From a hotel job to an engineering role

When Ahmad Al-Btoush moved to Norway, he assumed that his degree in civil engineering and strong English skills would make it relatively easy to find relevant work. Instead, he started out as a dishwasher in a hotel.

On Wednesday evening, he shared his story at the Mingel x Mangfoldsfest event at Haugesund Public Library. The event was organised by Welcome Hub Haugalandet as part of Mangfoldsfest 2026 and is part of efforts to make it easier for international newcomers to build networks and find their way into working life in Haugalandet.

Around 40 participants attended Haugesund Public Library to hear personal stories, advice and experiences regarding job opportunities, working life and belonging in Haugalandet. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

Started somewhere else

Al-Btoush is from Jordan and has studied in both Hungary and Poland. After moving to Haugalandet, he realised that education alone was not enough. He needed to learn Norwegian, gain local references and build a network.

The hotel job was not what he had trained for, but it gave him work experience, language practice and insight into Norwegian working life.

“There is nothing wrong with working as a dishwasher. At the same time, I knew I had an education and skills that I wanted to put to use,” Al-Btoush said.

He also got involved in voluntary work and took part in local events. This led to new connections and opportunities to practise Norwegian.

A work placement eventually provided him with local references and put him in touch with people who knew the job market. When Marine Aluminium advertised a new position, he applied again. This time, he got the job.

Today he works as a structural engineer.

“Learn the language, take part in activities and be open to different opportunities. You never know where you might meet the right person,” Al-Btoush said.

Ahmad Al-Btoush explained how language training, volunteer work, a hotel job and local references led him to a position as a structural engineer at Marine Aluminium. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

Meetings instead of CVs alone

Dag Haaland and Hilde Johannessen from Nav Haugesund-Utsira explained how Nav works to connect jobseekers and employers. An important part of this work involves smaller job fairs hosted directly at companies, where candidates can meet employers face to face.

Johannessen emphasised that a CV does not always reflect the whole person or their full potential.

“Something special happens when people meet in person. Employers get to see candidates they might otherwise not have considered, and candidates get to show more than what is written on paper,” she said.

Dag Haaland and Hilde Johannessen from Nav Haugesund-Utsira explained how Nav connects jobseekers and employers through smaller job fairs at workplaces. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

NAV encouraged jobseekers to keep their CVs updated, describe their skills clearly and remain open to positions with similar tasks to those they originally had in mind.

At the same time, there is a significant demand for labour. According to Nav’s 2026 business survey, companies in Rogaland are short of around 3.745 employees, and one in five companies report serious recruitment challenges. The evening emphasised that competence should not be lost due to a lack of networks or familiarity with Norwegian working life.

The first job does not need to be the dream job

From Adecco, Mette Kristin Hessen and Kristian Lie Alvestad highlighted the importance of tailoring applications, responding when recruiters reach out, and obtaining references from Norway.

References do not necessarily need to come from a job that matches your education. Part-time work, internships, courses or voluntary work can also demonstrate your work ethic and collaboration skills.

“The first job does not need to be the dream job. It can give you references, experience and an entry into Norwegian working life,” Hessen said.

Adecco also encouraged international jobseekers to learn basic Norwegian, even though many positions are advertised in English. It demonstrates both motivation and a willingness to become part of the workplace and society.

Mette Kristin Hessen and Kristian Lie Alvestad from Adecco shared advice on CVs, references, Norwegian language skills and how international jobseekers can make themselves visible to employers. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

Understanding the job market

Marco Hadisurya from Indonesia shared his journey to becoming an analysis engineer at DeepOcean. Before applying for jobs, he researched which countries and industries best matched his education and experience.

He pointed out that international job seekers should follow both major job portals and company websites. Many positions are not necessarily advertised on LinkedIn.

“You need to understand where your competence fits, keep track of when companies recruit, and search beyond the most common channels,” Hadisurya said.

He also highlighted responsibility, teamwork and autonomy as aspects of Norwegian working culture that he values. Employees are trusted, but at the same time expected to take responsibility for results.

Marco Hadisurya from Indonesia shared his experience of finding an engineering job in Norway. He now works as an analysis engineer at DeepOcean. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.

Across all contributions, a common message was that the path to relevant work rarely follows a straight line. Language, networks, local references and the willingness to take early steps can be just as important as formal education.

Mingel x Mangfoldsfest combined professional input with informal meetings between people. Photo: Torstein Tysvær Nymoen/Haugaland Vekst.