staff recruitment in norway companies

Norway has been ranked as the most attractive country for migrant workers in Scandinavia. But that doesn't mean it's easy.  According to a recent study by the University of Bergen, Norwegian employers favour ethnic Norwegians even when a foreigner is better qualified for the job.

The key message to take on board is that unless you work extremely hard to integrate yourself into Norwegian culture, your job prospects will be limited.

So the very first step to getting a Norwegian career is to make yourself as proficient as possible in the language.

Language requirements

If you come to Norway from a non-EU country to work, you need to complete 300 hours of tuition in Norwegian, unless you are a citizen of one of the Nordic countries.

This is actually very useful.  While having English as a first language does provide a definite advantage, a good knowledge of both written and spoken Norwegian provides better access to work opportunities.

There are excellent state-provided Norwegian classes which allow immigrants to learn Norwegian and acquire a good knowledge of how things work in Norway

 

Permits

A new registration scheme now allows EU nationals to live and work in Norway without applying for a residence permit, as long as they register with the police.

All EU nationals who want to stay in Norway for more than three months must register with the police, showing that they have a basis for residence, presenting a valid identity card or passport, and submitting documents proving that that they will not be a burden on the public welfare services.

For immigrants coming from outside the EU, the process is more complicated.

Up-to date information and applications procedures are available at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (Utlendingsdirtektoratet). www.udi.no.

Interviews

In general, the dress code for job interviews is quite casual in Norway. While wearing a tie is not always unnecessary, it is advisable to dress neatly.

Norwegians pride themselves on being punctual so being on time is important. It is also good to begin an interview with a firm handshake, and to maintain good eye contact thoughout.

An interview panel can consist of anything from two to five people  and interviews can take anything from 45 to 90 minutes.