Matthew Gray came to Denmark after many years as an expat living in Africa and Asia. His wife had gotten a job with the United Nations here, and this time it was Matthew’s turn to follow her.
Matthew, who is Canadian and British, and his wife (from Tajikistan) had been traveling with their work for a decade, so moving to a new country was nothing new. For example, Matthew had worked for the United Nations and international organizations in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Central Asia, Ukraine, South Sudan and elsewhere.
So when he came to Denmark, Matthew believed that his professional background and nationality would make it easy for him to navigate Danish work culture and that he could use most of his energy on a planned career change.
“My experience in the field was that the development of the world does not depend on NGOs or aid, but on companies. Danish companies have a strong global reputation and great influence, and I knew that it was now or never to fully commit to trying to break into the private sector, which also meant navigating and penetrating the Danish labor market, ” he said.
“We moved here from Myanmar, and I thought that Denmark would be a lot like my home country of Canada. I couldn’t have been more wrong and the culture shock was thick. Far thicker than moving anywhere else.”
A new world opens up
Matthew was able to ease into life in Denmark – he was on parental leave when he came here and then enrolled part-time at Oxford University – but eventually it was time to start working. Matthew’s goal when he left was clear: leave the aid sector and find a job in the private sector. His first step, however, was to start with what he knew.
“I started in my comfort zone and found work with two Danish NGOs. From there, I had a good basis for getting to know Danish work culture before applying for a change of company. I was promoted to a senior role, which gave me more C-level exposure (boards, strategic planning, Danish stakeholder navigation), although in the end it only convinced me that the global change was with the companies,” he said.
“In Denmark, I realized that half the battle was skill transfer and half was cultural navigation. I had never seen such a work culture, so I had to dive in because it had an impact on my success in the labor market.”
Without a network in Denmark, Matthew had to take the opportunity that presented itself to learn to understand the work culture here, because it was as much an obstacle as reformulating your CV and improving your skills. So he rolled up his sleeves and made it a point to talk to anyone. And it worked.
“I talked to everyone I met. I’m a hockey coach and player, so I talked to Danish parents and teammates. And parents at my children’s school. Social events are good places to learn more about working life in Denmark. I asked all my local and expat friends who work for Danish companies if they could give me their advice. I would even ask shop owners with an entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.
It’s (not only) about you
After hundreds of cups of coffee, a ton of research and a handful of applications, Matthew started getting called in for interviews. It didn’t take him long to realize that he was being judged on more than his professional skills.
“Your personality is important. In other countries people wave their references around or try to impress you with their job titles or where they went to school. It’s not so valued in Denmark. Industries know each other and you want to be checked out. People want to know if you’ve burned any bridges,” he said.
It is Matthew’s experience that Danish companies go to great lengths to protect their workplace culture.
“The Danish labor market is very pragmatic. You are assessed on more than just your skills. As a foreigner, you may have to hide some of your personality away, as being different from others can be seen as a possible mismatch. So hold back a little in the beginning. People will be more willing to accept you if they know you can adapt to the culture.”
In other words: when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
“Employers really care about your intention to stay in Denmark. You can talk about how your children are doing at school, you study Danish, your spouse loves it, etc. In particular, show that you are learning Danish. You’ll need it for some jobs, you won’t for others. But for everyone, you have to show that you are trying. It is important here,” he advised.
After a period of hard work and many conversations with Danes, Matthew found the job that would allow him to say goodbye to his career in humanitarian and international development and open a new chapter in the private sector.
Today, Matthew works for Morningstar’s Sustainalytics in an associate director position that allows him to draw on his past experiences while remaining motivated by his ambition to make a difference to others.
But getting to where he is now required a crash course in some of the more peculiar aspects of the job market here.
Culture shock at work
Matthew’s encounter with Danish work culture has been a bit of an eye-opener and a source of frustration.
“Danish workplaces are an informal world where everyone is equal. There are minimal hierarchies or formal frameworks. But it also means that everyone’s opinions carry equal weight. If a company doesn’t think you fit in with the other employees, then you are the problem. Companies here protect their corporate culture and it is not your place to come in and revolutionize the workplace with new ideas,” he said.
Having said that, Matthew has found that it is important to give a little of yourself when you are at work. He finds that people find it strange if you are too reserved – especially as a foreigner.
“I found Danish work culture strange at first. I’m used to showing up at work and using my skills, and I don’t have time to use my social energy at work. I save it for after work, where my other life is,” he said.
“Your professional and private life are not so separate in Denmark. For some people, it is even a social cornerstone. Breakfast is served several times a week. Everyone jumps when there is cake in the office. And won’t Friday bar is almost enough to put you in a bad position. From my experience, the Danes have structured social lives, and work is – in one way or another – part of that structure. Again, personality is important, but you can’t be yourself. I learned that you only have to be 80 percent of yourself, but always be 100 percent socially and professionally present.”
Matthew Gray is Associate Director for Emerging Markets in the Eurasia region at Djøf, Danish Association for Social Sciences, Law and Economics. This article is republished here with the kind permission of Matthew and his employer. Check out the original article here.
Source: The Nordic Page