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:: Hot Topics |
Working
in Norway:
Employment Resources Part 2
Finding Work
Non-EEA nationals will need to consult their national advisory bureau
for the correct information concerning work and residence permits in Norway.
Contact the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration at +4723351600 for information.
The Norwegian Employment Office is also a good resource; call them toll-free
at 800 33 166, or go to their website.
As an EEA national, EURES (the European Employment Services, which play a key role in the Norwegian Employment Services) is your best advisory bureau. Prior to coming to Norway, it is advisable to contact your nearest Euroadviser linked to your local Employment Office.
There are also many private job-seeking organizations in Norway, such as Manpower, KellyÕs, N¿kkel Personnel, Adecco, and Top Service. Look in the local Yellow Pages catalog under Vikarbryå (Temporary Staff Recruitment). In fact, the Norwegian Employment Office often recommends that you start with private companies, and then seek their help; they have job placement and retraining programs that may be useful.
Higher-level head hunters in Norway often use professional networks and some well-hidden agencies, which new jobseekers may find difficult to access.
Qualifications for Work
You may also encounter problems using your home country qualifications to help you find a job. Many well-qualified foreign professionals seeking work in Norway have found it necessary to learn Norwegian, and/or undergo a rigorous re-training/re-qualification period in their chosen profession. This can last up to two years, especially for health professionals.
Although nearly everyone in the country speaks English, learning Norwegian is a prerequisite for most work. There are two national languages: Nynorsk, the older language, and Bokmål, the more modern and widely spoken. If you have your work permits in order, you will be entitled to 850 hours of free Norwegian language instruction.
If you seek work that requires proficiency in Norwegian, you will have to pass one of three different tests: The Bergens Test; Level 3 (Nivå 3); or Vidergåendeskole. The latter is the most comprehensive, difficult and of the longest duration (up to three years). You can approach the state employment office (Arbeidskontoret or Aetat depending on your area) to seek guidance on enrollment on such courses. Excluding some specialists, most job-seekers donÕt need to register with the employment office until they have learned Norwegian.
General information on the approval of higher-level qualifications can be obtained from the National Academic Information Centre (NAIC in Oslo, tel: 4722858860) or the Education Board (StatensUtdanningskontoret) in each country.
Useful Sources of Information
Aetat Employement Office website
or tel: 815 59 800/800 33 166
Manpower website
or tel +47 51858470
The Directorate of Immigration website
Stavanger Partners Information Network website
About Louise Rankin
Louise Rankin has provided consulting and training communication services
to international business executives for over twenty years. She works with
almost every major international oil business in Stavanger (the oil capital
of Norway) through her company, Communication Skills Consultancy.
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