Finding a job is about more than sending applications. For many international graduates, building networks and understanding the Danish labour market can be just as important. A new mentor programme from Studenterhus Aarhus, Erhverv Aarhus and Job Aarhus is helping internationals take that next step.

It's Good to Have Someone in Your Corner

For many internationals in Denmark, finding a job starts long before a vacancy is posted online.

According to figures presented during the evening, up to 60% of jobs in Denmark are filled without ever being advertised. That makes professional networks, local knowledge and personal connections essential tools for anyone trying to enter the Danish labour market.

Recognising this challenge, Studenterhus Aarhus, Erhverv Aarhus and Job Aarhus joined forces to launch a new mentorship programme under the Work Without Borders project. Through a careful matching process, 20 mentors have been paired with international graduates and jobseekers from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds.

The mentees represent the international diversity that helps strengthen the region, coming from many countries including Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, India, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States and Vietnam. Their educational backgrounds are equally varied, ranging from bioinformatics and health sciences to pharmaceutical chemistry, intercultural studies and other fields.

The launch event brought mentors and mentees together for the first time, creating an atmosphere filled with curiosity, conversation and optimism. Following introductions from Gitte Spies of Erhverv Aarhus and Tenna Schaldemose of Studenterhus Aarhus, participants heard perspectives on attracting and retaining international talent before sitting down to begin building the relationships that will develop in the coming months.

Taking a Chance on Denmark

One of those participants was Bárbara Cea, who is originally from Argentina, but decided to move to Aarhus and recently graduated from Aarhus University with a Master's degree in Intercultural Studies. Originally educated as a psychologist, she moved abroad in search of new experiences and opportunities.

"Worst case scenario, I thought I could always go back home and work as a psychologist. But it happened that I actually really liked Denmark and wanted to stay”

Since arriving, Bárbara has worked, studied, learned Danish and gradually built a life in Aarhus. Following her graduation this summer, she is now searching for opportunities within intercultural work, integration and human resources.

Like many recent graduates, however, the transition from university to employment can be challenging.

"... I’m not stressed right now. It’s mostly when you get three rejections in one day, it can be hard to stay motivated and not to question whether you’re doing the right things.”

More Than Career Advice

For Bárbara, the mentorship programme is about far more than finding job openings.

Her mentor will help her understand the Danish labour market, challenge her assumptions and provide feedback on her job search strategy. Just as importantly, the mentor offers something many internationals miss: someone who understands the process firsthand.

"My friends and family want to help, but most of them are already working. It's different speaking with someone who has been in your shoes and can guide you a little more.”

That idea resonated throughout the evening. Many mentors described their role as being part adviser, part sounding board and, occasionally, part cheerleader.

Bárbara agrees.

"... Instead of seeing the glass as half empty, they’re helping you see the glass half full”

Building Futures Through Networks

Beyond the individual mentor-mentee relationships, the programme supports one of the central ambitions of the Work Without Borders project: helping international talent not only come to the region, but stay.

Professional qualifications alone are not always enough. Connections, local insights and confidence often determine whether highly skilled graduates remain in the region after completing their studies.

To support this journey, participants were also introduced to A State of Denmark, a newly launched job platform designed specifically for English-speaking jobseekers. The platform aims to make it easier for international talent to discover career opportunities and learn more about living and working in Denmark.

Judging by the conversations around the dinner tables, the evening succeeded in creating exactly the kind of connections the programme hopes to foster.

For Bárbara and the other mentees, the programme is not simply about securing the next job.

It is about building a future.

And sometimes that starts with having someone in your corner.