Joining a club helps with your job search in Denmark.

Photographs: Pexels

Text: Leslea Petersen

Building community and connections outside of the workplace can open professional doors in Denmark. This is my personal experience. I found three jobs by being a member of a club. So, it not only helped get my CV to the top of the pile, but I made life-long friends in the process and managed to get out of the negative spiral I was in while job searching.

As I have said many times before, the job search can be tough, even with strong qualifications and a career marked by experience with FMCG organisations. Many newcomers face an all too familiar hurdle – no local network. This is where joining a club can make a real difference, as it is a big part of Danish culture.

Joining a club that isn’t in a professional setting might not seem like a job-seeking tactic, but in Denmark, why not try and meet Danes socially with no pressure? A setting where you can enjoy your sport or hobby, meet like-minded individuals and network yourself into a job. It will help you integrate more quickly, and having a recommendation from someone they trust is central to how recruiters hire here.

Access the ’hidden job market’

With only a quarter of jobs advertised publicly, most roles are filled through recommendations, informal networks, and unsolicited applications. For internationals who arrive without an established professional or local network, this can be a major barrier.

By joining a local club, whether it's a knitting group, book club, or a professional network, you naturally start expanding your connections. Conversations that start with shared hobbies can lead to opportunities or introductions when you get to know people better. Asking for help or advice while you are building a relationship is much easier than trying to elicit a coffee meeting through LinkedIn from a complete stranger. Someone you meet at your local swimming club might know of a role opening at their company before it’s even posted.

Build your social network

Danish employers don’t just hire skills or expertise, they hire people they trust and who understand Danish culture. Additionally, if skills and qualifications are equal, they will hire the individual who best fits into their team. It is all about the right culture fit, and being part of a local club will give you a greater understanding of how Danes operate socially while learning about how to boost your profile professionally.

Seeing Danes having fun in a social setting or communicating in a team, clubs offer a non-corporate environment where you can observe and gain insight into the culture that shapes the Danish workplace.

Improve your Danish outside of the classroom

Even in English-speaking workplaces, having some Danish language skills makes a huge difference. Clubs provide an informal environment where you can practise those difficult Danish words, whether you're chatting over coffee after the game or planning a group event. This can be far more effective than learning from a textbook (and what we learn in Danish lessons isn’t always relevant to the real world, eh?)

Plus, showing that you're actively trying to learn the language demonstrates a strong commitment to staying in Denmark, something that a potential boss would appreciate.

Volunteer to build your connections

Danes often volunteer in their neighbourhood or at a local organisation, and it is seen as a positive thing and an integral part of everyday life. Suppose you volunteer at a local food cooperative or help organise events in your cycling club. In that case, it demonstrates initiative and a genuine willingness to be involved in the community, a significant advantage that can help you integrate more quickly.

Adding these experiences to your CV or mentioning them in an interview will demonstrate that you’re not just here for a job; you're invested in being part of the Danish way of life.

Helps your mental health

Job searching can be lonely and stressful, and clubs give you a sense of belonging. Plus, they will keep you busy and maintain motivation during the job hunt. There are no negatives, and not all will require a monthly membership, allowing you to watch your budget.

Joining a club in Denmark isn’t just a way to pass the time, it is a fulfilling way to build your local network and increase your job opportunities. Whether you are into sports, sustainability, tech meetups, or nailing that Danish language, there is a place for you.

So, take the time to close that laptop and step away from the job search and build on your hobby or find people enjoying your favourite sport. You might find your next opportunity not in your inbox but running around the local park with your club! It just needs you to be brave and step out of your comfort zone.