Esbjerg Kommune

How do you celebrate successes, big or small, within your company?

“We celebrate our successes with pats on the back, high fives, praise, hugs, and cake.”

– Nanna, Student Assistant

What makes your company an exciting place for students to kickstart their careers?

“I was surprised by just how many connections the municipality has to other organizations and civil society. In addition to being exposed to a wide variety of tasks, the municipality is a place where, thanks to its many cross-sector collaborations, you have a great opportunity to grow your network. You meet people from a wide range of professional backgrounds and often work across departments — something that not only builds strong networks but also provides a solid foundation if you dream of a career in the public sector, or simply want to find your own path in an organization that values growth and collaboration.

And when it comes to development opportunities, the possibilities are incredible — with nearly 10,000 colleagues and job titles in every direction, the only real limit is your imagination.”

– Nanna, Student Assistant

What advice would you give to students who want to work with you?

“Get in touch. Share your wishes and great ideas — we’d love to collaborate with you. We’ll do everything we can to find the right match for you.”

– Helle, HR Development Consultant

What’s the least glamorous part of working at your company?

“If you ever mention in a private setting that you work for the municipality, you’ll quickly get hit with a hundred questions — from both friends and complete strangers — like: When are they fixing the pothole on our street? What’s happening with the school merger in Bramming? Or how much does daycare cost for a toddler?”

– Susanne, Communications Consultant

What are you most proud of when it comes to your company’s work culture?

“When I was hired as a student assistant, it was my first study-relevant ‘adult job’, and I was really unsure whether I could live up to the expectations. But from day one, I’ve felt supported — the door has always been open, and questions are never seen as stupid, but as a path to learning.

I’m incredibly grateful to work in a department where praise, understanding, and flexibility are part of everyday life. I experience a high level of trust and flexibility in my work environment, which makes it possible to balance the job with my studies — and prioritize school during more intense periods.”

– Nanna, Student Assistant

How can a new employee make a unique impact on your company from day one?

“I’ve gained so much by investing socially in my workplace. Beyond forming new, meaningful friendships, having good relationships with my colleagues simply makes it more fun to go to work. It also makes it easier to ask for help when a task is unclear and to feel confident contributing with new ideas and questions. It’s a great feeling to be taken seriously — even by people with many years of experience.”
– Nanna, Student Assistant

“The best part of working with students and recent graduates is the fresh energy they bring. They see things with new eyes and often ask tons of questions about why we do things the way we do. That keeps us from becoming too set in our ways, and it means that students quickly realize they’re making a difference. They contribute new insights and ideas that we can actively develop within the department.”

– Helle, HR Development Consultant

How do you tackle challenges you meet?

“I think we’re really good at speaking up when a task feels difficult or when someone has too much on their plate. Most of the time, we find a solution together — and there’s always a colleague ready to help if you need it.”

– Nanna, Student Assistant

“We collaborate a lot across teams — even outside the organization. It’s rare that one department can solve a task on its own. Many challenges span across areas, so we work both internally and externally to find the best possible solutions to complex problems.”

– Helle, HR Development Consultant

What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that’s ever happened in the office?

“I’ve experienced everything from morning workouts and Saint Lucia processions to catapult testing and playful pranks from the office elf.”

– Nanna, Student Assistant

If your company could collaborate with any famous person or organization (alive or dead), who would it be and what would you achieve together?

“We have many ambitious plans in Esbjerg Kommune— both in terms of urban development and business growth. It’s so exciting to see where it’s all heading, and honestly, I wish I could team up with The Flash to speed things up and see the future now. We often joke that with all the major projects needing electricity, we could just build a giant hamster wheel powered by The Flash and generate our own energy in massive amounts.”

– Allan, Head of Secretariat

“If we could collaborate with any famous person, we’d go all in with Banksy. Just imagine the streets of Esbjerg as a canvas for his thought-provoking street art — right between offshore wind farms, oil rigs, and brutalist architecture. Together, we’d create an artistic energy revolution that makes people reflect on climate, community, and the future — not with a raised finger, but with plenty of wow-factor. It would be wild, visionary, and just a bit rebellious — exactly like Esbjerg at its best.”

– Susanne, Communications Consultant