Preparing for your job search
Preparing for your job search
Preparing for your job search
Finding a job in Norway takes time and preparation. Employers typically look for candidates who can demonstrate relevant skills, motivation and an understanding of the role.
Whether you are looking for a part-time job, an internship or your first graduate position, starting early can improve your chances. This guide will help you navigate the Norwegian job market and prepare for a successful job search.
Tips for job seekers
Identify what you want from your future career
What is most important for you in a job? Fill in our form to get conscious about what motivates you the most and identify your core work values. Before applying for jobs, take time to reflect on what motivates you and what you are looking for in a future workplace.
Identify your skills and strengths. Employers are interested in what you can contribute, not only what you have studied. Take time to identify your knowledge, skills and experiences from your studies, part-time jobs, volunteer work and extracurricular activities. Many international students underestimate the value of competencies they have developed outside the classroom. Experience does not have to be directly related to your degree to be useful. Part-time work, voluntary activities and student organisations can provide evidence of skills such as teamwork, communications, responsibility, leadership and problem-solving. Remember that your skills may be relevant across different industries and roles. Check the link below to map your competencies.
Start by reading job advertisements
To know your job opportunities you should start reading job advertisements. Learn from job advertisements. Here you will find specific job tasks in a particular position, together with job requirements.
Analyse the job advertisement:
- What does the company do?
- What responsibilities does the role include?
- Which qualifications are required?
- Which qualifications are preferred?
- How well do my skills match the position?
- What experiences should I highlight in my application?
- Save advertisements that interest you. Job postings are sometimes removed after the deadline, and you may need them later when preparing for an interview.
Get knowledge about the company
Stay updated on news from your field of interest. Get to know companies where you consider applying for a job. If you know someone working there, talk to them. Find companies on internet and read about their visions, values and projects. If the job advertisement provides a contact person, consider getting in touch if you have a relevant question that is not already aswered in the advertisement or on the employer`s website.
Stay updated on the labour marked throughout your studies by reading job announcements and participate in career fairs. This is a way to get knowledge about job opportunities and information about what competence employers are looking for. Contact with employers might result in relevant internships or jobs after graduation.
Job search in Social media
- Use social media professionally. Many employers review candidates online, so it is important to maintain a professional digital presence. Review your public profiles and remove content you would not want a prospective employer to see.
- Create and maintain an up-to-date LinkedIn profile. Follow organisations and industries that interest you. Connect with fellow students, alumni and professionals.
- Share relevant interests, projects and achievements when appropriate. LinkedIn can also help you identify potential employers, expand your network and discover job opportunities.
- Choose your social media platforms - what is the right platform for your goals? Use the platforms to make your CV available and remember to update it.
LinkedIn Profile Tips
LinkedIn profile tips
LinkedIn profile tips
Create an LinkedIn Profile
Employers can find you on LinkedIn and you can find jobs of interest. Make sure you complete your profile, with information about your education, experience and competence. Some useful tips:
- Choose an appropriate photo of yourself where you look professional
- Make a great headline and consider keywords, so that recruiters will find your profile and quickly see why you are relevant for them
- The summary should be short and precise with key skills, unique qualifications and your work passions
- Write short descriptions in the background sections. It may be a good idea to use bullet points
- But do not forget to show who you are – let your personality shine through (your values, passion and skills)
- Make projects you have worked on visible (links, videos, presentations, articles etc)
- Choose some skills that describes your competence (not to many), and remember that they are keywords as well
- Do not forget your language skills
- Get and give endorsements
- Participate in relevant groups
- Remove anything unnecessary
Create your own opportunities
Create your own career opportunities
Get involved and create your own career opportunities while studying. Meet Phillip Keck, who came to NTNU from the US to study Structural Chemistry. He is using his network at NTNU to improve his chances of getting a job.
Networking
Networking in Norway
Networking can help you learn about industries, employers and career opportunities, including opportunities that you might not otherwise come across. Networking does not mean asking people for a job. It means building professional relationships, learning from others and making your skills and intersts visible. You may already have a network through:
- fellow students
- lecturers
- alumni
- student organisations
- internships
- part-time jobs
Expanding your network can increase your understanding of the labour market and open doors to future opportunities.
Networking tips
Step 1: Describe yourself
Step 1: Describe yourself
Define yourself. Prepare a short presentation (1-2 min) of who you are, your main skills, what motivates you and what you are looking for. Practise your introductory speach. You can get help using our forms to map your competencies or identify your goals.
Step 2: Identify your network
Step 2: Identify your network
Define your current network. You might not think of them as your network, but it can be family members, family friends, your friends, fellow students, lecturers, past employers and work mates. They may have (or get) connections in your field of interest to whom they can introduce you.
Step 3: Expand your network
Step 3: Expand your network
Go broader and make career connections with people outside your immediate environment:
- Employers: Introduce yourself to employers at Career Fairs and other employer events on and off campus. Some businesses arrange breakfast meetings, conferences or webinars.
- Guest Speakers: student organizations or the study programme events may have guest speakers that often include a networking opportunity.
- Alumni: Join NTNU Alumni to learn from previous students and get the possibility to job shadow. Maybe a NTNU alumni works in a company you are interested in and are willing to give an advice or answer your questions?
- Social Media: Find and join theme groups at LinkedIn. LinkedIn groups are informal communities formed around industries or professions. If you want to make connections at a certain business, try following company pages and engaging with their company status updates.
Step 4: Start networking
Step 4: Start networking
- Start in your current personal network and build up your confidence in your networking skills.
- Get involved at student organisations or projects at campus, be engaged at study groups or classes, and talk to professors or business representatives.
- Prepare for career fairs. Check out the overview of career fairs at NTNU and how to prepare (bottom of the page)
- Observe what companies of interest are sharing or posting in social media and learn how they are using the network. Try commenting on a post to start a conversation. Consider how you can contribute.
- Do not expect to get something in return straight away. You need to invest your time and effort first. Instead of asking for a job directly, it might be better to ask for advice and information. You can for example ask for suggestions on how to expand your network. Your main goal should be to build a relationship.
Step 5: Follow-up
Step 5: Follow-up
A follow-up will further establish your connection, and might lead to a great opportunity.
- Follow up help or advise from your contacts with a thank you note or email
- Keep in touch. If a recommendation from a contact in your network proves useful, let your contact know!
- Share any knowledge you feel would be useful for your contacts.
- Keep contacts updated with your news, for example that you have graduated.
- Ensure your online profile is always up-to-date
Always remember that the best way of building a strong network is to support others in return.
Finding jobs in Norway
Finding jobs in Norway
Language requirements vary between occupations, sectors and employers. Some positions require Norwegian, while others use English as a working language. If you do not speak Norwegian, look carefully at the language requirements in job advertisements and search spesifically for positions where English is listed as the working language.
Learning Norwegian can broaden the range of positions available to you and may also make it easier to participate in workplace and professional life in Norway.
Resources to find jobs in Norway:
- jobbnorge
- arbeidsplassen - use the "Working language" filter and select "English"
- finn.no
- NTNU
- Student jobs at NTNU
- JobsinNetwork
- EURESJobs in Europe
- You can also contact recruitment agencies
More information:
New in Norway -Official information about working and living in Norway
Working in Norway - residence and wwork rules (UDI)