, regarding all these things and other problems you'll encounter along your way, never hesitate to ask for help, most people will only be glad to offer their assistance, even though Danes may seem a little distancing at first.
Whoa, this practically turned into an essay, good luck to both of you, there's a good chance you'll be very happy there, great little town :-)

Answer 2

Denmark has a shortage of workers at the moment so one could say that there are jobs available. If you only speak English, that obviously cuts your choices down. Also, unless you're on a "positive list" of jobs types (see sources), then the employer must prove that no other Dane/EU person can fill the position.

Even if you are married, there is NO guarantee that you will receive a work permit. That may be difficult for you. I personally know a couple, one is a Dane and the other American. The American cannot find a job in Denmark easily (he's an architect). They ended up moving to Sweden because he wasn't given a residence/work permit (across the bridge to Malmo)

I won't lie and say that it will be easy to find a job. I personally don't think it is, but I'm in the commercial interior design industry and jobs in my field don't often exist.

I would say you need to weigh your options. Denmark has a very tough immigration policy. It is not easy, but it is quite possible. Oh, and in case you do find a job, realize that unless you're on the positive list, it will take 2 months to process.

I recently looked up all this information because I am going for a 2nd interview in Denmark (1 job that fit me in the last 1.5 years). I live in Malmo, Sweden, though. Any how, it looks grim and I'm hoping that my employer-to-be is flexible enough to wait.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

English Speaking Jobs In Denmark

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can I get a job in Denmark eventhough I can't speak the lingo?
I want to go to Denmark, Aarhus with my girlfriend who will study law there. I would like to get a job there but I only speak English. Does this mean nobody would employ me there?
Also where should we look in order to get a flat to rent there, how does electricity bills etc work there?
I...

Answer 6

Depends what job you want to do.

A lot of people in Denmark speak Danish (which, as you may know, is VERY hard to pronounce) English and German.

So if you were dealing with customers in a shop, for example, you would need to be able to understand Danish and perhaps German as well. The same if you were working in tourism, unless you were just working with English speaking people.

Living in Denmark is strange-if you go into a shop or something, they may speak Danish until they realise you are English, then just suddenly switch!

So, hmmm, something that involves minimal social contact? Sounds a bit grim...

I hope you do find some way of doing it though, Denmark is a beautiful country, and the people there are officially the happiest in Europe!

Sorry I cant be more help!

Answer 7

Taler du dansk? ja/nej translated means do you speak Danish?
The Danes speak great English. But if you go to Denmark please learn the language. The only way to get work there if your from another EU country. That way you don't need a visa to work if your an EU citizen. If your not an EU citizen then you find it hard to get work there. The only way they let you get work permit is if there is a jobs that Danes won't do. However, Denmark introduced what it has described as one of Europe's strictest immigration laws in May 2002. The law was influenced by the anti-immigrant

Answer 8

My and my husband live in Copenhagen and he has a job but I haven't been able to find one. Neither of us speak Danish. You also have to get a work permit to work here which is hard. We are Canadian so we could get working holiday permits. If you a British you can work here legally and I have met some people who work in Copenhagan that don't speak Danish. Mostly they have a special skill or they work in touristy restuarants where they don't need Danish so much. Most of the people who work at the Hard Rock Cafe don't seem to speak Danish for instance.

Getting an apartment was really hard. Usually you have to get on a list and it is a 2 year lease so basically you have to sublet. We got lucky because my husbands friend knew a guy who knew a guy who wanted to sublet. I don't know much about the bills because we just pay it to the landlord.

One thing I can tell you is that you have to go get a yellow card as soon as you get here, like a social insurance number and then you have to go register at the tax office and then you are allowed to work.

Try www.jobsincopenhagen.com, they also have some jobs in Aarhus or you can try www.jobindex.dk but it is in Danish so have fun.

Answer 9

You might get a job there, However you would stand a better chance if you speak Danish!

It is a difficult language to master, however the Danish people are more than willing to help someone who truly wants to learn the language.

Living there is not to bad however finding a place could be difficult. some of the people there will lease out a room in there homes or even a room in their apt. however it is difficult to locate these even if you speak the language.

Don't get me wrong. I lived there for 18 months and loved every second of it. I love the people, and I love the country!

By all means go and have fun!!!!

Answer 10

they will employ you, but it's very very hard first, you have to find or know some1 so that he\she can help you there..
i speak swedish and it's almost like danish. and swedish is alittle bit like english\german.
you'll learn it fast if you take classes, maybe 6 months till 1 year, depends on yourself.
for getting a flat to rent, here in sweden you have to wait a little ,and i think it's the same in Denmark. they put you on a list and when it's your turn then you get one.
but for students it's a little different, you can get it easier and earlier.
go look at some websites and you'll get plenty of info.

and yes, most of them speak english(as a second language).