Alternative paths to getting a job
You can arrange several job-oriented activities with the job centre. These activities present an excellent opportunity to show a potential employer your potential before they hire you.
You have a lot of opportunities to strengthen your skills and gain a foothold in the job market. Job-oriented activities where you get out into a workplace are effective shortcuts to jobs. You arrange the activities with your job centre.
You can apply for a company internship from your first day of unemployment. If you are a single parent (forsørger) or over 50 years old, you can also make use of employment with a wage subsidy (job med løntilskud) and job rotation from day one of your unemployment.
If you have been unemployed for at least a year, you may also apply to the state, region or municipality for an introductory position – read more about this option below.
Plan ahead and be prepared
Having a strategy for what you want from your company internship or wage subsidy job is a good idea. This way, you can test yourself in different work situations and gain new skills that will make you a stronger candidate in the job market.
Company internship, employment with a wage subsidy and job rotation
A company internship may help clarify questions
A company internship may be a way for you to learn more about the tasks in a company and find out if you are the right match. It can also provide you with a network and information about job openings within the company.
Because it is typically short-term, a company internship is often used as a stepping stone to regular or wage subsidy employment.
A wage subsidy job may lead to employment
If you are a recent graduate, employment with a wage subsidy may be a shorter and more efficient route to your next job than months of traditional job searching. A wage subsidy job provides you with both practical experience and a network.
You can see currently available wage subsidy jobs in JobMatch. We have quality-checked all advertised wage subsidy jobs, which means that the positions provide opportunities for skills enhancement or the possibility of permanent employment.
Job rotation may help you get a foot in the door
Employers who send their employees for continuing education can make use of temporary staff by using the job rotation scheme. As an unemployed person (ledig), you could be this temporary staff member. This may give you the opportunity to showcase your skills to the company hiring you.
To be considered as a temporary staff member, you must have spent at least six months of your unemployment benefits. You can start earlier if you are a single parent or over 50 years old. You can work as a temporary staff member for up to six months.
Learn more about options for company internships, employment with a wage subsidy and job rotation
Innobooster provides support for new ideas
Through the Innobooster programme, Innovation Fund Denmark can provide financial support to a company ready to start an innovative project. This could be your opportunity to get hired as a project manager, for example.
You can contact companies and tell them about the programme and offer your competencies.
Innovation Fund Denmark is responsible for the financial contribution.
Introductory positions allow for additional eligibility for unemployment benefits
An introductory position is an opportunity for those who have been unemployed for at least one year. An introductory position is a temporary position for academics for 12 months in central, regional or local authorities. While employed, you will earn additional eligibility for unemployment benefits (dagpengeret). This ensures that you have an income when your unemployment benefits (dagpenge) run out.
You can apply for introductory positions by contacting, for example, previous employers who know your qualifications. You could, for example, suggest that you do a specific project of value to them.
The benefits of an introductory position
Unlike most other active employment measures, the employer does not receive a subsidy towards your salary. The salary is 80% of the typical starting salary for academics working for the central government, making you cheaper and more attractive. You are guaranteed pension contributions and employer-earned vacation.
Employers can use the scheme if they have a maternity/paternity cover that they can extend up to one year.
If the employer thinks it is a good idea, the position must be advertised as it is a position in a government enterprise.
During your employment, your employer must provide you with training and skills development.
You could try to arrange with the employer to allow you to apply for internal vacancies while you are employed in an introductory position.
Read more about introductory positions at introduktion.dk (in Danish)
Courses paid for by the job centre
The job centre may grant you courses from a so-called positive list regardless of your education level and length of unemployment. The positive list is updated regularly, and the courses on it are short vocational courses that aim for good employment opportunities.
If nothing on the positive list is relevant to you, you can always try contacting the job centre to see if there are other options.