New job: Get off to a good start with your tasks

You have chosen your new job yourself, and part of the reason is probably the tasks involved. It can vary how quickly you get started on the ‘real’ tasks.

Some places will go easy on the newcomer, but it can also become too quiet if there is not enough to do. In that case, you should raise your hand at a department meeting, for example, and make yourself available for tasks that need to be done or offer to lend a hand somewhere.

However, it is important that you also get the tasks you want to do, and not just the ones that others want to get rid of. This can become a role that is difficult to get out of again.

As a newcomer, it can be all too easy to say yes and nod to everything. Keep yourself on track by asking: Why did I apply for this job? What do I want to contribute and what do I want to get out of the job?

Be honest and curious with your manager

Some people feel that they do not have the skills to perform the tasks. If this is the case, you should be honest about it with your manager and the colleagues you work with on the tasks.

Often, it is only the new employee who feels this way. Your new colleagues and your new manager are often more patient than you are with yourself. You need to recognise that you are also in a state of transition professionally when you change jobs.

You may also find that you are doing something different from what the job advertisement suggested.

If so, you should ask your manager about it. Ask openly and curiously: whether anything has changed in the task portfolio since the job interviews, and what the immediate future looks like.

International professionals: Expect more autonomy than you might be used to

Many international professionals are surprised by how much responsibility and autonomy they are given after only a few months in a Danish workplace. In Denmark, managers often expect employees to take initiative, make decisions independently and help shape their own role.

Employment contracts also tend to be less detailed about specific tasks than in many other countries. This can give you more flexibility, but it also means you need to be proactive. If you find yourself taking on tasks that do not match your interests or professional goals, speak with your manager. Regularly aligning expectations about your responsibilities and priorities can help ensure that your work remains both motivating and relevant to your development.