Internationals in Denmark
What no one tells you about working in Denmark
For most people who relocate to Denmark for work, building a life means more than finding a place to live or a job. It means understanding a new culture, navigating unfamiliar workplace dynamics and building a network with Danes who, according to IDA member Mickey Friedmann, can be a bit difficult to approach.
"The first time a Danish friend invited me to his home, I called all my other international friends and told them, 'You wouldn't believe what just happened.' That was a big step. With Danes, it takes some time to get in. But once you are in, you are in."
Mickey moved from Tel Aviv to Denmark in 2023. Alongside building a career in Denmark as an electrical engineer at FOSS Analytical, he became part of IDA's peer group Internationals Working in Denmark. In the peer group, international professionals share experiences and support each other in navigating life and work in Denmark. For Mickey, the value of the group turned out to be much more than professional networking.
The things nobody tells you
For Mickey, some of the biggest challenges of relocating to Denmark were the things nobody teaches you.
"It takes a while to understand how to turn left on your bike," Mickey laughs. "But like every other immigrant, the main difficulties were job searching, understanding workplace dynamics and integrating socially."
Anyone moving to Denmark can find information about Danish workplaces online. But according to Mickey, the real learning begins when you are faced with real-life situations.
"As a foreigner, you can attend a million events where they tell you about the Danish workplace. You know, 'bring cake,'" Mickey says. "But you're never really ready for the more intricate dynamics that are much more elusive. There are workplace dynamics that I just did not understand. You're always wondering: Did I react the right way? Did I offend someone?"
Learning the Law of Jante the hard way
Mickey specifically remembers his encounter with the Law of Jante during his first years in Denmark.
"One of the first job interviews I did in Denmark went horribly, and I couldn’t understand why. In that context, you want to show off your professional side and prove that you’re a hotshot. But apparently, in Denmark, that can make you come off as a bit of a douchebag. I later learned about the Law of Jante and how talking about your competencies can make it sound like you are boasting. No one told me that!"
Mickey continues: "Now I make a disclaimer when I’m about to talk about my competencies: You know, can we put the Law of Jante to the side for a bit? Just so the Danes know I can be humble and am actually a nice person."
For many internationals, this uncertainty is a common experience. In the culture you were brought up in, you know the unwritten social rules and understand what is considered appropriate in a certain situation.
"We all come from a place where we know how things work. We know the people; we understand how they think. Suddenly, maybe we're too much, maybe we're too little. Maybe we're offensive. Maybe we're not. You don't know. And the thing is, you don’t know what you don’t know."
A safe space to ask questions
Quickly after moving to Denmark, Mickey joined IDA Peer Group Internationals working in Denmark, where he met other international IDA members who could relate to his experiences. The peer group meetings became a valuable source of support, turning members' collective experiences into a shared resource.
"There's a lot of learning involved in being an immigrant," he says. "In the peer group, you kind of have a safe space to ask: Is this too much? Is this okay? Am I getting what I deserve?" He adds, "I don't know if I have another circle in which I ask questions as freely as I do with this group."
Mickey adds, "A lot of people come here stressed about a situation at work or something like that and then sort of unload here and feel better. People know that what's said in the group remains in the group. I haven't seen a situation where people were afraid to open up or ever got a bad response or anything like that."
Like-minded professionals
For Mickey, there is particular value in meeting other internationals with STEM backgrounds. Because all the participants are IDA members, they often face similar career questions.
"This peer group is a little more focused than other networks of internationals I have been part of. We have a common understanding. Even if they're not electrical engineers like me, there's always someone sort of close to what you're doing. Most people are in tech or something like that. You can relate to each other’s experiences and understand each other’s work lives on a deeper level because we have similar educational backgrounds."
"It’s the people"
Over time, friendships developed outside the peer group meetings.
"When I joined the group, I was looking for a group of peers to share experiences with and learn from," Mickey says. "Now, after a few years in the peer group, I have made great friends. At every meeting, someone brings food from their homeland. We get to experience different cultures and hear about people's homes."
He continues: "We went to the Santa Lucia parade in the canals, to the opera and to people's houses for dinner. It didn't start and end with professional networking, that’s for sure."
When asked what has been most valuable about the peer group for him, his answer is straightforward:
"It's the people. You get to meet really good people, learn things and have discussions that are particularly relevant to your career. It’s just a good place. It's worth the time."
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