Start learning Danish
My first tip for getting an English speaking job would be to definitely begin learning Danish. Even if you are nowhere near close to being fluent, it is still an asset to your CV and to you as a person if you can say that you are making the effort to learn. This will be especially welcomed by employers if the company you are applying to has primarily Danish employees. You will be able to be fully involved in day-to-day happenings and contribute to the social atmosphere. As an international student or employee in Denmark you are entitled to receive free Danish lessons so there are no excuses!
Get a Danish qualification
Another tip would be to try and get some kind of qualification from a Danish institution. This is not essential, but Danes like to see that you have been educated here. If you are planning on living in Denmark for a long time and you already have a Bachelor’s degree, then consider doing a Masters. Most Danes go on to do a master’s degree, so having one will put you in a great position to compete against your peers in the job market. If this is not for you, then many of the smaller institutions also offer diplomas in a variety of subjects. A lot of education programmes are also free of charge, just make sure to do some research on the websites of the institutions first.
Look in unexpected places
Keep your eyes peeled for job postings outside of job vacancy posting websites. I found my current job through a flyer on a noticeboard at my university - the job was not advertised elsewhere. Check noticeboards at your school, if you go to one, and maybe in other locations with noticeboards like supermarkets if you’re not a student.
Also be sure to get a LinkedIn profile as many jobs are advertised there. When I was searching for jobs I used LinkedIn to set up a job alert for ‘English job’ followed by my location. Lots of different jobs at a variety of levels popped up and I still get emails frequently that alert me when new jobs have been posted. Make sure to connect with everyone you know on LinkedIn as they could have a job prospect for you and refer you via the site.
Also keep an eye out on Facebook for networking events; I recently saw one pop up on my newsfeed which was called ‘Kick-starting your career as an international in Denmark’. These types of events happen frequently so they are a great opportunity to network and meet potential employers. Also, find out if there is a Facebook group for internationals in your city as there’s a chance that fellow expats might post job vacancies there.
Review your CV
Keep your CV brief. When I was about to send my application for my current job, I had a Danish friend look over my CV and cover letter and they told me I had to cut it down. There was just too much information.
I ended up cutting my CV down to almost just a list of my educational institutions with achieved qualifications and a list of my work experience with the relevant job titles. I left out lengthy descriptions, and instead just bullet pointed things I was responsible for at work, relevant modules, and classes I had taken during my education. I then went on to expand on these in my cover letter and related them to the job I was applying to. It is a custom in Denmark, unlike in England, to add a photograph of yourself on your CV. If you’re comfortable doing this, it could make a big difference.
Also be sure to really emphasise and highlight all the great things you’ve achieved and done in your cover letter. After all, if you are up against a Danish candidate, there is a high chance the company will be more inclined to choose the Dane, especially if it’s a Danish company. As a result you have to keep asking yourself, what is it that I have that this company needs? What is it that sets me apart from my Danish counterpart? However, be careful of coming across as arrogant as Danes have a mentality or a concept called ‘Janteloven’, which can be loosely translated into ‘one must not believe that they are more special than anyone else’. So, sell yourself while being careful to not become cocky as this could harm your chances.
Search outside your local area
Don’t be put off if a job is a fair distance away from where you are living. The Danish government is kind enough to allow you to claim back your travel expenses against your tax at the end of the year, if you live more than 12km away from your workplace. Therefore, don’t restrict your search to your local area purely because you are concerned about the cost of travel.
Get hired
Once you've mastered the art of the Danish language, obtained your Danish qualification, looked in unexpected places, reviewed your CV, and have searched outside your local area, there’s little chance a Danish company wouldn’t want to hire you!