How do IT professionals work in Norway

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I would like to start with a story about myself and with what “baggage” I came to Norway. I’m a network engineer by profession, a service engineer by job, I work for a Norwegian company, I love my job, I live 3 years in Norway, I speak English and Norwegian (which I learned upon arrival in Oslo), I’m from Odessa and, yes, I’m 25.

So it turned out that 3 years ago I was lucky enough to move my family to Oslo.
* Details about the move, I will write in one of the following articles. But briefly, I can say that you will need a contract from the employer and a bachelor. No language exams are required.

So, at 22, I moved to live in Oslo without a tongue, without a diploma (because I dropped out of high school after the 2nd year, although in vain, I regret now, the crust would be useful for me to get a visa easier), with one year of study go to courses at STEP Academy, with shaky English and no Norwegian. Since I had the opportunity not to work for the first six months, I spent them on learning the language and preparing for CCNA. I was firmly convinced that this certificate would help me find a job, especially without work experience and a bachelor. Six months later, I still got CCNA and started looking for work in English. I began to actively send out resumes, which paid off rather quickly and I was invited for several interviews, but since I practically did not speak English and the situation was worse with Norwegian, I was sewn. By the way after putting CCNA I immediately created a profile on Linkedin and that was the right decision at that time. A month after posting the profile, a recruiter wrote to me with a link to the position. The post was called "Network Engineer" and included a huge number of work responsibilities, skills and enumeration of a large number of cisco-equipment. To make you understand, at that moment I had little idea of ​​how iron looks in life and what wiring to stick into. Of course, this position frightened me, I thanked the recruiter for the invitation to an interview and replied that, unfortunately, I did not have such a lot of experience in IT (I did not say that I did not have it at all), and actually I another junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him. A month after posting the profile, a recruiter wrote to me with a link to the position. The post was called "Network Engineer" and included a huge number of work responsibilities, skills and enumeration of a large number of cisco-equipment. To make you understand, at that moment I had little idea of ​​how iron looks in life and what wiring to stick into. Of course, this position frightened me, I thanked the recruiter for the invitation to an interview and replied that, unfortunately, I did not have such a lot of experience in IT (I did not say that I did not have it at all), and actually I another junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him. A month after posting the profile, a recruiter wrote to me with a link to the position. The post was called "Network Engineer" and included a huge number of work responsibilities, skills and enumeration of a large number of cisco-equipment. To make you understand, at that moment I had little idea of ​​how iron looks in life and what wiring to stick into. Of course, this position frightened me, I thanked the recruiter for the invitation to an interview and replied that, unfortunately, I did not have such a lot of experience in IT (I did not say that I did not have it at all), and actually I another junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him. skills and enumeration of a large number of cisco-equipment. To make you understand, at that moment I had little idea of ​​how iron looks in life and what wiring to stick into. Of course, this position frightened me, I thanked the recruiter for the invitation to an interview and replied that, unfortunately, I did not have such a lot of experience in IT (I did not say that I did not have it at all), and actually I another junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him. skills and enumeration of a large number of cisco-equipment. To make you understand, at that moment I had little idea of ​​how iron looks in life and what wiring to stick into. Of course, this position frightened me, I thanked the recruiter for the invitation to an interview and replied that, unfortunately, I did not have such a lot of experience in IT (I did not say that I did not have it at all), and actually I another junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him. that I don’t have it at all), and actually I’m still a junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him. that I don’t have it at all), and actually I’m still a junior. To which the recruiter replied “and you try!” And for this I am very grateful to him.

So, I decided to go for an interview. A week before the interview, I received a letter saying that I would be interviewed by CCIE. I didn’t really like it, because at that moment it seemed that CCIE were not people, they were “monsters”. I began to imagine how this CCIE would “load me”. It was also written there that I will have one hour of a technical interview with a lab, and an interview with a manager.

Interview day


I came for an interview a little earlier than the appointed hour, a little worried, but trying not to give out. The whole week I spent watching vidyushek sleeping, updating knowledge, so to speak. The first interview I had with the manager was only about ten minutes, he asked me about my previous experience, knowledge of the Norwegian language, why did I choose the network profession, besides that, I don’t remember any questions anymore. I answered him soooooo clumsy English.

The next interview I had was in another office with two network engineers, one of which, as I said earlier, was CCIE (which turned out to be a human being). Before the interview, they offered tea, coffee, water, but I refused. When we started the interview and one of them began to draw the script on the board, I still asked for a glass. This was followed by a large number of questions and scenarios about STP, OSPF, EIGRP, subnet, and possibly something else; I don’t remember anymore. The whole thing took an hour, after which we went to the EIGRP lab. The scenario, it seemed to me, was quite easy, it was necessary to configure all the devices from scratch. By the way, at the interview I also found out that they didn’t even look at my resume, because it was important not knowledge, but knowledge (but this is more likely an exception than a rule).

I left the interview very enthusiastic, and yet, yes, two days later the same recruiter contacted me and we already agreed on a salary. A week later, I already worked for a large international company.

What helped me, I was proactive, answered a large number of technical questions, I could set up a lab and that the interview was technical. Why technical, but for one simple reason: my spoken English was bad, but technical - nothing like that (the training materials were still in English).

Work


At work, from the first day, torment began for me. Apart from the technical side and the lack of work experience in offices in general, I still didn’t understand that they purr there, and very often I had to talk to clients, vendors and providers over the phone, and this is many times more difficult. Every day, coming home from work, I spent hours sitting and translating the emails that I received during the day, taught how the ticket system works, taught “work” at work, learned English (at that time I scored in Norwegian), in general , I was at work all the time.

I adapted somewhere after three months, began to speak English more or less, to understand in general what I do there at work, because what I taught in technical books was quite different from real life (purely my personal understanding of the work).

According to colleagues with whom I discussed my behavior afterwards, no one knew that it was hard / scary, because among them I behaved quite confidently.

In this company I was lucky to gain experience with networks, the ticket system, work in technical support from the 1st to the 3rd level, take part in a huge project with a large number of engineers, which I explained the network basics and taught them the proprietary ticket system, pull up English, learn Norwegian, gain experience in Norway and, of course, make friends.

View from my first job in Oslo (Aker Brygge):

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After two years I changed jobs and now I work as a service engineer in a Scandinavian company with its main office in Oslo. And I changed my job because I wanted something more, I wanted to work in Norwegian, I wanted to learn something else besides Tsiskovskie switches, routers, controllers.

This time I was interviewing companies in Norwegian and everything was much simpler. But the first months of work, again, were darkness, because the level here is higher and as a network engineer here I have to be able to do everything. In the literal sense of the word. After a month of work, I already had Alcatel certification for ipd products, also in the first months of work I had to deal with a huge amount of equipment and projects related to such products and vendors as Alcatel Omni and IPD line, Aruba hardware, Fortigate firewalls, Huawei, PacketFront hardware and software (BECS), server and other nonsense. In the first month I was sent to FortiGate weekly courses, received training from my colleagues, although it was again difficult (all the same a new level of technical in addition to Norwegian),

Pros at Work


Food

Regardless of whether the company has a dining room or not, a small kitchenette will still be present with a coffee machine, kettle, soda, daily fruit, an oven or a microwave.

I was also very lucky with the dining room, perhaps the best in Oslo, for only 20 CZK (the rest is paid by my company) I get a huge selection of food a day, we get a hot menu at the beginning of the week by email. Food is different every day: soup, side dishes, a wide variety of vegetables, sauces, cold salads, slices, red fish, a wide selection of cheeses, meat, about fifteen kinds of rolls, bread, crackers, cookies, and sweet on Fridays.

Summer dining room:

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Also in my building there is a small cafe that, after three in the afternoon, exhibits a variety of rolls and sandwiches, so to speak, leftovers after a working day, free of charge for employees of the building.
* I do not deny, for someone a large amount of free / cheap food may seem like a minus ...

Working day

Most often, an employee has fixed hours in the contract when he must be present at the office (usually from 09:00 to 15:00). That is, the working day is 8 hours (30 minutes for lunch), but the employee must be present at the office for only 6 hours. For example, I like to come to work early and it is very convenient for me that I can finish my working day at 15:00. For the summer, I agreed with my team leader that I could arrive even earlier, at about six, in which case I leave the office at two in the afternoon. Also, after the first year of work, the employee gets the opportunity to work from home if necessary. Let's say many of my colleagues worked one / two weeks for Christmas and Easter from home.

"Buns"

In any Norwegian company, an employee is given a telephone and not just given out, but asked what kind of telephone he wants. So, at my current job, I acquired the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The phone automatically becomes yours after two years; every two years, the employee also has the right to change the phone. All telephone costs, 3 or 4G Internet, home Internet are also paid (in this way, the employer insures that if something happens, employees have the opportunity to work from home). I pay for the Internet 100Mb / 10Mb 369kron ($ 45).

For workers who have back / knee problems, they give out special tables that can be raised if you are tired of sitting (only those who have back problems get such a table at my work, most other Norwegian companies have such tables at all).
Not to mention the number of events / courses / vendor meetings in other countries that an employee can attend.

Lift table and office kitchen:

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Respect at work

I am very pleased that equality rules here. At work, I carry / twist iron along with the male sex, when meeting partners / clients, I shake hands with everyone present, I am trusted with huge projects, in general, they perceive me as an engineer, and not as a woman. There is no hypocrisy, discussion behind him, rudeness, only smiles and conversations in short coffee breaks.

Calm

This is one of the important and incomprehensible points for me. Most important, because I do not like pressure. Even the biggest fakap and problems, they are super calm, and incomprehensible, because it works. Work is underway, projects are being implemented, everyone is satisfied and peaceful.

Security at work

After a trial period (most often it is 6 months) it is very difficult to fire an employee. If the employer still decided to dismiss, then before the dismissal, he is obliged to send three emails for a long period of time. The Vorning (warning) email includes information that your employer is not happy with you and that you need to change. If there is no change for the better, you receive a second letter, etc., and if you are corrected, then the letters will be reset to zero. Also, the employer and employee can mutually agree on the dismissal, in this case, the employee can receive compensation in the amount of three to six salaries.

Cons at work


Integration

The feeling of uncomfortability at work, which I had at the beginning, and which passed only with time. Still, after all, the mentality is different, the humor is different, poor language skills. For some it passes, for someone it remains. I have some acquaintances / colleagues (this applies not only to Russian speakers) who have not adapted, who behave quite lonely / wild at work, always try to avoid talking with the tax authorities; Pretending to be busy and therefore unable to attend any event; try to go to lunch after all the Norwegian colleagues have finished their lunch; and in the end they “cling”, if possible, to other foreigners. There are also Russian-speaking friends who continue to hang out in their little Russian-speaking society. Also sometimes I hear from many emigrants, that norgs are not very “open” to foreigners. But my opinion is not that the Norwegians are “closed”, they are simply polite and do not want to embarrass a foreigner, talking to him in Norwegian.

Depression Holidays

Perhaps for some it may be a plus, but it seems to me, to put it mildly, strange. I don’t understand how an IT specialist can suffer from depression that he has because of sitting in front of a computer for a long time, or a dude doesn’t like his boss and therefore he works only one day a week, or he divorced his wife and now he a whole year can’t work. All in all, this is pretty weird for me.
* Examples taken from my previous company.

ZP


The average salary in the IT sector for the year is 500 thousand kroons ($ 60,818) before taxes, a tax on this amount will be approximately 30%. Taxes are deducted automatically every month. If you paid more taxes than required, the state returns this difference to you in May. In the first three years, ten percent of taxes are also returned to foreigners. This salary is enough for a family without children or with children but an apartment. Although it is quite possible that for this amount you can rent an apartment outside the city (30-60min drive) and feed your family.

Holiday and Vacation


Vacation in Norway is at least 25 days, and if you have exceeded 60, then you automatically receive one week extra. Also, every year an employee has the right to 12 sick days (system: three days four times a year). This means that within 3 days the employee may not appear at work due to illness, but if the number of days exceeds 3 days, then the employee must consult a doctor and get a sick leave. Parents receive an additional 10 days per year per child (a total of 20 days per year per child); 1-2 days a year to move; and also some companies give 3-4 days of religious leave (if the Great holidays of your religion do not coincide with the Norwegian ones).

Quite an interesting point in Norway is vacation pay (they are paid in June, but you have a vacation take in any month). So, the system is such that instead of a salary for June, an employee receives 12% of his annual salary. Thus, it turns out that in the first year of work in Norway, the employee remains without a salary in June. But the company does not abandon him, but sends a letter stating that in case of financial difficulties this month they can help you.
* In the first year of work in a new place, you do not receive vacation pay, but you can still take unpaid leave.

A little about life and its prices


Housing

Over 50 sq.m. in Oslo, you can pay approximately 12 thousand crowns ($ 1,457) per month. Therefore, in the end, when you collect 15% of the cost of housing (so much is required to obtain a loan for housing), you will prefer to buy your own apartment or house. Since the loan interest here is low, it will be more profitable to pay a loan each month for your own housing, rather than pay the same amount to some uncle in your pocket.

Food

Products in Norway are quite expensive and the selection is rather meager, so many norgs go for food to Sweden - and I am no exception. If you want to save on food in Norway, this is also possible, but the products will not always be of high quality (at first, I tried to save on food, but my stomach rebelled). Approximate prices: potatoes - 24kron / kg ($ 3.9); cheese - 85cron / kg ($ 9.4); canned fish - 17kron ($ 2); liver paste - 12kron (1.5 $); minced meat - 50cr / 400gr ($ 6); ice cream on a stick - 22kroons ($ 2.7); milk - 17kron ($ 2); bread - 26kron (3.2 $). In addition, in Norwegian supermarkets you will find all types of fruits and vegetables at about the same price all year round.

Directions

For one ticket in transport, it doesn’t matter if it is even one stop, you will pay 30kron (3.6 $). A monthly trip in Oslo will cost you 680 CZK ($ 83.6). If you decide to drive a hare and you are caught, then you will receive a fine of 1150kron ($ 139.7).

Restaurants and Cafes

The average bill in any of the restaurants will be 500 CZK ($ 60.7) for two, not including alcohol. One cocktail or shot will cost about 100kron ($ 12). Drinking coffee, tea or juice will cost you about 50kron ($ 6), for a sandwich you will give 65kron ($ 7.9), and for a cake 45 kronor ($ 5.5). The menu at McDonald's will cost you ± 83 crowns ($ 10).

Photos from one Oslo restaurant and one-time grill in nature:

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The medicine

Treatment or consultation in private medical institutions is quite an expensive pleasure. But if you turn to your therapist who prescribes you an appointment with other doctors, it will be much cheaper, only 2 thousand crowns ($ 243) per year. But it is necessary to try very hard to get an appointment to the specialist you need from the therapist. In Norway, therapists believe that everything is treated by going to the lake and staying in the fresh air. So, when I had a temperature of 39 and I rushed to the hospital with a terrible headache and ear pain, snot and cough, they still asked me if I wanted to take a sick leave. Dentistry is also very expensive here, for example, for a filling you will give about 1.5 thousand crowns ($ 182), for a bridge 15 thousand crowns ($ 1185), and 5 thousand crowns ($ 608) for removing nerves from a tooth.

My personal opinion and impression of Norway is good, their climate suits me, I love the Norwegian language, local people, their food and work style.

In conclusion, I want to say one thing: each person is given the opportunity to change his life, someone uses this, and someone does not.

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