Since finding a job here a little over a year ago, I’ve done my best to share the transition process with other expats who are hoping to move to Norway (Trondheim, specifically, since that is where I have settled).

I’ve been lucky enough to trade emails and meet with many people searching for work in this city. Most come here chasing love, hoping to find a job so that they can stay with their significant other.

Some have questions about coming here for school or because it’s a beautiful place.

How to find a job in Trondheim

While Trondheim is indeed a wonderful place to live, it’s also very difficult to find work here.

Read the Book: How to Find a Job in Norway

NOTE: Before you continue to read this article, there is something you should know: Life in Trondheim is absolutely amazing and it is, in my opinion, the nicest city in the world.

The nature is incredible, the atmosphere is friendly, there is a booming tech sector, education is incredible, healthcare is great, crime is extremely low, and it is a wonderful place to raise a family.

Now, with that said, if anyone who wanted to move to Trondheim could easily make it happen, Trondheim would cease to be the small city that we know and love. So, there is a beautiful silver lining to the otherwise hard truths of finding work in Trondheim.

Now, I’m not going to sugar-coat this: finding a job in Trondheim is not easy. In fact, may be the most difficult place to find work that I have ever lived in. Here are a few things you should know.

Highly educated population

Trondheim is home to NTNU, Norway’s technical university and therefore is teeming with highly educated job seekers. According to , 82% of the adult population has at least an upper secondary education and 38% a tertiary degree. Generally speaking, upper secondary is a bachelors and tertiary is a masters.

In addition, most of these degrees are in sciences, technologies, and business. As you can imagine, when I arrived with a degree in political science, the deck was stacked against me.

Nationalistic

Norwegians will pretend that they are not nationalistic, but in my opinion, this is untrue. Norwegians prefer to hire other Norwegians for a myriad of reasons. One of them being language proficiency, but there are others. People hire people that they can relate to and get along with.

Commonly, Norwegians stick together. As a society, they take care of one another. There is nothing wrong with this and in my opinion, it is a good thing
 but it does make the job search hard on expats.

In fact, I would say that TrĂžnders are even so nationalistic as to prefer hiring a fellow TrĂžnder over someone from Oslo, Bergen, etc and likewise for those cities.

Small city

Here in Trondheim, it seems like everyone knows each other. With a population of 180,000, Trondheim is still a small city.

People grew up together, went to school together, their families know each other, reputations are built and it’s relatively easy to fill an open job slot with such a tight connection. As a foreigner, this is another obstacle that you will need to overcome.

I very highly suggest volunteering as much as possible, meeting people at every opportunity and networking until you are ready to collapse.

The reputation that you build for yourself starts from the day you arrive here
 and for many of you, the clock is ticking. Dress sharp, be active, and show how much you want to live here.

Norwegians hire for life

This one is sort of unspoken but generally true. In Norway, it is almost impossible to fire someone. Therefore, when companies hire, they are looking for a perfect match. They want to believe that you don’t just see them as a stepping stone to a visa or work permit.

You have to be the perfect candidate. So, you had better do your research and be on your A-game. Prove to them that you will stick around so that they feel less scared about hiring you.

Limited jobs in Trondheim

Even for TrĂžnders looking to find or switch jobs, the options are limited. This results from a couple of the things already mentioned, such as this being a small city and that hiring for life results in lower turnover rates.

In addition, there are only a few of each type of company here and jumping from competitor to competitor would probably be frowned upon.

One of the biggest factors, however is economy. With the current oil crisis and many skilled workers being laid-off, Norway is seeing the highest jobless rate in a decade. This, of course, means that those skilled workers are now competing for available jobs as well. Again, competition goes up.

Immigration requirements

As skilled workers, you must meet strict immigration requirements. If you are not from an EU member country, you will only have 6 months to find employment (3 month tourist visa plus 3 month extension for job seekers).

Be sure you apply for this as soon as possible and note that you will need to meet living and income requirements. Even after you have received a job offer, you must meet specific salary requirements.

The companies must pay a minimum salary of NOK 412,600 if you have a Masters and NOK 382,900 if you have a Bachelors degree. This is to ensure that all immigrants receive equal pay for equal work on the same level as all Norwegians.

However, this can be a huge obstacle since many people may only receive their first job offers from smaller companies or startups.

Those salaries are pretty competitive and an employer would need a darn good reason to hire you at that wage over a Norwegian. For more info, check the .

Summary

The bottom line is that finding a job in Norway is very competitive and if you are not Norwegian, the deck is stacked against you. However, there are some things that may help.

Volunteer & network. You need to get to know people people here. Volunteer, network, attend groups from meetup.com, join whatever events you can find your way into and make the most of the opportunity.

Learn norsk. There’s not a chance you’re going to learn fluent norsk in a few short months but being able to hold just enough of a conversation to prove you’re learning can take you a long way.

Know your sector. Sometimes oil is hot, sometimes it’s not. If you’re a geo engineer of some sort, this is a hard time for you to find work. If you’re in tech/startups, it might be a good time. Do your research and see how your industry sector is doing here before you make the leap.

Skilled/unskilled. For skilled workers (college degree/equivalent or higher), the competition is high and the openings are pretty limited. Even for non-skilled workers, it’s not like you can just walk into McDonalds and people will say “thanks for showing up, you’re hired”.

Save up. Norway is expensive. You’ll need about $2,000 for each month that you intend to be here. You can get by on slightly less if you want to eat rice and beans. It’s about the same as moving to NYC except that you can’t just find a job to keep you afloat until something better pans out.

Don’t give up! You don’t have a single day to waste, especially if you are from outside the EU and only have 6 months. You need to be visiting offices, shaking hands, and meeting people. It would be a bad feeling to head home knowing that you didn’t give this your best shot.

Ask for help. Find any mentors or mentor programs you can and ask them to help you. If you can find my email address (it’s not hard), hit me up and we’ll grab a coffee and talk strategy.

Learn more. Read about how I found a job in Trondheim. It goes into a bit more detail on the job seeking advice. You can also read about the Working Culture in Norway to learn more about the ups/downs.

It is generally very difficult for expats to find work in Trondheim, especially when the economy is down as a result of oil.

Read the Book: How to Find a Job in Norway

To add to that, a combination of factors including language, population size, education levels, nationalism, immigration rules, and others will make it hard to find work here, but not impossible.

Even the non-skilled jobs, such as working at a restaurant or sports store seem to be pretty competitive and besides, if you don’t speak norsk, it’s hard to work with the customers.

Read more: Communication in a Norwegian Workplace

However, don’t let that get you down. If you’ve read this whole thing and still wish to move to Trondheim to be with your loved one, climb mountains, attend school or whatever else, then GO FOR IT!!! You only live once and you’ll never know if you don’t try.

Moving to Norway is the best decision I have ever made and no matter how much I travel, Trondheim still feels like home.

So, when you get here, send me a message and we’ll meet up to see if there’s any way I can be of help.

The post Jobs in Norway: The Hard Truth appeared first on 51łÔčÏÍű.

In a previous blog, I wrote about 9 upsides of my first year in Norway. While it’s been a great experience, Norway isn’t all sunshine and roses. In fact, sometimes it seems like there’s hardly any sunshine at all.

So, to provide a balanced view, here are the nine most difficult parts of my first year here. More importantly, I’ve provided links and advice that I feel will be very useful for those who are interested in moving to Norway.

Ready? Let's go!

1. Finding work

It took me over 3 frantic months and almost one hundred applications to get an interview, and I have a pretty decent CV. That said, using Finn.no is not super effective and I have written more about how to go about the job search process in Trondheim.

Finding work in Norway can be extremely difficult. With such a highly educated and skilled population, it’s hard to carve out a place for yourself.

In addition, Norwegian companies tend to “hire for life” because it is almost impossible to fire someone here, with the exception of extenuating circumstances.

This means that in order to hire you, companies will want to be very certain that you are going to stick around. Hiring and training new people is expensive and they need to be sure they’ll get a positive return on investing in you.

Salary requirements for residency

To add to this, if you are applying as a skilled worker, the companies must pay a minimum salary of NOK 412,600 if you have a Masters and NOK 382,900 if you have a Bachelors degree.

This is to ensure that all immigrants receive equal pay for equal work on the same level as all Norwegians.

This can be a huge obstacle since many people may only receive their first job offers from smaller companies or startups. For more info, check out the complete guide to moving to Norway.

In Norway, 32 percent of the population has a higher education. The competition for jobs is intense and although most Norwegians would deny it, this is a highly nationalistic country.

This is often made even more difficult by the fact that extremely few of those foreigners seeking jobs here have any proficiency in speaking, writing and understanding Norwegian.

Simply put, if you can’t speak the language, it’s hard for most companies to hire you. Language is often the biggest barrier to finding work because even though English is spoken and understood by almost everyone here, Norwegian is the language used in business.

Summary: The odds are stacked against you but not unbeatable if you are committed: speaking norsk is an important skill, most people here are highly educated, Norwegians tend to hire their own and you must meet many UDI immigration requirements for employment.

Do your homework before you move here and be sure to maximize your chances by networking, attending events and volunteering.

Make use of every possible opportunity to get in front of decision makers and hiring managers directly. I will try to write another blog soon about finding work in Norway, since this is a very common question topic from many people.

2. Getting a driving license

Ok, I’m just going to come out and say it
 this one sucks.

I have been driving for 15 years and I failed the driving test here
 which means I now have to take a written test, a bunch of practical courses and then redo the driving test which will cost me a total of about $2,000 USD.

That’s right, it is extremely expensive to get a license here. Ouch!!! If you are not from an EU-member country, you generally have one year from the date that you receive residency to trade in your driving license for a Norwegian one
 and you ONLY get one attempt.

After that first year or first attempt, you must take some very expensive courses and a difficult theoretical written exam before trying again.

To start, you must first sign up with the Norwegian road service and carefully review all pertinent information on their website. In Norway, driving is a privilege and not a right.

You will be graded very carefully. If you take the test in an automatic car, you can ONLY drive automatic cars, which is problematic because most vehicles here are manual.

I failed mostly because I did not have enough practice driving manual vehicles, which led me to be a little nervous and forget some things. So, if you choose to take the test in a manual car, be sure that you are very proficient. There are also lots of roundabouts here, so practice driving on those often.

You can also practice with a local driving school. They are often familiar with people trying to trade in a license. It is worth the money spent for an instructor to pass the test on the first time.

Simply do a google search for driving schools in your area, and shop around for the one that suits you best.

Summary: Getting a driver’s license in Norway can be a very expensive ($2000+) and time consuming process if you fail on your first attempt. Practice plenty and if you are going to drive a manual car, ensure you are proficient.

Driving schools can be an excellent place to get feedback and practice
 remember, the real test is one-try only. Start getting your documents in order and begin to visit the Statens Vegvesen near you as soon as you arrive.

3. Clearing the UDI immigration hurdles

UDI is the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration and they are initially responsible for all immigration-related matters. To be honest, I have had nothing but great experiences with them. They are polite and helpful.

However, they also have a job to do and they do not like to waste time. If you call or visit their office, have notes on what you would like to discuss and have all of your paperwork neatly prepared in a folder.

Moving to Norway is not easy; however, it is not necessarily difficult either. In fact, my first application for residency was denied due to a minor error on my part and it almost caused me severe problems.

All of the information you will need is clearly provided on the UDI so be sure to review that thoroughly. If you need to contact and speak with someone, it usually takes about 20-30minutes of waiting but they are generally positive and helpful on the phone.

Whether you are moving here for work, family, study, asylum, or other purposes, these are the folks who will handle all of that.

There is a fair amount of paperwork for immigration so be sure to complete the checklists provided for your specific needs.

Summary: UDI is not bad at all, even though I’m sure many people have had some bad experiences from time to time. They are strict but law is law for a reason. Read properly, learn everything you need, prepare detailed questions, follow the instructions and keep all of your documents neatly ordered and you should have no problems.

4. Learning the language

Learning new languages is never easy. I’ve covered in the “finding a job” section above that norsk is the language of business here. Therefore, it will be important for you to study and learn as quickly as possible. There are several ways to do this.

Visit your local library. The libraries have a wealthy selection of language books, guides, CDs, and other resources. Even as a non-resident, it is easy to get a library card. Just bring a photo ID and ask the librarian.

In addition, many libraries offer free “sprĂ„k cafĂ©â€ courses where you can come and speak norsk with other people who are learning. They generally split everyone up into beginner, medium and advanced groups.

Norwegian libraries also offer free computers where you can use the internet or language software. The big benefit of this is that these courses are free; however, the drawback is that they usually take place during work hours.

NTNU offers a great . Simply follow that hyperlink, browse around and begin learning. There are several chapters of material, vocabulary, exams, listening exercises, grammar and other useful tools.

The upside here is that it’s free and you can do it from home. The downside is that without a personal instructor, your learning pace may be a bit slower.

The Norwegian Folk University offers language courses from beginner to intermediate and advanced for a variety of different purposes and skills. These are in-person classroom type lessons with instructors.

Simply select your location, find the course appropriate for you, sign up and begin attending classes on your chosen start date at the location given.

Courses generally cost approximately NOK 4750 in Trondheim or NOK 5500 in Oslo. If you want to find out which course is right for you, you can take this , which I highly recommend.

Summary: Learning the language doesn’t have to be expensive and it can fit into your schedule. It’s not the easiest language to learn, especially with all the different dialects, but it’s not the hardest either. Get out there and start doing whatever it takes to learn quickly. It will pay dividends in the long-run.

5. The high cost of living

Norway is an expensive country to live in and I’m not going to cover in-depth economics here. However, the disparities in income are also much smaller than in most parts of the world.

As a co-worker of mine likes to say, “In Norway, everything you need is cheap and everything you want is expensive. In the US, everything you need is expensive and everything you want is cheap.”

A recent  shows that Norway has the second highest prices of food in Europe and the absolute highest prices for alcohol and tobacco.

Norwegians commonly travel across the border to Sweden for things like candy, alcohol and tobacco or to other countries, such as the US, to purchase luxury items.

Nonetheless, some things, such as frozen salmon are usually as cheap as about a dollar per filet. So, if you choose wisely and plan healthy meals, it’s not bad at all.

I believe that I spend about the same in a month here on groceries as I did while living in the USA but my food selection is much more limited also.

Keep in mind that salary wages here are generally pretty high to match the cost of living.

Norway is well known for providing a “livable wage” but this also means that for instance a hair cut costs around $50. In addition, about 30% of the average paycheck goes towards taxes.

Going out for dinner or drinks or to the movies is rare, at least for my fiancĂ© and I. But, we spend all of our time hiking, skiing, biking, fishing or otherwise out in nature exploring so it doesn’t bother us.

Likewise, for most people who really enjoy dining out or other things, there always seems to be room in the budget somehow.

Also, I’m not a food critic by any means but it’s fair to say that Norwegian food is relatively bland. It’s hard to find really ripe fruits or vegetables year-round and the selection is smaller.

There are some really tasty traditional dishes but there’s definitely a reason why half of Norway eats tacos every Friday.

Expensive food with a limited selection in most stores is definitely a downside to living here sometimes. In particular, alcohol and tobacco are notoriously expensive, but I’ll cover that below.

Summary: Yes, Norway is very expensive. However, the pay is generally quite good and the income inequality is much lower than in most countries. It is not at all hard to get by on an average wage but you will likely have to be a bit more careful with how many nights a week you go out partying.

6. It's difficult to make friends

I consider myself a pretty friendly guy
 I talk to random strangers, sit next to people even when there are open seats on the bus and I pretty much always have an easy time making friends. It’s a bit harder in Norway.

People here are not rude but they’re not outgoing around people they don’t know. It is a very conservative culture in social settings.

Luckily, my fiancé is from here and I have made friends with all of her friends and significant others. I also work at an awesome startup which easily netted me 16 new close companions.

But, to be honest, that’s about it. Since I’m not out partying much, I don’t meet many people in town.

I’m not a student so I don’t make tons of classroom pals either. I don’t play a recreational sport and most of the things I do are kind of loner activities like skiing, biking and fishing. So, I would definitely say that making friends here has been harder.

In the US, it’s common for everyone to go out for drinks together or hold a huge barbecue and invite 20-30 people or have a pool party or setup a beach volleyball tournament but that stuff doesn’t really happen so much here.

Katrine and I try at least once a month to invite everyone over for a barbecue, camping trip, game night or whatever else we can come up with but we usually invite about 20 and end up with 4.

It can indeed be a bit lonely sometimes and I definitely miss striking up conversations with random strangers (that doesn’t work out well here). However, the friends that I have made are really great people of incredible quality and character. So, what more could you really ask for?

Summary: Don’t let Norway change you. Be outgoing, fun and spontaneous. Just like everywhere else in the world, people here want to make friends
 they’re just a bit shyer about it. Don’t give up. Be kind, be genuine, share a smile, laugh a lot and it will all work itself out.

You will quickly find that friends here travel in packs, much like grade school
 so all you’ve gotta do is find some ones you like and slowly nudge your way into the circle. Bonus points if you like to ski, because that makes it much easier.

7. Adjusting to the rain and cold temperatures

Coming from warm and sunny California to Norway has been a bit of a change in terms of weather. It’s currently August in Norway and we’ve had average temperatures ranging from 7-23 degrees (45-73 degrees F) here in Trondheim for the month.

We get half a year of lots of sunshine and half a year with lots of darkness. It can be depressing in winter if you don’t keep on track with your fitness and with finding things to keep active. I’ve written before about my thoughts on winter in Norway.

The summers can be equally unpredictable with some very warm and sunny days and sometimes weeks at a time with nothing but rain and cold. It seems like summer here never fully comes, it just kind of teases and then turns back into winter again.

For all of the rain and cold, Norwegians have a clever saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” Part of the problem though is that clothes are expensive and you need just about one of everything. I’ve got 3 different rain jackets, several winter coats of different thickness, pants for every occasion and everything else you could imagine.

When you live for the outdoors and the weather is unpredictable, it’s worth it to buy what you need and enjoy yourself rather than staying at home complaining because the weather sucks, but it sure gets expensive!

The worst time of year is usually late October to mid-December because it’s just non-stop freezing rain and if you bike to work like I do, that gets a bit old fast. The cold, to be honest, is usually a good thing because it means snow.

Snow not only means skiing but it also means less darkness as the fresh white powder reflects light and creates a beautiful glow.

Summary: It’s always easy to bitch about the weather, no matter where you live. Get the right equipment and don’t let mother nature stop you from enjoying
 well, mother nature.

8. The cost and availability of alcohol and tobacco

In the US, I loooove to drink good beer. So many selections, pretty good prices, who doesn’t like to crack a cold one? Well, in Norway it really does get expensive fast and although the craft brewing is on the rise here, the selection is still minimal.

A single 12oz cheap beer in the store will cost you about $2 and in a pub about $6. A nice beer will cost about $5 in the store and around $12-15 in a pub.

In addition, it is not legal to sell alcohol above 4.7% ABV in stores. Anything over that, you have to head to the vinmonopolet (wine and liquor store). The prices there are pretty high as well but the selection is usually decent.

My usual work-around is to pick up 3 liters of wine and a bottle of scotch at the duty free every time I take an international flight.

On the upside, I drink much less beer in Norway and spend much less money on alcohol than I do in the states. On the downside, every time I go back to the US I feel like I’ve got a lot of catching up to do and usually make up for all the tasty libations I’ve missed out on here.

As for tobacco, smoking is relatively uncommon but snus (smokeless tobacco) is very common. I don’t do either and I’m not familiar with the pricing but I do know that it’s about half the price in Sweden.

Summary: Norway is the most expensive country in Europe to buy alcohol and tobacco. That’s not to say there’s not lots of drinking but it’ll definitely put a dent in your wallet.

9. Missing the USA

I’m often asked if I miss the USA
 for the most part, the answer is no. I enjoy the slower pace of life and the focus on family and nature here. I could easily take a job back in the US if I wanted, but I really do appreciate Norway.

It’s an incredibly beautiful country with almost limitless opportunities to get into the outdoors, which is very important to me.

I certainly don’t miss the politics, the big cities, the poor public transportation, the focus on making money or the seemingly constant divide between people of different beliefs or backgrounds.

However, there are certainly some things I miss.

I miss the open social atmosphere, the warm weather, my truck, the beer and food selections, the diversity of people and landscape, being around my fellow Marines, and probably a handful of other things.

But the reality is that I’m here in Norway for the foreseeable future and I intend to make the most of it.

Summary: I can certainly understand why many Americans miss the US after living in Norway but for me, the benefits far outweigh the costs. I’m thankful to be here and I look forward to each adventure that lies ahead.

The post The Downsides of Living in Norway appeared first on 51łÔčÏÍű.

I receive a lot of emails from people asking what life is like in Norway, whether it’s hard to find work, what they can expect in the first year and whether it’s worth it. I’ve been in Norway for just over a year now, which honestly made 2015 one of the best years of my life.

As I look back on this past year, here are some of my favorite memories from living in Norway.

Finding a Job

Hands down my biggest challenge and also biggest celebration of my first year in Norway has been getting a job. When I arrived, I knew that I would be at a huge disadvantage not speaking Norwegian.

Finding skilled work in Norway is difficult due to the competitiveness and high education levels of other qualified candidates. Basically, until you get a job, you are walking a tightrope and unsure whether you will even be able to stay in the country once your temporary permit expires. However, there are many benefits to working in Norway.

Norway is a great country with a booming tech/entrepreneurship sector and a great work/life balance. I have found myself extremely fortunate to land a job in a fast-moving software startup with incredible people who I am proud to call friends. The work pace is blistering but the environment is fun, friendly and motivating.

Many people come to Norway looking for work. Let me say outright that it is very difficult. However, if you manage it, it will be one of the most positive and rewarding experiences of your life.

Receiving the Residence Permit

This was pretty easy but also very stressful. If, for some reason, my skilled worker application was denied even after finding a job, I would still have to pack up and head home. While things looked more promising as each day progressed, this still added a dose of anxiety to daily life.

Therefore, when my application finally came back as approved and I received a national ID number and residence card, it was a huge celebration for myself and my fiancé. Many people ask whether they should come to Norway chasing love
 my only response is that it is extremely difficult but always incredibly rewarding. I am so very thankful to be here and chasing love has been one of the best decisions of my life. Even though it was not always easy from an immigration standpoint, I feel that the authorities were always quick, respectful and very helpful.

PĂ„ske (Easter)

PÄske is undoubtedly the favorite holiday of many Norwegians. The weather is finally warm (comparatively) and sunny again, the days are longer and there is still plenty of snow to be enjoyed. Usually pÄske lasts for one week and consists of lots of skiing, fresh oranges and tasty family meals.

We headed to Isfjorden in the Romsdal region with Katrine’s family and spent every day backcountry skiing to mountain peaks, fishing in the fjord and enjoying long sunny days on the deck afterwards, staring at the mountains and enjoying a proper after-ski with Jager. During this trip I experienced the mountains like never before, as we made long trips up overlooking the fjords before skiing back down.

Norwegians cherish pÄske, and with good reason. This is truly a magical time of year as the weather is sunny and warm but there is still plenty of snow for skiing and the fishing is also great because the ice has just melted and the fish are hungry. The mix of sunshine and such beautiful weather makes for amazing memories.

17 Mai (Norway’s National Day)

17 Mai is absolutely wonderful as the whole country comes together, dresses in the traditional bunad and celebrates from morning until late afternoon. Even before moving to Norway, 17 May has always been one of my favorite days
 it’s my birthday. So, when I learned that it was also Norway’s national day, I was pretty excited
 seems like I was born to be in Norway!

The day starts with champagne breakfast, friends, waving of flags, cheerful greetings and lots of tasty food. There are plenty of drinks and hugs and a festive mood all around. The whole day is a celebration and the first time you witness it, it is absolutely breath-taking.

Around noon, everyone heads into the city to watch the big parade. I’ve seen many parades before, but never one quite like this. As a foreigner, I absolutely love seeing folks dressed up in the bunad, each with their own unique design based on where the family comes from.

There are a wide variety of things being celebrated throughout the day, with some of the biggest being those for the children’s parade and the russ. If you’re not familiar with russ, you’re in for a heck of a funny surprise as this graduating high school class drinks and parties their way through two weeks of celebrations, culminating in a final parade on 17 Mai.

The evening can lead you in a variety of directions, of course, ranging from family dinner to partying until you drop. Regardless of which route you take, 17 Mai is a day you will never forget!

Summer hiking trips

Norway is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth and short stays here just do not do the country justice. In order to really understand Norway, I think you have to really immerse yourself in the hytte culture, the summer hiking trips, and even the great pains of long cross-country skiing trips in bad weather. All of this together slowly creates a true understanding of what makes Norway so beautiful and why the Norwegians so quickly celebrate good weather.

This year, one of my favorite hiking trips was a long weekend to Innerdalen where we hiked, camped and enjoyed beautiful blue skies and great views from the peak of the mountain. This was one of those hikes where everything from the freezing river we bathed in to the foggy mountain mornings to the grass roofed hytter along the route and even the celebratory waffles after the hike just screamed what it means to enjoy Norway’s scenic beauty in style.

Although this year was not particularly warm and sunny, we still made it a top priority to get into the mountains on bike, foot or climbing rope every chance we got. With the extra long days and beautiful golden glow of summer’s warm sunshine, there is never a moment to be missed for adventure.

Traveling Through Europe

Living in Norway does come with additional advantages, especially for an American who has always wanted to backpack through Europe. Most of my bucket-list countries, including Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and more are all within a few hours’ flight. So, while exploring Europe is usually prohibitively time-consuming and costly for Americans, I have managed to make the most of it. This year I visited France, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and Turkey. Not a bad bonus for living in Europe!

The other added bonus is that with so many places to visit, there is a great mix of cultures, climates, terrain, people and activities. The extended vacation days make it much easier to get out, explore the world around you and really appreciate all that Europe has to offer.

Mountain biking in Autumn

Autumn here is generally cold, wet and rainy. For many, it is the least favorite time of year. However, as the Norwegians say, “there’s no such thing as bad weather; only bad clothes”. So, when it is wet and rainy but the days are not yet too short to hit the mountains, it’s perfect weather for mountain biking. To be fair, it more/less sucks for almost anything else.

Due to the large number of interconnected trails and the gentle rolling terrain of most areas here, the biking is absolutely phenomenal. There are fewer people on the trails, there’s plenty of mud to get dirty and it’s not yet cold enough to snow. The trees are changing colors and the leaves are beginning to fall, which makes for absolutely breath-taking scenery as you weave your way through dense forest and pencil-thin single track.

The Beauty of Winter

I wrote a blog around Christmas that details some of my favorite parts of Norway during the winter. While there are some downsides, such as the long, dark, cold nights there are also many upsides.

Norway is heaven for skiers and the long dark evenings actually make for great times to get together around a fire, chat, play games and appreciate the glistening snow. There are wonderful Christmas markets full of decorations, great food and handy-crafts. Most companies also hold a Julebord or company Christmas party which usually involves great food, plenty of drinking and tons of laughs. Norwegians truly love Christmas and they celebrate it well with everything from festive Christmas markets and tons of festivities. While winter here is indeed a long, cold, dark time of year, there is plenty to celebrate and it is a favorite time of year for many. All in all, winter in Norway is whatever you choose to make of it. So get out there, explore, have fun, learn something new and spend lots of quality time with friends and family.

The Simple Things

51łÔčÏÍű is different in a good way and it really is the simple things that are a true highlight. A great work-life balance, lots of vacation, a true focus on family and tons of nature to explore all make Norway a magical place. While many believe that making new friends in Norway can be difficult, that doesn’t have to be the case if you are open-minded and willing to try new things.

Norway is much more than just a beautiful (and expensive) destination for travelers. It is a place where the simple things are appreciated, relationships are highly valued and adventure is always just around the corner. So, whether you are visiting for the short-term or in it for the long-haul, there is much to learn, see and do. Life is a bit slower and more relaxed. So, without a doubt, one of my favorite things this year in Norway has been to savor the little things and appreciate life, culture, nature, activities and the warmth of new friendships and opportunities. It hasn’t always been easy, but life rarely is, so I hope that you get the chance to truly enjoy all that this magical place has to offer.

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A love letter to the Norwegian winter from an American living in Norway.

When I first arrived in Norway, I was pretty concerned about making sure that I wouldn’t freeze to death.

I had arrived straight off a humanitarian trip in Africa and Southeast Asia with nothing but a backpack, tent, and limited amount of warm clothes.

Rather than heading back to the USA, I had decided to come here and spend the holidays with my girlfriend and her family. Long story short, I never left.

I absolutely LOVE winter in Norway, and that’s not because it’s always warm and cozy. Like many folks, I bundle up and bike about 9 km (5.5 miles) each way to and from work. It’s dark and cold when I leave and dark and cold when I get back home. That doesn’t bother me.

Snow

Here’s why: I know that when the snow comes it means skiing, cabin time, snowboarding, Christmas festivities, time with family/friends, and the true raw beauty of Norway greeting me every day.

Honestly, it’s not nearly as dark as I had imagined because everything is covered in snow which glistens in the light. Winters here are hard but well worth it if you are willing to make the most of it. Learn to ski, make some friends, pass the aquavit and don’t forget to get in plenty of exercise to keep you sane.

Bottom line: if you can learn to appreciate the harsh and cold winters of Norway, you are guaranteed to be rewarded with incredible scenery and amazing memories
 but you can’t achieve any of that from indoors. So, bundle up, get out, get moving, stay positive and appreciate the amazing beauty of this wonderful country.

Christmas in Norway

The Norwegians love Christmas time. Seriously. The season is rich with traditions, good food (Kransekake), funny looking barn Santas of some sort (Julenisse), funny stories (Snekker Andersen), great songs (PÄ lÄven sitter nissen) and so many other hilarious things.

A proper Norwegian Jul is unlike anything else in this world. I’ve had Christmas on 4 continents over the years with many different types of folks and I have never seen people so in love with the holidays. At some point in your life, you simply must experience it to understand.

Head to the cabin, surround yourself with friends, ski, eat lutefisk, drink lots of Akavit, tell Christmas stories, eat until you’re ready to burst, and repeat for about a week straight. You’ll understand 😉

As an added bonus, my girlfriend has this crazy tradition of jumping in the river on Christmas Eve. She usually has to break some ice away with an axe first. Last year, it was -18C. Guess who gets to join her… yaaay.

Christmas markets

Europe in general has amazing Christmas markets and Norway is no exception. There is wonderful spiced wine (Glþgg), baked treats, handmade crafts and other gifts. It’s a really great place to enjoy an evening with family or friends.

There’s also plenty of Christmas music to make it a nice festive scene. If you’re in Norway around the holidays, definitely do not miss the chance to check out some of the amazing Christmas markets in Norway.

Northern lights

One of the most amazing things I have ever seen was a northern lights show in Trondheim earlier this year. I was literally breathless. I stood there like a happy 5yr old jumping up and down and yelling quietly to myself about how amazing it was as I watched the green/blue/purple/pink display literally dance across the sky.

It was as if someone was playing beautiful music and the lights were just dancing to the beat. They would show up in one place, dance across the sky, disappear, and immediately show up again somewhere else.

Like most people, I have always wanted to see a proper nordlys. I had seen a few of them before, just slightly visible and yet still amazing, but this time was different.

If you ever get the chance to witness something like this, I promise it is a scene that will never leave you and will bring you joy deep into the core of your being every time you think about it.

Read more: Northern lights travel guide

Fishing

That’s right, fishing
 in the winter. Yes it’s cold but it sure pays off. Fishing in the Norwegian fjords is generally a pretty lucrative endeavor anytime of the year. However, in the winter, when there is less natural food available and there are fewer competitors out fishing, you can really get lucky.

Last year we caught this beauty, which was probably about 8 kilos. So, if you’re into fishing, the Norwegian fjords offer amazing opportunities at this time of year if you don’t mind braving the cold.

Winter sports in Norway

I mentioned snow earlier but I just couldn’t manage to fit how much amazing the skiing and snowboarding here are in winter.

If there’s anyone who knows how to handle cold and snow, it’s these folks, the inventors of modern skiing. In fact, the word “ski” comes from the Old Norse word “skíð”, which means split piece of firewood.

Cross country: The original love. Part recreation, part transportation, it is said that the Norwegians are born with skis on their feet. I find this to be a verifiable fact. As an American, I am not so lucky. In fact, I spent my first year here learning to ski and I looked like “Bambi on ice” as my girlfriend called it. It was embarrassing, to be honest.

To most Norwegians, seeing someone who doesn’t know how to ski is almost like watching a grown adult walk for the first time. Seriously embarrassing.

But, I kept with it, swallowed my pride, and learned quickly (after many faces full of snow). I love skiing and just bought a pair of XC skis so I’m in it for the long run. Updates to follow.

Alpine Skiing: Similar to XC skiing, I picked this hobby up this year. I had never downhill skied before and the first mountain that my girlfriend took me up was this monster, Kirketaket in Romsdal.

I was using her father’s mountain skis which didn’t fit properly. It was a struggle getting up and by the time I reached the bottom, I honestly don’t think I have ever been angrier in my life.

I got over it and continued to do it 6 more times wearing her grandmother’s XC skis with skins on the bottom and then snowboard down but it was a rough start. However, the views are absolutely worth it.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have proper gear. You can make it up/down a mountain on just about anything…but it’s not going to be easy.

Snowboarding: Luckily, I was not a newbie at snowboarding. However, there is one drawback: lifts are few and far between in Norway, meaning that you’re often resorting to some kind of split-board or ski up, board down combo as mentioned above.

There are some lifts but the passes are pretty expensive. As far as snowboarding goes, it is a lot of fun, but honestly not terribly different than most other places
 at least from my limited experience here. Nonetheless, great snow and plenty of steep hills make for tons of fun on powder days.

The winter darkness

I know what you’re thinking “that’s a bit of a stretch, why would anyone like the darkness?!” well, here’s why: I’m a bit of an optimist and I like to see the bright side in even the darkest situations.

All kidding aside, the many dark months will only beat you up if you allow them too. Instead, I prefer to focus on the upsides: cocoa, movie nights, games with friends, plenty of time to work on the house and decorate for the holidays, great for sleeping, and the snow really glistens beneath the streetlights (or under the sun when it’s around).

Plus, the cabins scattered throughout the forests give off a warm glow and remind you that there is a fire and something warm to drink when you finish skiing. Long dark days make hearty characters. It takes a very resilient person to thrive in this type of conditions and Norway is full of them.

Rather than complaining about bad weather and cold and ice like many of my American friends when it gets really cold, the Norwegians seem to know that the only way to make it through is to bite your lip, appreciate the best of the situation and get outdoors to enjoy the little bit of sunlight while it lasts.

Quality time

Winters in Norway are a perfect time to gather together with family and friends and truly appreciate the meaning of koselig. Turn away from the distractions, enjoy each other’s company and have a cup of cocoa.

Read more: Winter in Norway

The truth is that whether or not you ski or even enjoy winter at all, this time of year is perfect for focusing on what matters most: quality time with loved ones.

So, no matter how you choose to spend your winter in Norway, be sure to spend it with the ones you love.

The post 8 Reasons to Love Winter in Norway appeared first on 51łÔčÏÍű.

A personal tale of the Norwegian job hunt. An American expat seeks–and finds–a job in Trondheim, Norway.

When I arrived in Trondheim four months ago, I knew that it would be difficult to find work, but I had no idea how difficult.

I hit many failures initially but I quickly learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to maximize time and effort to get interviews.

First, a few hard facts:

• Trondheim is a small city with about 170,000 residents
• It is the definition of a networker city, where meeting people is key to finding employment
• Norwegian is the business language
• A high percentage of the population is very well educated
• They speak a different dialect of Norwegian
• A Master’s degree is almost the standard of education here
• The cost of living is very high

As a U.S. citizen I only had a maximum of six months on my job-seeker visa to receive a full-time offer of employment as a skilled worker, according to the Immigration office UDI. So, there is only one choice: hit the ground running, never stop, and never give up.

Networking in person

When I arrived, I immediately started seeking opportunities to begin networking, volunteering, and searching for open positions. In my first week, I met with at DIGS café. David is a freelance journalist and British expat who has received numerous journalism awards here in Norway.

Read more: Living in Trondheim

He gave me some work writing for a couple of blog sites, which I eagerly took. This site, 51łÔčÏÍű, which focuses on the experiences of other expats throughout Norway, and also for , which is a major annual technology conference held in Trondheim.

As an expat, writing blogs is a good way to set yourself apart from the crowd and start building a name for yourself.

I also met a handful of other great people at DIGS and quickly learned that it is a must-visit for anyone new to Trondheim and seeking work.

One of these amazing resources at DIGS was Ingrid Fabrello, who ran a program designed to help expats find work. Ingrid has since authored a book together with David, called How to Find a Job in Norway.

Three top tips

In just one hour, Ingrid gave me three of the most important pieces of information that I learned about job searching in Trondheim:

1. Trondheim is a networker city and you must get to know people here if you hope to find a job.

2. You must apply in person. Searching through Finn is fine for locals with relevant networks and local experience, but it will not be nearly as useful for expats.

You must meet people and let them get to know you. Dress nicely, bring rĂ©sumĂ© copies, and begin conversation in whatever limited Norwegian you know. Norwegians, like most people, are much more likely to help someone who is willing to help themselves. There is technique to this, which Ingrid teaches in her classes.

3. Always be early. Show up 5 minutes early to any meeting
 no more and no less.

The Norwegians are notoriously time-conscious and showing up even a minute after a scheduled meeting is enough reason for the entire interview to be canceled. Never be late in Norway. Never.

DIGS also provides a variety of other entrepreneurship activities, networking opportunities, seminars, meeting events, and other great chances to meet people and learn about open positions.

Learn to adapt your strategy

With limited time to find a job, you must adapt quickly and work extremely hard every day. You honestly must give 100% effort to every opportunity; especially since everyone seems to know everyone else in this city.

Once I realized that Finn.no was not my best chance at getting interviews, I began to do my research and visit the companies in person.

Usually, I would find open positions that seemed relevant on Finn, then come up with a small list of questions, go in person to the office, introduce myself, ask questions, hand them my résumé, and hope that they would remember me in a positive manner when it came time to make decisions for the interviews.

I also searched at companies that did not have availability. I met with as many people in as many places as I possibly could manage. Any company that seemed like a place I would like to work, I added it to a list.

I marked notes about the company, answered the 5 W’s, and then wrote down my strengths and weaknesses as a potential candidate.

Nothing is worse than going in person and staring blankly when an HR manager asks what you know about the company. You must do your homework.

Usually, my only major weakness was that I did not speak fluent Norwegian, as described in the job description.

However, I tried anyway and mentioned that I spoke only Norwegian at home with my girlfriend, that I was attending classes, and that I was a quick learner who would hopefully master the basics of the language soon.

By showing drive and initiative, I already set myself apart from applicants who were applying only online. It was absolutely essential to be innovative, hard-working, flexible, and to research the companies before visiting in person.

This work was incredibly time-consuming and being faced with replies such as “sorry, the position has been filled” or “sorry, you are not what we are looking for”, time after time after time was very difficult and frustrating.

I’m not going to lie, it made me really scared about being here and nervous about the future. But, as Tomas Edison said while inventing the lightbulb, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work”.

Persistence is key and you must continuously improve from the feedback that you receive.

Volunteer often

One of the best ways to get to know people and to show that you are really invested in being here is to volunteer.

Nothing shows that you would make a quality team-member more than volunteering to help others. The best contacts that I have made in Trondheim, I made as the result of volunteering.

I like this city and I want to be a part of serving others while also practicing my Norwegian and meeting new people; so, I found great projects to volunteer for here.

Three of the biggest were Gi Bort Dagen, Kosmorama International Film Festival, and TEDx.

Attend meetups

Another thing that I would highly recommend is joining Meetup.com and attending whatever groups interest you. Most of the events are in English and they are a great opportunity to meet industry professionals or fellow expats.

Some events will be completely in Norwegian but it’s still a good opportunity to meet people and practice speaking the language.

Learn Norwegian

Practice your Norwegian as much and as often as possible. There is a Norwegian course every Thursday at 1pm at the Trondheim Bibliotek, which is a great way to meet people and practice Norwegian.

I also rented children’s books, which is a great way to learn. In addition, they also have a wide variety of Norwegian language classes available in book and CD format.

Speaking as much Norwegian as possible and trying to speak with strangers at coffee shops or stores is also good practice.

I know that it may seem awkward at first; but trust me, if you are open and polite, Norwegians are extremely open and friendly in return.

Visit the staffing agencies

Try to set appointments with Adecco, Manpower, Experis, HeadVisor, etc. Admittedly, these were of limited help to me, with the exception of Manpower and Experis, but it certainly does not hurt to try.

Again, much like visiting the companies in person, it can be a good idea to come up with a few questions about one of their postings and then walk in to ask some questions.

They will definitely look you up in their system, so be sure that your profile is updated and well written.

Create a Norwegian CV & cover letter

Quite basically, Norwegian CVs are different from in the USA, the UK, or many other places.

Speak with a professional if possible about what these should look like and try to look up some examples on the web. Also, when applying, DON’T FORGET THE COVER LETTER!

A rĂ©sumĂ© without a custom cover letter for exactly that specific position will get your CV deleted almost immediately.

If you can’t take the time to write a cover letter explaining why you are the perfect candidate for the job, you can imagine that an employer will be unlikely to give you their time of day.

Have your documents in order

All employers will want to see copies of your transcripts and references. will expect the original copy of your diploma, resumes, CV, proof of health insurance, and a wide variety of other information that you must ensure you have in order before receiving a visa.

Dress nicely

Trondheim is a small city and it is common to bump into people you know. Many times, I have been invited to a coffee chat on short notice.

By always representing a clean, neat appearance, I made it much easier for people to recommend me to their friends or partners.

During one such meeting, I received some great insight from an employer: “Even though we are just grabbing coffee, I am always thinking to myself: “Can I imagine him sitting in one of my chairs at the office?” If the answer is yes, I am much more likely to refer you.”

Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a very useful tool if you use it properly. Create a good profile, add a nice photo, and provide links and information about yourself and your projects.

Make it personalized. Then, start adding contacts. The more contacts you have, the more likely people are to add you because you may be of use to their network.

As an added note, people with the yellow LinkedIn symbol on their profile are called “open networkers” and commonly accept most requests.

These are good people to know because they generally have very large networks. I was able to schedule many coffee chats, practice interviews, and meetings through LinkedIn and eventually landed a job as a direct result.

Go the extra mile

To say that it is difficult to find full-time skilled employment in Norway would be an understatement. This was by far the most difficult job search I have ever been through.

Before landing a job, I met with two US Presidents, was featured in the local Adressa newspaper, spoke at a recruiting event, volunteered countless hours, and submitted more than 50 well-written applications.

I’m not writing that to brag; I’m writing it because that is what it took before I got my first interview. It is very difficult but the payoff is absolutely worth it.

Conclusion

Trondheim is a networker city and you must meet people in order to get a job. If you are here on a job seeker visa for a limited time, this becomes especially critical.

Work hard, learn quickly, attend events, practice your Norwegian, meet people, apply in person, write well-tailored CVs and Cover Letters, visit DIGS, volunteer as much as possible and NEVER GIVE UP!

If you are an expat looking for work in Trondheim and you have done all of these things, feel free to look me up and we can discuss your job search strategy as well as available resources over coffee.

I’ve been there too and I know how difficult and stressful the process can be.

Lykke til!

The post How I Found a Job in Trondheim appeared first on 51łÔčÏÍű.

Having just spent the last 2 weeks in the United States, I’ve had a lot of time to ask myself whether Trondheim is really where I want to live.

Needless to say, it’s a huge commitment to move halfway across the world. In the USA, I have my family, incredible job offers, a truck to drive, a garage full of bikes and hiking gear, an incredible professional network, and access to tons of cheap and easy shopping. Yet, life in the States often feels lacking of balance and simplicity.

It's the perfect size city

In a world with so many options of where to live, it’s difficult to find your “just right” or your “happy place”. For me, Trondheim is the perfect fit.

It is not a huge city like New York or Chicago, where you are surrounded by towering skyscrapers and all you can hear are police sirens and the honking of car horns; nor is it located in the remote middle of nowhere. It’s not hard to meet people or find something to do on Saturday night and yet the streets are never so crowded that you’re bumping into people.

With a population of just over 172,000, the city center offers something for everyone yet remains serene and peaceful without being overcrowded. Inside the center is a plethora of great restaurants, pubs, and a wide array of shopping centers for everything you need. The prices are often far above average, but then again, so are the salaries.

You’re surrounded by nature

Just a short drive away you can find mountains, fjords, cross country skiing, and plenty of things to do. The Norwegians have a saying “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes”, which perfectly represents their attitude towards taking advantage of the beauty all around them. The Norwegian culture is notorious for making the best out of any situation and for always finding a reason to be outside.

Here in Trondheim, where there are snowcapped mountains and beautiful views of the fjord almost everywhere you look, it’s easy to get lost in nature even on your way to work. Even just yesterday, while biking into the city center, I pulled my bike over on the side of the bridge to take photos of Nidaros Cathedral and the icy river below. I certainly can’t remember the last time that I did that in New York or Los Angeles.

There are so many outgoing people

Although I am new to Trondheim, I have had nothing but great experiences with the people here. Although a little more reserved, they are certainly no less friendly than any other people I’ve met during my travels to over 45 countries. Want to open a conversation with a Norwegian? Simply mention skiing and you’ll be chatting for hours.

As an immigrant, I have been treated with the upmost respect and have found that many successful business leaders have gone out of their way to introduce me into their networks and to provide job leads. Whether in the mountains at the cabin or in the local bibliotek where I take norskkurs weekly, the people are always warm, friendly, and helpful. To really connect with Norwegians, it is helpful to have a solid understanding of what drives them and what sets them apart culturally.

There is a great tech sector

Trondheim is home to NTNU and HiST, two of the most prominent technological universities in Scandinavia. In addition, there is a quickly growing entrepreneurship scene, which is most definitely noted by anyone who has ever grabbed a coffee at DIGS cafĂ©. TrĂžnders are very quick to learn technical skills and are often some of the first to create high-tech solutions to some of the world’s trickiest problems. Read more about .

Live where the Vikings lived

The city was actually founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in AD 997. Trondheim was the nation's first capital under Olav and remained so until 1217. Olav’s statue can still be found in the city center. Nidaros cathedral, in the center of town, was Northern Europe’s most important pilgrimage site during the Middle-Ages and still serves today as an amazing example of Gothic architecture.

The city also has a fortress located atop one of its largest hills. Kristiansten Fortress was built in the 1680s to provide protection from rival neighbors, including Swedish forces. Who doesn't want to live in a place with such unique history?

So many opportunities to be involved in the community

In just two months here I have already found countless ways to be involved in the community, including: Volunteering for Gi Bort Dagen and Kosmorama and most recently earning a position on TEDx Trondheim’s marketing team. It makes sense that a city with such a high student population would have many volunteer opportunities (1 in 6 inhabitants are students)

But even outside of the college campuses, you will find business and industry leaders of all ages working alongside one another at a wide variety of events. Community is an important part of Norwegian culture and nowhere is this more apparent than in Trondheim.

A slower pace of life

Admittedly, since I have not yet found full-time employment, I may be wrong about this. However, life feels less hectic and hurried. In the States, I was constantly running from one event to the next and checking emails while eating on the run.

It was also common to spend 2 hours in traffic during rush hour on my way to and from work in Los Angeles or to be packed like a sardine into the metro in New York City as people struggled against one another in the race against time to get to work. In Trondheim, biking or jogging to work is common and you don’t have to be worried about dodging your way through heavy traffic while you do it.

Here, it seems that outside of a very busy and focused 8-16 work schedule, people tend to slow down and relax more once the workday is over. It is very uncommon for people to answer work emails on the weekends or outside of working hours.

This allows for some breathing room between work life and non-work life; which I believe is something that we are slowly losing concept of in the United States as technology allows us to work from anywhere at any time. I believe that this balance greatly reduces stress and anxiety and allows people to concentrate more on what really matters in life.

The very strong family atmosphere

Last Sunday, my girlfriend and I went for a hike in the park as we always do and for the first time I realized that many families actually meet up and hike together throughout the day. In fact, it was uncommon to see a single family alone whereas most of them traveled in groups of three or more. The idea of a Sunday stroll is not exclusive to Norway but the togetherness, community, and focus on family activities is certainly stronger here than in many other places.

The family is the center of Norwegian life and this can be seen through the number of daycares dotted throughout the city and in the number of mothers out pushing their strollers on any given day. It is not so much that they work and then make time for family but that they are a family and they make time for work. Trondheim very much reminds me of the small town I grew up in and represents much of what I love most about small-town USA.

Very low crime rates and good education

Most people will consider crime rates and education at the top of their list when determining where to live. Norway is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world by the . Trondheim, in particular, is very safe and violent crime is extremely uncommon. Some minor crimes such as bike theft are relatively common but this can be prevented by locking your bike to one of the many bike parking stations located throughout the city. As for education, what’s not to love about some of the best education in the world, for FREE? The public school system is very good at all levels and the universities such as NTNU and HiST are some of the best in Northern Europe.

Janteloven: Everyone is equal

As opposed to the common view that I have heard of Norwegians being cold and unfriendly, I have found quite the opposite. Almost everyone I have met here in Trondheim has been kind, humble, and good-natured. Much of this can be attributed to what is called “janteloven”. In his 1933 book “A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks”, Aksel Sandemose outlines 10 basic laws about how people should view themselves in Scandinavian culture. In general, flaunting wealth, criticizing others, or think of yourself as better than anyone else is very much frowned upon.

The culture here is one of togetherness and humility; which is something that I very much admire about the people. The actual rules sound a bit harsh an extreme as they are written here which has led to the “anti-Janteloven”. The latter is very similar to the way we view ourselves in the United States which is good in moderation but can be dangerous and pretentious when taken to extremes. Which Janteloven do you like better?

It is quite clear that I very much enjoy the life, culture, and nature here in Trondheim and that I am very fond of the people and institutions. I hope that I will find a job here in the next 3 months so that I can stay and continue to experience more of TrĂžndersk culture. In the meantime, there will certainly be many more adventures, friendships, and new opportunities.

The post Why I Want to Live in Trondheim appeared first on 51łÔčÏÍű.

This week, I have continued to search for jobs, attend Norwegian language classes, work with recruiters, and attend networking events and conferences here in Trondheim in an effort to make myself a better candidate for job opportunities.

I have learned very quickly that Norway has one of the most competitive and technical job markets in the world.

More than just oil

Norway is known for being an oil-wealthy nation and rightly so but that does not mean that Norway relies only on its oil exports as the main source of revenue.

On the contrary, Norway (and Trondheim in particular) is one of the most technologically advanced and innovative societies in the world.

Far from the days of fish and seafood, potatoes, and a strong reliance on agriculture, Norway is now a world leader in many technological sectors.

In fact, Norway was ranked the #1 most prosperous country in the world for the sixth year in a row in 2014, according to the Legatum Institute’s .

Priority of education

In the US, education is highly valued and the name of your university carries almost as much weight as your actual degree field. In Norway, all schools are viewed as being relatively equal and grades are commonly the most important factor.

One of the biggest differences in Norwegian education is that students choose their intended career field very early on in life.

Grades are extremely important and you can only receive a Masters or PhD in something that directly relates to your previous education.

This in particular has been very difficult for me because I have a Bachelor’s in politics and international relations but wish to pursue a Masters in business.

In the US, most people tend to get a mixed background of education as they progress through life, often moving from social sciences to business or from engineering to law, for instance. It also leaves me in a difficult place in terms of job search.

I think there are upsides and downsides to both approaches. Few people truly understand what they want to do at a young age so flexibility in degree choice makes sense. However, it is very understandable that in order to pursue a higher degree you should have previous training in that field.

Regardless, Norway’s education system is world-renowned and the universities are especially good at teaching the math, science, engineering, technology, and business fields.

Never be late!

In my previous blog, I wrote about the importance of time management in US business culture; what I did not realize is that Norway prides itself on being one of the most punctual countries in the world.

I found this out the hard way yesterday when I was two minutes late for an informal resume help meeting. In a follow-up email after our conversation, the person wrote “Next time, we can also talk about the topic of how Norwegians view the topic of being punctual”.

When I asked my girlfriend, who is a HR coordinator, about this I was told very politely but very seriously:

“Norwegians pride ourselves on being on time. We are the second most punctual country in the world behind the Germans. We believe that if you are not on time, then you do not care”.

It was a lesson that I will never forget. In the US, we are very timely but being delayed a few minutes is never a very big deal. Needless to say, I will be at least 15 minutes early for any meeting or business function from now on.

Job security

In Norway, it is quite difficult for an employer to fire an employee after the initial three month trial period. It is also uncommon for employees to be fired for under performing.

Compared with the US, this is quite a novel concept. In the States, employees can be fired with almost zero notice, although two weeks is common notice.

Although there must be proper grounds for firing an employee, job security is a key topic that is always at the back of Americans’ minds. It does make many of us work much harder, but it is also extremely stressful, especially if you have a family to support.

Bridging the income inequality gap

Norway ranks #1 in the world for overall equality, according to the , Norway also has some of the lowest paid CEOs in the world, in comparison with fellow employees.

There is a much smaller gap between income classes in Norway and this translates into a much more overall feeling of equality. While not perfect, it's a similar story with gender equality.

Compared to the United States, which has some of the most striking income gaps in the world, this is a new concept for me. I believe it enhances feelings of fairness, equality, and respect.

A casual workplace

There are a lot of differences in the Norwegian office environment, some subtle, some more obvious. In Norway, attire is generally more casual and working relationships are a bit more informal than in the United States.

For instance, at my girlfriend’s company, she shares cake and soda with her coworkers and even the CEO on Fridays. In fact, the CEO sits at an open desk right next to her.

This is quite a big difference from my working experiences in the US where CEOs work in plush corner offices down long, beautiful hallways guarded by security officers while most employees work in tightly crammed cubicles several floors below.

Aside from banking and finance industries, casual attire is also common in most working environments.

Work-life balance

This is a key difference that sets Norway apart from the rest of the world. In the United States, we often feel like we live to work; in Norway, the approach is much more that people work in order to live.

At first glance, Norwegian working hours appear somewhat lax, as normal business hours start and finish promptly from 0800-1600.

In fact, you would be lucky to reach even a CEO after 1600. The truth of the matter, however, is that Norwegians are extremely efficient and task-oriented at work and when the working day ends, they are on to more important things such as family.

In Norway, family takes a huge priority even at work. It is not at all uncommon for someone to leave work 30 minutes early regularly in order to pick their kids up from school or take them to sports practice.

They also can use sick days to take care of children if needed. This is in stark contrast to business in the USA where you are expected to work your full day and find a sitter or nanny to take care of your children.

Sporting events, gym memberships, health classes, event discounts, leadership classes, and team building exercises are also commonplace and widely offered to employees.

Parental leave, Norway v USA

In the USA, there is no paid parental leave required by law. Mothers and fathers may each take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.

This often results in women who stay at work up until the baby is ready to be born and returning sometimes as soon as 1-2 weeks after giving birth.

The physical and emotional stress that this can put on families is absolutely enormous. In Norway, on the other hand, parents get up to 12 months paid leave for 49 weeks at 100% salary or 59 weeks at 80% salary (split between them but there are some requirements).

By law, the mother MUST take 9 weeks paid leave after the child is born and the father MUST take a total of 14 weeks paid leave before the child turns 3 years old.

Employers are generally very respectful of the parents’ choice in how to use the rest of the paid leave days.

To me, as an American, this is absolutely incredible that a country cares so much about the health and welfare of it citizens and children that such parental leave policies are in place. A standing round of applause for you, Norway.

Equality is essential

This is hands-down one of my favorite aspects of Norwegian culture. Norway is staunchly pro-equality and works very hard to promote fairness and general welfare in all aspects of life.

This week I attended a conference entitled “”, which means “where have all the women gone” in business roles.

The topic focused on women in leadership positions and equality in the workplace. Representatives and panelists included members from a variety of different business industries.

It focused on the leadership, innovation, quality of work, and spirit that women bring into the workplace.

It is good to see so much open and healthy discussion on the importance that people of all genders, races, beliefs, and backgrounds bring into the workplace.

Although Norway is a primarily heterogeneous culture and very proud of their background and traditions, the lifestyle and business culture here is very open and welcoming to all people which allows the country to be a melting pot for diversity, thought leadership, understanding, and values.

Volunteering for all

In Norway, volunteering is a key aspect of work life. Many organizations encourage employees to volunteer in their local communities and will often allow some paid time off for those who wish to participate.

Recently, I was introduced to one such idea that is put on here in Trondheim by Engasjert ByrĂ„. The idea is called , which roughly translates to “Give Away Day”.

This idea came about when Marianne Danielsen realized there was an extra day in her calendar. Now a yearly event, on this day (February 26 this year), companies and employees are encouraged to clean up their offices, work space, or other areas and donate any unneeded items to charity.

Volunteering in other services such as health, development, and children’s programs is also encouraged.

As an American, small things like this that show the massive support, respect, and caring nature that Norwegians share, has truly helped me to understand why Norway is one of the happiest countries in the world, as ranked by the Human Development Index.

Summer time off

In Norway, employers are required by law to offer 25 paid vacation days per year, plus public holidays. Compare this to the incredible 0 (yes, that’s correct, ZERO) paid vacation days required by law in the USA. In the US, 15 paid vacation days is the average given to employees.

So, no wonder that when the ice begins to melt and the sun comes out again to play, the Norwegians commonly take off about 4 weeks in the summer.

During this time, business slows to a crawl and people will rarely even check their work emails. It is expected that in the summer, you enjoy time with friends, family, and nature.

Stark contrasts

There are some very stark contrasts between US and Norwegian business culture, primarily in income equality, holiday leave, job security, and work-life balance.

While many of the advantages which Norway provides to employees are becoming more common in the USA, especially in leading companies like Google, there is still much catching-up to do. It is no wonder that Norway is ranked as the world’s happiest country.

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On one of our first dates, we went for a camping trip in the Sierra mountains. She said she liked to hike so I figured she would be good company and could probably keep up. Not only did she hike as fast as I did, but she also woke up in the morning to swim in frozen lakes. I knew at that moment that I was in for one heck of an experience.

In August 2013, I came to visit her family in Norway for the first time. When I first arrived, she pulled up a YouTube video and told me “Welcome to Norway, after watching this, you know pretty much everything you need to know about Norway”.

Which of course, was a joke, but even now when I watch it I have to admit it does a pretty good job of covering the basics. We spent 2 months hiking through the mountains and fjords together and visiting Stavanger, Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim, and Lofoten and it was probably the most beautiful summer of my whole life.

I will rewind to some of the other details of our adventures together at another time, but for now, fast forward to the present: after a yearlong trip around the world, I finally returned to Norway just in time to spend Christmas with her and her family.

Learning to ski

This winter, she started teaching me to learn how to cross-country ski. This is a unique experience because as the video says, “Norwegians are born with skis on their feet”.

Norwegians are some of the best skiiers in the world; and seeing me out there trying to learn how to turn on the downhill and make it through deep powder snow in the forest must have been quite a sight to anyone watching. As she likes to tell me “awwwww, you look like Bambi on ice”.

Nevertheless, I learned quickly and we were doing 20-25km trips within less than a week. While skiing may not be a natural ability for everyone like it is for the Norwegians, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite activities.

New culture, new flavours

In between ski trips, we enjoyed drinks and food by the fire at her family’s cabin. The “cabin culture” is another thing that I have come to love and appreciate about Norwegians. Whereas many Americans catch up on the TV shows they missed and on important work emails, Norwegians seem to understand a proper work-life balance much better.

The evenings were spent around the fireplace, playing games and sharing stories. Neighbors from other cabins would drop by to say hello and share a few glasses of Jul-Ăžl (the traditional Christmas beer) or Akevitt (the Nordic national liquor, which is approximately 40%ABV and usually has spices of anise or dill). The myth is that Akevitt helps burn off the fatty meals.

I also got to try some very traditional Norwegian meals, including lutefisk, grÞt, and rakfisk. The last of which happens to be a raw and fermented fish dish served cold. Pictured here is a traditional Norwegian tower cake, called Kransekake, along with a bottle of Akevitt.

Norwegian practice

There were also plenty of other festivities in between skiing and eating at the cabin. One in particular was quite funny. Since I am trying to learn fluent Norwegian, my girlfriend printed Norwegian Christmas stories and traditions for me to read aloud for practice. These included:

• , a story about a carpenter who switches places with Santa
• , a story about a barn Elf who won’t share his porridge with the rats

This is my first blog for 51łÔčÏÍű, so I would like to keep it relatively short and to the point. Norway reminds me of what the United States used to be like in a lot of ways and what I wish the US was still like. I love the nature, the culture, the people, and even the food.

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 and I look forward to writing more about it soon. I hope you will share this with friends, follow, and subscribe for updates.

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