He Helps International Newcomers Find Jobs
Mustafa Niazi from Job Kolding helps partners of international newcomers find their way into the Danish job market.
And he is achieving impressive results. In the first eight months of 2026 alone, 42 international newcomers found jobs after receiving guidance from Mustafa.
His work is part of an initiative by Kolding Municipality to attract international talent. An important part of that effort is helping newcomers and their partners – and, in some cases, their families – settle into life in Kolding and feel at home in their local communities, giving them more reasons to stay. Experience shows that international newcomers are more likely to stay long-term when their partner also finds a job.
And there is plenty for Mustafa Niazi to do. Every year, around 1,500 people move to Kolding Municipality from abroad. They are not here as tourists – they arrive with plans to build a new life in Kolding.
Many come to work for one of the companies in the area or to study in Kolding. And often, they bring a partner or their family with them.
How Do You Find a Job?
But how do you find a job in a country where the job market, workplace culture and unwritten rules may be completely different from what you are used to back home?
That’s where Mustafa Niazi comes in.
He helps international newcomers find their way into the Danish job market and understand what it is like to work in a Danish workplace.
“The international newcomers who come to me are often highly educated and experienced from their home countries. But finding a job in Kolding can be difficult because they may not know enough about how to enter the Danish job market or how things work in a Danish workplace. That’s what I help them with,” Mustafa explains.
Among other things, he helps them put together a strong, up-to-date CV and explains why a tailored cover letter is also important. He also shares useful advice on Danish workplace culture.
“For someone coming from a country like India, for example, it can be difficult to understand that taking time during the working day to have a cup of coffee and chat with your colleagues about things that have nothing to do with work is actually part of workplace culture,” Mustafa says, before continuing:
“It can also feel unfamiliar that there is so much collaboration in Danish workplaces and that organisational structures are often quite flat. Another thing that may seem unusual is that making mistakes is generally accepted, as long as you own up to them. These things aren’t necessarily obvious when you come from another country,” he explains.
Mustafa also helps newcomers set realistic expectations about the kinds of jobs they are likely to find.
“The opportunities available to you depend a lot on how well you speak Danish. For example, someone from India with a degree in marketing may struggle to find a job in their field if they don’t speak Danish,” Mustafa Niazi explains.
“But there are still plenty of opportunities in sectors such as hospitality, cleaning and warehouse work, even if you don’t speak Danish. That’s why I always encourage newcomers to start taking Danish classes as soon as they arrive in Kolding. The sooner you learn the language, the more opportunities you’ll have in the Danish job market,” he says.
International workers are in high demand, which is why Kolding Municipality is also making an extra effort to help newcomers from abroad settle in and feel welcome. In addition to the support offered by Mustafa Niazi, the municipality runs welcometokolding.dk, a website designed specifically for international newcomers, and hosts an annual welcome event for people who have moved to Kolding from abroad.