This document provides advice for finding an IT job in Denmark as an expat based on the author's experiences. It notes that job application responses are slow, experience rather than skills are emphasized, and most jobs are at small-medium enterprises. Networking on LinkedIn and meeting people in person are important. The author details their experience going through a host matching program, where they refined their resume and application process over meetings. Getting an initial job took over 6 months of dedicated searching, but networking and expanding skills were key to eventually finding a position.

1. Finding IT-job in Denmark as an Expat
Based on my Learnings & Sharings
Amandeep Midha
Connect: linkedin.com/in/amandeep87
March 2017

2. About Me
Moved to DK 2013 Added Now in DK 2017
Background Primarily in India, China, SE Asia Pan-Europe + US
IT Skills Java, PostgreSQL, GWT, Python jQuery, GO
Last Titles Principal Engineer -> Project Leader Integration Dev ->VP Engineering -> CTO
Total Jobs 7 Jobs in 10 years 3 parallel internships, 2 jobs, 2 mentoring
startups, 20+ hackathons in 2.5 years

3. Denmark - First Impression (1/3)
Cons:
Job Application Responses extremely slow
Subjectivity over Objectivity. Not much reliance on programming puzzle
solution capability, but People References!
Most jobs in SMEs. “Enterprise Computing/Integrations” are bit of unheard
terms except at selected large employers
Wordpress site can be a final product !

4. Denmark - First Impression (2/3)
Pros:
You can call HR Managers and ask feedback even after rejection
Surprisingly large reliance on LinkedIn for hiring
Cyberstalking whomever you meet is considered very normal to connect
FB groups compete with jobindex.dk , thehub.dk , cphftwjobs.wpengine.com
Employers open to talk about diversity ( so just present yourself after getting

5. Denmark - First Impression (3/3)
Watching other Stories:
90% of highly skilled Green card holders did not find skill job for 2+ years
Danish language is not a requirement in IT jobs, but significant barrier
Surprisingly very less women in core IT in Scandinavia, than in Asia
Finding a job itself should be taken as a committed job
Discrimination is real, Sexism is real - but it’s not as it might look at surface!

6. Timeline from Landing to Getting IT job
- Coming to IH twice a week and job hunt (July 14)
- Odd job and Exploring Around (July, Aug, Sep 14)
- Host Matching with Sten Fræch at Microsoft ( Oct 14)
- 9 interview calls by 10th Dec 2014
- None materialized as job till 24th Dec 2014
- Fresh start 2015

7. Grind at Host Program (1/3)
First meeting at Microsoft Office
- Casually dressed
- Reading almost obsolete CV of mine
- Assignment of redoing CV and sending compelling job application
Second meeting
- After 2 weeks

8. Grind at Host Program (2/3)
Third meeting
- Thrashed for laxity in applying for jobs
- Searching for Job itself is a Job requiring 37.5 hours a week
- Decided the format of Log of Job applications, send to, company, contact person
Fourth meeting
- Around November 3rd week

9. Grind at Host Program (3/3)
December 2014
- Frustrations with job interviews but none materializing
- Aarhus, Vejle, Valby, Lund, Ørestad as potential employer visits over interviews
- Learnt quite new stuff doing technical assignments for these all
Jan 2015
- Restart with vigour. Focussing on Skill Expansion

10. Key Points
- Host as your Coach, he has done research on your profile and knows where you
may fit
- Your host is not your job reference point, but in exceptional cases he might
- Primary objective of Host is you getting the job and get moving
- Clear difference between totally Danish workplace and less Danish workspace. Do
some research along with your host
- You may get offer from more-Danish workplace because of low wage, or
- You may get offer from less-Danish workplace because of your competence

11. Steps After
Read some career advice here for graduate job hunt:
https://medium.com/@hanamughrabi/graduate-job-hunting-my-humbling-lesson-
learned-e2e2500fa601#.cl0mmxx91
Networking and Cyber-stalking key people is absolutely normal and acceptable
Pick people in key positions to make friends with at outside work places
Danish society amazingly runs on mutual Trust and word-of-mouth recommendations,
do not EVER undermine that
To be culture fit as teetotaller vegetarian, try Ginger Shots with Vegan food ;-)

12. Write to me at am@finbot.eu
Or later block my calendar for coffee meeting within city
”Some people may never read a book but they will read You. So be a good story!”
Questions