4,827
7
0
Vanskelig for utenlandsk arkitekt å jobbe i Norge
24
Drøbak, Akershus fylke
0
Hei.
I apologize for not writing in Norwegian language.
I was wondering if someone can give me a tip, when it comes to finding an architect job position in Norway.
A bit about me:
I am the first one that got a degree on my faculty, among 110 students in whole generation.
I got a written official recognition of my degree from Nokut (Norwegian agency for recognition of foreign higher education), and it has been recognized as Master's degree (300 points, 5 years of studies).
I have 2 years of working experience, out of which 6 months of some sort of internships at architectural offices in Rotterdam and Vienna.
One of the projects I did in Vienna, won the international competition, leaving Snøhetta on third place.
Besides regular architectural stuff, I also do some some other things:
Light calculation (illuminance), structural analysis and design of construction (but only masonry wall systems
with its slabs, beams and foundations), and plumbing installations in buildings.
I am currently doing my own private work, an improvement of the space frames construction, which will especially have benefit on free form shapes in architecture.
Furthermore I have good written references from my ex professors, my ex dean, bosses from the Rotterdam and Vienna.
Also I am ready to accept that minor (I believe it is 3 months?) contract, so that my potential principal will not be concerned about difficulties of getting me fired, if I do not suit his expectations.
Not to mention that I have no intention on negotiating about the salary amount. Whatever they offer it will be enough.
My biggest minuses are:
- I am still a young architect, with maybe not enough experience.
- I do not speak Norwegian.
The nearest Norwegian language school is 500km distanced from my place.
In 90% of all vacant job architect position, there is statement - that Norwegian language skills are essential.
Which disqualifies me in the start.
I am definitely willing to start learning Norwegian language, but only when I get the job.
- My country (Serbia) is not a member of EU nor Shengen zone. This means my employee needs to do some paper work in order to provide me a work permit. I guess it is much easier for him to take Norwegian, Dane, or Polish architect, which requires no paper work.
- Lack of funds. I found few vacant architect job positions where Norwegian language was not essential, and they asked for an interview in Norway. I know this may sound stupid, as every employer wishes to see it's potential employee on an interview first, but I simply do not have the money to support that. Airplane ticket will not be a problem, but staying in hostel will.
Therefore I still hope somebody will call me to a Skype interview, but again, I know how very little possible it is to have an interview with Skype. Nothing without eye-to-eye interview. :(
I have a friend in Tromsø, where I can stay for free so I am available for an interview there. But there are very few architectural companies in Tromsø.
And none of them is looking for a new architect, or they request knowledge of Norwegian language.
- I know that there was and partly still is an economical crisis going on in the world, but at least from the perspective of architecture and construction sector, it is going pretty well, at least in Norway, despite the economical crisis. Or am I wrong?
Norwegian Snøhetta and its projects had crucial influence on my decision to became an architect. My dream was
to became part of their team one day, or at least to work in their home country.
I guess this will all end up as an old dream.
Any suggestions on how to improve my chances of getting a job in Norway?
Except getting a loan from a bank and coming over to Norway for an interview.
My apologies for not writing in Norwegian language.
Tusen takk.
I apologize for not writing in Norwegian language.
I was wondering if someone can give me a tip, when it comes to finding an architect job position in Norway.
A bit about me:
I am the first one that got a degree on my faculty, among 110 students in whole generation.
I got a written official recognition of my degree from Nokut (Norwegian agency for recognition of foreign higher education), and it has been recognized as Master's degree (300 points, 5 years of studies).
I have 2 years of working experience, out of which 6 months of some sort of internships at architectural offices in Rotterdam and Vienna.
One of the projects I did in Vienna, won the international competition, leaving Snøhetta on third place.
Besides regular architectural stuff, I also do some some other things:
Light calculation (illuminance), structural analysis and design of construction (but only masonry wall systems
with its slabs, beams and foundations), and plumbing installations in buildings.
I am currently doing my own private work, an improvement of the space frames construction, which will especially have benefit on free form shapes in architecture.
Furthermore I have good written references from my ex professors, my ex dean, bosses from the Rotterdam and Vienna.
Also I am ready to accept that minor (I believe it is 3 months?) contract, so that my potential principal will not be concerned about difficulties of getting me fired, if I do not suit his expectations.
Not to mention that I have no intention on negotiating about the salary amount. Whatever they offer it will be enough.
My biggest minuses are:
- I am still a young architect, with maybe not enough experience.
- I do not speak Norwegian.
The nearest Norwegian language school is 500km distanced from my place.
In 90% of all vacant job architect position, there is statement - that Norwegian language skills are essential.
Which disqualifies me in the start.
I am definitely willing to start learning Norwegian language, but only when I get the job.
- My country (Serbia) is not a member of EU nor Shengen zone. This means my employee needs to do some paper work in order to provide me a work permit. I guess it is much easier for him to take Norwegian, Dane, or Polish architect, which requires no paper work.
- Lack of funds. I found few vacant architect job positions where Norwegian language was not essential, and they asked for an interview in Norway. I know this may sound stupid, as every employer wishes to see it's potential employee on an interview first, but I simply do not have the money to support that. Airplane ticket will not be a problem, but staying in hostel will.
Therefore I still hope somebody will call me to a Skype interview, but again, I know how very little possible it is to have an interview with Skype. Nothing without eye-to-eye interview. :(
I have a friend in Tromsø, where I can stay for free so I am available for an interview there. But there are very few architectural companies in Tromsø.
And none of them is looking for a new architect, or they request knowledge of Norwegian language.
- I know that there was and partly still is an economical crisis going on in the world, but at least from the perspective of architecture and construction sector, it is going pretty well, at least in Norway, despite the economical crisis. Or am I wrong?
Norwegian Snøhetta and its projects had crucial influence on my decision to became an architect. My dream was
to became part of their team one day, or at least to work in their home country.
I guess this will all end up as an old dream.
Any suggestions on how to improve my chances of getting a job in Norway?
Except getting a loan from a bank and coming over to Norway for an interview.
My apologies for not writing in Norwegian language.
Tusen takk.
Signatur
..but dont know if there are lot of options here in Norway though. But there should be options here in Norway also, I think.
Other options, you will be able to find rooms for 200,- NOK a night. Anker Hostel is one place.
Here you can find a overview of other options, http://www.oslosurf.com/Guider/Billig_overnatting/
Why not do the obvious?
Contact some architect agencies. Ask about requirements. Tell them the same story you told us. And if the Norwegian language is a requirement, I guess you need to ask yourself if you are willing to invest the time necessary, although you have already answered this.
If you do not believe in your own dream, it will be difficult for others to do so.
Good luck!
The problem with your education, excellent as it might be, is that the people hiring you probably will not know it, in generall it is much more difficult for norwegians who have studied abroad to land a job in Norway than norwegians who have studied in Norway, the simple reason being that the ones hiring know better what the school/university stands for. Flawed as it might be, that is unfortunatately how it works... The neccessary paperwork for hiring you is also a problem, I assume the list of people with good education, work experience and good references looking for work at some of the top firms in Norway is very, very long.
Not knowing norwegian might put you at a disadvantage, but probably less so at a firm with an international presence - I would be very, very surprised if everyone at a company like Snøhetta actually speak and write Norwegain.
If you have had internships/worked at well-known architectural firms, that might be your strongest assets if you want to get a job at a good company.
As you probably know, living in Norway is very expensive, and you would need a fair bit of cash to live in say Oslo for some time while looking for a job. Genereally the hiring process might involve several rounds of interviews spread over time, requiring to be present for a long time. I would at least try and pre-arrange as many interviews as possible before coming so you know you get a few shots at getting a job somewhere.
If you had an education in very strong demand, like say you were an offshore engineer, something oil-related or similar, a norwegian company would prob pay for your flight to Norway, provide accomondation, do all the paperwork for you and hire you rather quickly, unfortuntately I do not have the impression that the job market for architects is anywhere near that hot.
I of course whish you the best of luck, but I would spend some time realistically assessing the prospects before you go. There is a lot of construction work going on in Norway, so the prospects might not be that bad after all.
I did not know about this free rooms program.
There is nothing worse than being not informed on some important things :'(
[quote=voyler ]And if the Norwegian language is a requirement, I guess you need to ask yourself if you are willing to invest the time necessary, although you have already answered this.[/quote]
I guess you are right on this Voyler. If there is a will there is a way.
Thank you for the advice.
[quote=rolfy]it is much more difficult for norwegians who have studied abroad to land a job in Norway than norwegians who have studied in Norway, the simple reason being that the ones hiring know better what the school/university stands for.[/quote]
I think I understand what you said. Furthermore faculties from Eastern European countries always sound a bit "suspicious" to the Westerners.
Rolfy what do you mean by "prospects"? You mean the job offer requirements?
Sorry for my poor English.
Just how easy it is for architects in general to get a job in Norway. I read that the unemployment rate among architects in Norway is quite low (as with the general level of unemployment in Norway), but that does not mean that everyone who studied architecture actually works as architects, just that they have a job....
I do not think I am allowed to work as a web designer or graphic designer, if I do not have a particular degree for it?
This is how I heard, maybe I am wrong.