Your path as an unemployed academic

During your unemployment, you will attend meetings at the Jobcenter. After finishing your three month contact plan with your A-kasse, you will attend meetings at the Jobcenter - more specifically three meetings during the first three months. 

It varies whether you have to book the interviews yourself, or whether you will receive an from us.

We therefore recommend that you

• check your messages on jobnet.dk. Here you will be notified when you need to book a meeting with us. You can book the meeting on jobnet.dk, and you can read more about the booking process on this page.
• regularly check your Digital Post. Here we will receive the invitation to the meeting.

Read more about meetings at the Jobcenter.

During your process with us, we will focus on how you can increase your chances of getting a job - based on your situation, of course.

We will talk about this during the your first meeting with us, which is placed approximately around 14 weeks of unemployment. At the meeting, we will assess if you have to sign up for a counseling program (Step 3). Furthermore, we will look into a possible 'activation offer', which is placed no later than week 26 of your collected unemployment period (Step 4).

If it’s taking a while to find a job, we will assess if you need to start one or more counseling programs. Often, this includes a job search program called 'Job and career services Kombi'.

We will typically agree on the details during your first meeting at the Jobcenter. 

Read more about guidance through the Jobcenter. 

During your entire unemployment benefit period, you will typically have to start one or more ‘activation offers’ (aktiveringstilbud) based on a decision from the Jobcenter. 

You can attend an activation offer from your first unemployment day and through your entire period of unemployment.

An activation offer will typically be an internship, an employment in wage subsidy if you are eligible for this, or different types of education. 

By default, you are entitled to one activation offer, which is required to last a minimum of two weeks (combined). The beginning of this activation offer must happen no later than week 26 of your uemployment to ensure the shortest path towards your new job. This will be a topic at your first meeting in the Jobcenter.

As an academic with a long education, more education will rarely be your shortest path towards getting a job. Therefore, we encourage you to think in terms of collaboration with companies instead. For academics, internships and wage subsidies are some of the tools that are most effective in providing a shortcut to the next job.

That's why we also work strategically with business-oriented initiatives at Jobcenter Copenhagen. If landing the next job is taking a while, we will help you find an internship or something similar. You can also be matched to some of the jobs we are recruiting for through the Jobcenter.

Congratulations on getting a job! Special rules may apply to you until you start the job and deregister from unemployment benefits. 

Read here what to do when you are on your way to a job.

Please note that your unemployment benefits will generally cease if you receive benefits for a total of 2 years within a 3-year period. If you have worked along the way, you can extend your benefit period for up to one year.

If you have questions about your unemployment benefits, you should always contact your unemployment insurance fund (a-kasse). It is the unemployment insurance fund that assesses whether you are entitled to unemployment benefits.

If you are in a situation where you need other financial support, you can apply for cash benefits (kontanthjælp) or other financial assistance.

You can also read about about how you can think outside the box in your job search. 

You can be exempted from being an active jobseeker and having interviews at the jobcenter and unemployment insurance fund if you go on maternity leave, retire or start a full-time education within the next 6 weeks. The education must be vocational training or a medium or higher education. 

Send documentation to us via Digital Post. 

You must also remember to deregister from Jobnet. You can register up to 4 weeks before your first day of maternity leave or retirement.

If you're struggling to find a job, there are several places to get advice. We have several available offers, and it is possible to ask your consultant during your meetings at the jobcenter about current opportunities. In the meantime, you can get inspired by our guide to finding a work experience placement, which is a great shortcut to getting started with your unsolicited job search.

You are always welcome to contact us for help and advice on your job search.