From uncertainty to hope

A man holding his son.

One man's fight for stability in Denmark.

Photographs: Fuad Nehemen

Text: Greg McQueen

Fuad Nehemen joins our video call from his home in Næstved, about 45 minutes south of Copenhagen. The stress lines around his eyes are visible even on a hazy web camera, and his voice conveys a mix of tiredness and quiet determination.

As we talk, there's an ease to our conversation. His posture relaxes slightly as our discussion flows in native English rhythms, away from the slightly broken Danish he speaks daily.

"It makes such a difference to speak with someone who gets it," he says with a brief smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

Fuad was one of the faces behind our previous issue's #TheForgottenGold article. His story highlights the challenges many internationals face when trying to build a life in Denmark. Over the course of nine years, he has faced a familiar cycle of hope, setbacks, and determination.

Finding love, starting a journey

"I didn't come here by choice," he explains about his move to Denmark. "I met my wife, or at that point, my girlfriend, traveling in Australia in 2012. She went back to Denmark - I went back to the UK. and we did long distance for two years."

During those two years, Fuad traveled back and forth between London and Aarhus. "I'd take off from work on a Friday, and then come back on Sunday," taking advantage of cheap return tickets. His girlfriend would also visit him in London.

After maintaining their long-distance relationship as long as possible, they decided it wasn't sustainable. "You can't do long distance for two years, that's too long," Fuad says. That's when he decided to quit his job in London and move to Denmark permanently at the end of 2015.

Fuad admits the move was relationship-driven rather than being attracted to Denmark's lifestyle or work opportunities. "I had no idea," he says, when asked about job prospects at the time.

A career of constant restarts

With a degree in Tourism Management and experience from the UK, Fuad hoped his skills would transfer to the Danish job market. Reality proved much harder.

"The first two years in Aarhus, I was doing warehouse work," he recalls. "Then I found a job at an IT company with an international office in Aarhus. I stayed there for two years."

The company blamed organisational changes when they let him go. For Fuad, the timing couldn't have been worse. "I got fired ten days after we got married."

Soon after, Fuad and his wife decided to move from Jylland to Sjælland to be closer to her family.

"We moved because her parents and family live over here," Fuad explains. "When you have kids, it's better to be close to the grandparents who can help."

What followed after the move is a pattern many internationals in Denmark know all too well: a series of short jobs, often at unstable tech startups, with periods of unemployment in between.

"I've worked at about five or six companies. Only one kept me beyond my three-month trial period," he shares. "The others made me redundant—usually for management or budget reasons."

His most recent job at a mobile tech company lasted just three weeks in December 2024, ending right before Christmas.

"About two and a half weeks in, my boss called me in and said he needed somebody with more sales experience, even though he knew I didn't have any when he hired me."

Later, Fuad learned the truth: "My mentor told me last week that they simply needed to cut costs."

The timing of this layoff—just before the holidays—hit Fuad hard. "After I got fired before Christmas, my mental well-being wasn't great," he admits, searching for the right words. "I fell into a bit of depression. I did some therapy. It was really rough."

"When you're surrounded by rejection, it's easy to think it's just you," Fuad says. "But talking to others in similar situations reminds me that we're all facing the same challenges. There's comfort in that solidarity."

A family sitting together in front of a Christmas tree..

Family first, whatever the cost

Behind these professional setbacks lies a deeper struggle that affects Fuad's entire family. With three children at home, his unemployment brings both financial pressure and emotional strain.

"My A-kasse is finished," he tells me, referring to his Danish unemployment insurance benefits that have now run out. "Right now, I have no income."

This situation has forced him to make a heart-wrenching decision: "If I don't find work by spring, I'll be going back to the UK."

The thought of leaving his family behind in Denmark while he seeks work in Britain clearly pains him. "Moving back to the UK without my kids would probably be the hardest thing I'd ever have to do. My children are five, seven, and 14 months old. They're so young."

Cultural barriers and invisible biases

Fuad, who speaks conversational Danish, points to several cultural factors that make finding work especially hard for internationals.

"Denmark runs on networking," he explains. "As a foreigner, building those connections is incredibly tough. I've seen so many people get jobs simply because they were someone's friend... even when they weren't that skilled. Just knowing someone or speaking fluent Danish is often enough to land a position."

He's also noticed a troubling pattern: "When companies cut staff, it's usually the non-Danes who go first. They keep most Danish employees and let the foreigners go. After I was fired, they let go of seven more people—all non-Danes. And this at a company where most employees are Danish."

Despite these challenges and an uncertain future, Fuad has stayed in Denmark. He's learned the language, built a home here, and raised his children as part of Danish society, all while facing ongoing doubts about what lies ahead.

"If I'm honest with you, if it wasn't for the kids, I'd probably be home already," he admits. "But, I love my kids. I want to be with them. If it means I have to struggle, I have to struggle. But if that means I get to be with my kids until they grow up, I'd rather do that."

Beyond a single story

For Fuad, being featured in #TheForgottenGold campaign brings visibility to a struggle that often goes unseen. He represents many others facing similar challenges: qualified professionals who have made Denmark their home, yet struggle to find stable, meaningful work.

"When you're surrounded by rejection, it's easy to think it's just you," Fuad says. "But talking to others in similar situations reminds me that we're all facing the same challenges. There's comfort in that solidarity."

As we wrap up our video call, both of us needing to head off and pick up our kids, Fuad shares a final thought that stays with me.

"I love Denmark and want to stay. All I need is one company to recognise my value and give me a chance."

His story represents the untapped potential of #TheForgottenGold—qualified professionals who've already made Denmark their home and overcome integration hurdles, but still struggle to find their place. As Denmark invests millions to attract new international talent, Fuad and countless others like him offer a powerful reminder: sometimes the best resources are already here, waiting for a chance to contribute while fighting to build stable lives. For Fuad, this might mean facing an impossible choice as a father who simply wants to provide for his family.