The Balancing Act | Career conundrum: follow interests or market realities

You know that moment of perplexed revelation when you learn something astonishing about your new country of residence? That moment, for me, was when I discovered that higher education is free for Danish citizens. I found it extraordinary (not to mention a little perplexing) that Danes could study anything they wanted without worrying about how they would pay for their education.

Tinker, tailor, soldier …
Imagine the possibilities. You can decide to be an astronaut, a neurosurgeon, a sculptor, a marine biologist …anything! All that matters is what you are passionate about and if you have what it takes to be accepted to your university of choice. But it looks like that is about to change. As it turns out, Denmark is apparently producing the wrong kind of graduates. What the young are studying and what the job market is demanding seem to be different. Among the recommendations to resolve this issue is a quota for education programs to reflect the demand in the job market and fewer students doing a master’s programme.

When I look back at my years as a student, I wonder if I would have chosen differently if I had the choice to be anything I wanted, regardless of cost. Or if not differently, would I have nurtured my passion and given serious thought to choosing a creative profession early on in life? Growing up in the 1990s in India meant your education choices were limited, depending on how well you did academically and, more importantly, what you could afford. Parents set aside a major portion of their savings for their children’s higher education. Often these savings were supplemented by student loans. The more lucrative the profession (read medicine and engineering), the higher the education costs.

If I could do it all again
If I had the choice to study whatever I wanted, regardless of cost, perhaps I wouldn’t have chosen the secure job-seekers’ middle path of pursuing a degree in commerce. And I wouldn’t have spent three (rather unproductive) years of studying accounting and economics before finally arriving at the conclusion that I would be rather miserable as a chartered accountant or banker. I always had a creative bent of mind and I recognised, belatedly, my natural talent and my inclination towards a career in mass media.

Contrary to my personal experience, I wonder if the highly educated, but unemployed youth in Denmark think they were wrong to follow their interests without paying heed to the realities of the job market. In hindsight, perhaps they wish their choice of career had been tempered by a dose of reality.

Moving, starting over
While I envy the Danes their free education, what has your personal experience been? If you are given an opportunity to start over, what will you do – will you follow your interest or passion even if it may mean not being able to get a good job when your education is completed? Or will you decide to get an education in a field that meets the demands of the job market?

The jury’s still out on this one.

 

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs