Working in Norway

The beautiful and fascinating nature of Norway attracts not only countless holidaymakers, but also people who want to live and work there. And, as an EU citizen, putting this into practice is generally straightforward. The only requirement for a residence permit in Norway is permanent employment. We explain what it is like to work in Norway and how to find a job there.

A full-time workweek in Norway is 40 hours, but with collective agreements sometimes stipulating 37.5 hours. However, the average weekly working time in Norway is only 34 hours. This is because a good work-life balance is considered important in Norway and many people only work part-time.

In Norway, you will have 25 paid days of holiday per year. There are also 12 public holidays. In addition, employees over the age of 60 receive an additional six days of holiday per year. Originally, holiday days were calculated on the basis of a 6-day week. However, this is no longer common or rarely the case.  You can also look forward to holiday pay in Norway, which is even regulated by law and is usually paid out in June. In Norway, you will also receive up to 16 paid consecutive sick days, for which you will receive your full salary. If you are ill for a longer period of time, social security will step in. In this case, however, only a certain percentage of your wages will continue to be paid.

The statutory regulations for notice periods are similar to those in Germany. The notice period is extended depending on the length of service. During the probationary period, it is 14 days, and four weeks for less than five years of service. You can have a maximum notice period of six months if you have worked in a company for more than ten years. In Norway, too, the probationary period may not be longer than six months.

The work culture in Norway is generally characterised by teamwork, flat hierarchies and open communication.

As an EU citizen, you can work in Norway relatively easily. All you have to do is apply for a residence permit after three months at the latest, which you will usually be granted without any problems. Once you have your residence permit, you can apply for everything else such as personal number, income tax card, etc.

For your job application in Norway it is usually not necessary to be able to speak Norwegian. Almost all Norwegians speak English very well, so you can also submit your application in English. For living in Norway, however, you should seriously consider learning Norwegian.

In a European comparison, employees in Norway are some of the best paid. However, this is also offset by very high living costs. The average wage is about 61,000 euros gross per year. The strenuous and demanding work on oil rigs is one of the best-paid jobs. Other sectors where you will earn the most are mining, the finance and insurance industry, as well as the energy sector in general. Norway is one of the few countries in Europe where there is no minimum wage.

You might well find that Norway does not offer as many job opportunities as you would be used to in Germany. For this reason, you could also consider taking a remote job in another country. However, you should keep your salary in mind, as wages in Norway are significantly higher than in other countries due to the high cost of living.

In Norway, applicants are particularly in demand in the following industries:

• Health service
• Trades, mechanical engineering & car mechanics
• Fishing industry
• Oil production & energy industry
• Distribution & retail
• IT industry

So, you now want to start looking for a job? You can already get started online in Germany on these popular job portals:

• finn.no
• Glassdoor
• LinkedIn
• nav.no

Have you found a suitable job? Then you can get started on your application. It is normally possible to submit applications in English. However, make sure that your application is error-free and if possible have it proofread again by a native speaker. For your job application in Norway you will need the following documents:

Just like in Germany, you will need to enclose a cover letter with your Norwegian application. This should not be longer than one page. Ideally, you will use this to stand out from the crowd, so avoid simply repeating your CV. Perhaps you can point out a few milestones in your career so far.

Your CV should also be no longer than one page. You should not include a photo, as this is not common in Norway. However, it is common and welcomed for you to state personal interests in your CV. You can score points here and stand out from the crowd. Testimonials are particularly important. While you can also submit employment reference letters, employers in Norway always want applicants to list two to three former employers, with contact details, as references. However, you must also expect that potential Norwegian employers will indeed contact these people. Also, be sure to indicate if you have a driver’s licence. This is also very welcomed and often important in Norway.

You may not have to submit credentials and certificates directly in the first step. In some cases, you will also have to present them at the interview (jobbintervju). Read the job advertisement carefully to make sure you know what is required of you. You should have your credentials and certificates translated – into either Norwegian or English. Also, you should also re-order your grades, since in Norway a six is the best grade and a one is the worst.