Starting a new life in a new country is scary. Starting without a job is scarier still, so when 2,000 new Copenhageners joined the International Citizens Day on September 21st, Copenhagen Science City took the opportunity to tell some 50 visitors about start-up jobs. By Jes Andersen.

Welcome to new Copenhageners

International Citizens Day was the City of Copenhagen’s way to say “Welcome” to new Copenhageners. Over a whole Saturday, International House Copenhagen had invited organisations, companies and NGOs to inform our new compatriots about where to find help, where to find fun and where to find friends.

Wide variety of visitors

The celebration took place in the centrally located DGI-byen, a sports- and convention centre located just across the street from Copenhagen’s Central Station. A survey of the participants shows a wide variety of visitors. Out of 2,000, 33 percent were in a job. Twenty-six percent were accompanying spouses, 17 percent were students and the remaining were a mix of tourists, jobseekers and children.

To almost all questions, the answer is yes

The Copenhagen Science City stall proved an attraction to almost all the groups. New Danes in a job wanted to hear whether there are opportunities to change career from academia and corporates to start-ups. (The answer is yes) Spouses wanted to hear, whether tech-companies such as you find in Copenhagen Science City will also hire foreigners with a background in the arts or humanities. (The answer is yes) Students were interested to learn if start-ups will take on interns or hire student assistants. (The answer is yes)

Facilities for job-hunters

Copenhagen Science City has created several facilities for those who seek jobs in start-ups. All visitors to the stall were treated to a presentation of a Copenhagen Science City portal to all seven start-up communities in the district and to six tips and tricks on how to find a start-up you want to see succeed and how to persuade them, that you are the right person to help them succeed.