Moving to Denmark - Can't speak Danish!!

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Member since 09 September 2010

alexmc1Member09 September 2010 15:26:34

Hi everyone,

I am thinking of moving to Copenhagen in April 2011 and I am looking for some advice before I make my final decision.

I've visited Copenhagen a few times and love the city, people, culture etc and just knew I wanted to move over there. I have have heard conflicting opinions on whether I will need Danish to get a job. I met a few expats and some said that they still didn't speak any Danish years into having lived there.

A bit on my professional background... I will be a qualified chartered accountant from a big 4 accountancy firm as of April 2011 and I'm looking to move into a large multi-national company over there. Do I need Danish to do such a role? I was thinking of getting some bar work etc to tie me over when I'm there whilst job hunting.

Any advice on the job market for someone with my professional background with be greatfully appreciated.. It's a bit daunting trying to move country and even worse when you can't speak a word of the language!

Thanks, Alex

DKresearcher New member

Member since 25 August 2010

DKresearcherNew member10 September 2010 07:57:08

Hi alexmc1!

You can check my answer to nose-todavia on some of the questions about the necessity of speaking Danish and for advice on where to look for jobs.
If you'd like to stay in your line of business I think you could get some guidance from the large international companies in Copenhagen, like Grant Thornton. I know nothing of accounting systems and whether they differ greatly from country to country or if it us just "numbers", if you know what I mean. That of course has great influence on whether you'd need to speak Danish in order to do your job.

Danes are generally very happy to hear themselves speak English and they/we are also quite good at it. That is both a plus and not so much - you can communicate with people easily but you never get around learning Danish because everyone understands English anyway.

Good luck with all the planning!

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