Varde Kommune

How can a new employee make their unique mark on your organisation from day one? 

As a new employee, you can make your mark from day one by being yourself and sharing your thoughts and ideas. We love hearing from new colleagues because they can challenge the way we usually do things and bring fresh perspectives into the organisation. There is great openness to new viewpoints, and we need fresh eyes on long‑standing challenges. 

“As a new employee in the HR & Development department, I was immediately encouraged to ask all kinds of questions so my colleagues could rethink their ways of working. I was invited to walk’n’talks and felt that my ideas and thoughts were valued by the department from day one.” 

• Vilde, Development Consultant in HR & Development 

How do you handle the challenges you encounter? 

When we encounter challenges, we tackle them together – either by discussing them with our manager or colleagues, seeking guidance from one another, or having an open dialogue. It is important to us that no one is left to handle their challenges alone. 

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

Working in an administrative role in Varde Kommune is an exciting place to kickstart your career as a student, because we work across many different professional fields and types of tasks. Here, you quickly gain responsibility and have the opportunity to work with complex and meaningful assignments such as IT security, settlement initiatives, event planning, and occupational health and safety. The learning curve is steep, and you gain insight into both the welfare contract and the strategic challenges the municipality faces. At the same time, there are always colleagues ready to provide guidance and support, and you become involved in both small and large projects right from the start. 

In the Elderly area, students can also go on a kind of “practical internship” as a student assistant, for example at a care centre, where you gain insight into the everyday life you help to support as a consultant. 

What is the least great thing about working with you? 

Decision‑making processes can sometimes take a long time, because we operate within democratic and political frameworks. And when time is short, it can be difficult to deprioritize, as we have high ambitions and want to accomplish everything. It can be frustrating, but it also provides an opportunity to learn about collaboration, patience, and perseverance – creating genuine and meaningful change can take time. 

How do you celebrate successes, big or small, in your organisation? 

When we celebrate successes, we make them visible to each other – either by putting them up on a noticeboard or sharing them on our intranet. We also mark successes by gathering around cake or giving special recognition at a meeting. This creates a sense of community and pride in what we achieve together. And we never miss an opportunity to decorate with flags when a colleague has a birthday. 

“Cake – always cake! That’s allowed, even in the Social and Health Department.” 

• Christina, Development Consultant in the Elderly area 

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

If we could collaborate with a wellknown person, it would be Morten Münster (not the YouTuber, but the behavioral designer), who reminds us not to take everything too seriously and that you are good enough as you are. These are also values we try to live by in our everyday work – here, there is room to be yourself, appreciate your cheese sandwich, and leave early if you need to. 

Together with Morten Münster, we could create a stronger focus on the idea that by lowering your shoulders and being yourself, you actually perform at your best! 

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

If you, as a student, would like to collaborate with us, the best advice is to reach out and stay curious. There is room for your perspective here, and we are always ready for dialogue and to adapt tasks, so they make sense for both you and us. Be honest about what you can contribute with, and don’t be afraid to ask questions – there is always someone willing to help you move forward. 

Highlight and describe what you are most proud of when it comes to your workplace culture. 

One of the things we are most proud of in our workplace culture is the equal, respectful, and caring way we interact with one another. We have a high degree of freedom with responsibility and flexibility in both working hours and tasks. There is room for everyone – no question is too small, and you can always ask for help. The team spirit is strong, and we support each other, both in management and among colleagues. The culture is characterised by relaxed conversations, friendly teasing, and an openness to new and bold ideas. The overall atmosphere is shaped by a shared desire to create a fun and safe working environment. 

What is the funniest or most unexpected thing that has ever happened at the office? 

One day in December, the lights were turned off in all departments at the Town Hall, and the atmosphere instantly became magical. The sweetest children from a local kindergarten walked a Saint Lucia procession through the hallways, spreading light and joy as they went. Along the way, they handed out cookies, and the whole experience created a warm, festive, and cosy Christmas atmosphere.