The Danish way was a perfect fit

Alberto’s journey in Denmark began with an Erasmus exchange semester at Aalborg University. After realising that the Danish system and the problem based learning at AAU were perfect for him, he returned to do his Master's.

With graduation nearing, Alberto became a part of the Young Professionals in Denmark programme that offers international students to integrate into the Danish labor market.

Alberto described the programme as a door opener to navigating on the Danish job market: It provided him with essential tools for his CV, cover letter, interview preparation, and much more.

Tackling the decision to quit

Alberto's next big step after graduation was accepting a PhD position at DTU, encouraged by insights from his professional circle. However, after a year, he realised it was not aligned with his long-term goals. Facing a difficult decision, he ultimately chose to leave the programme:

"It was a tough choice, but I wasn't satisfied with the direction it was taking," he reflects.

It was a hard year of being unemployed, however, despite the challenge, he remained proactive, systematically approaching his job search with a focus on personal growth.

A game plan for the job search

Developing a structured system in his job search really helped Alberto. It was important for him to realise how long he should spend on each application, and how long it took him to research the companies he was applying for.

When researching employers, Alberto focused on gathering objective information such as company locations and general operations. He then developed a priority list based on parameters like remote work policies, social event offerings, and overall company culture. This helped him make more informed decisions about where to apply.

Two job offers - what to do?

A crucial moment arrived when Alberto received 2 job offers in the same week: 

1. The first offer came from a well-established company specialising in a niche area. It was a secure position but highly specialised, potentially limiting his long-term career flexibility.
2. The second offer was a "løntilskud" - a Danish wage subsidy program where the government partially covers an employee's salary. Though it required stepping into a broader, less defined role, it offered greater potential for development and growth.

Torn between them, he chose the second one. It was a leap of faith, but the decision proved to be right for him.

Alberto has good advice for others searching for a job:

“Use your time wisely. Develop yourself. Even if you're in this period that you're maybe unemployed or have nothing to do, try to better yourself so you have more things to offer.”