Work culture in Norway

This page offers guidance regarding Norwegian culture and searching for a job as an international student in Norway.

Do I have to learn Norwegian to work in Norway?

It depends on your job/career goals. If your plan is to have a part time job during your studies, some Norwegian skills would certainly help but they may not be required. Part-time positions in restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, tourism, etc., may view English as sufficient.

Some positions, such as receptionists, may require a Norwegian education or certification. Therefore, it is advisable to check the job requirements carefully before applying.

However, if you hope to work in Norway after completing a degree programme, Norwegian competence is much more important. Most Norwegian employers expect their employees to be able communicate in Norwegian. Only a minority of Norwegian employers consider English to be sufficient as a working language.

What is the Norwegian culture at work?

One Norwegian cultural value is objectivity. In the Norwegian workforce, the value of objectivity translates to this: the person with the highest qualifications is supposed to get the job, period. Hiring may therefore be based mostly on the experience on your CV. It is important, therefore, to create a focused CV, narrowed down to include only the most relevant qualifications. Try to succinctly convince the employer that you have more experience for the job than anyone else!

Understanding cultural context is also vital for the interview process. Expectations for candidate behavior may be different in Norway compared to other countries. While it is necessary to promote your skills, Norwegians’ style of self-representation tends to be low-key. Enthusiastically proclaiming your talents may be perceived negatively.

However, employers are looking for candidates who are genuinely interested in the job and the organization, and who can demonstrate their initiative and problem-solving skills.

You should also be very punctual and respectful of the time of the interviewer, as in Norwegian culture, 6 o’clock is 6 o’clock.

Work-life balance in Norway

In Norway, people work to live, not the other way around. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a big deal here, and the laws reflect that. Employees are well protected to make sure they don’t burn out – and that they have plenty of time for friends, family, and enjoying life outside the office.

The standard workweek is 37.5 hours, and you're not allowed to work more than 13 hours in a 24-hour period (including overtime). That means you get at least 11 hours off every day! Many workplaces also offer "flexitime," which means that your working hours can be flexible. As long as you’re at work during the core hours and get your job done, you can usually adjust your start and end times. Over time, your total hours just need to average out – often over the course of a year. So don’t be surprised if your colleagues head out early to pick up their kids from kindergarten! Just a heads-up: after 4 PM reaching someone who works in an office might be close to impossible.

When it comes to holidays, Norwegian employees are entitled to 25 paid vacation days a year by law. Since Saturdays count as working days, this normally means four weeks and one day of holiday, but some employees, mostly in the public sector, have five weeks. And yes, it’s totally normal to take three or even four weeks off straight in July. During this time, the whole country seems to slow down – or shut down altogether.

What is Janteloven?

“Janteloven” (The Law of Jante) is still very much a part of Norwegian culture and dictates that individuals shouldn’t think too much of themselves, especially compared to the importance of the group/society at large. To ensure that you don't appear to be boastful in your interview, it may be helpful to do a practice-interview with a Norwegian that you trust, who will be honest on how you are perceived from a Norwegian perspective.