Latest from Local Norway
Local Norway
4 hours ago
- Health
- Local Norway
Norway's 'Pant' bottle deposit system opens up new plastic containers
Containers for Norwegian supplement Sana-sol will be the first outside of regular drinking bottles that can now be placed in deposit machines at local supermarkets. The dietary supplement has been on sale since 1933 and can be found in the majority of grocery stores. Around 300,000 of Sana-sol bottles are sold annually in the country. It is estimated that 16,000 kilograms of plastic will be recycled thanks to it being included in the deposit system. The bottle of the multivitamin product is dark brown with a bright yellow label. It will have written on its label on the back that the deposit is now worth 2 Norwegian kroner, like the majority of cans and small bottles. And it might just be the start of a huge expansion in plastic containers being included in the system. Norways PANT system is run buy the company Infinitum, which says it is considering expanding the scheme to detergents and cooking oils plastic containers. Advertisement "This news means that 16,000 kilograms of plastic, which was previously sorted as plastic packaging at best, will now be collected with much greater certainty through the deposit system and recycled into new plastic products," said Line Berg Dørum, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Orkla Health. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Norway's bottle deposit system PANT Today's Norwegian deposit system collects around 93 percent of all the products that have added deposit. They are then recycled and used in the production of new bottles and other plastic products within the country.
Local Norway
19 hours ago
- Business
- Local Norway
'And then there's the ghosting': What no one tells you about job-hunting in Norway
Here's what no one tells you — but what you really need to know. 'Very few interviews, but hundreds of conversations' Kyle McClenahan, 35, from California, has lived in Norway for 12 years and works as a Growth Operations Advisor at Vouch. When asked how many interviews he's had in Norway, his answer is surprising: 'Very few scheduled interviews, but hundreds of conversations and following up introductions — that's a big part of it.' For him, one cultural difference that stands out is how much emphasis Norway places on having a clear, linear career path. 'In Norway, people tend to follow one direction their whole professional life. It's different from California, for example, where it's more common to have a diverse background and switch industries or roles more often,' he says. Another important characteristic to get used to is the radio silence. 'Being ghosted is a very regular thing. Not replying is normalized here, but if the recruiter or company is interested in your profile, they will reach out months later — they don't consider the time in between to be problematic.' Growth Operations Advisor, Kyle McClenahan, 35, from California. Photo Kyle McClenahan When it comes to what to avoid, McClenahan is very clear: 'Never criticise Norway or Norwegians. It's a consensus culture: the team would like to know you will understand Norway and you will fit in. That's a prevalent sentiment in my experience. Showing you're making an effort is a form of flattery. They like to see the effort of integrating. The less you stand out, the more you stand out as a candidate. Complaining or criticism is not seen as a positive trait.' To finish on a high note, he suggests a proactive attitude: 'The most effective thing is to find a way to go to events, webinars, and to build relationships. The distance between people is small — you have to show your face, be present. It won't guarantee you get the role, but it is the most valuable way to get to know the company, and for the company to get to know you.' READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about the job interview process in Norway Advertisement 'Once you are in, you're in' Donata Marciulionyte, 32, originally from Lithuania, moved from the UK to Norway six years ago. Today, she's a Senior Marketing Specialist at Hystar — but her path to landing a job wasn't easy. In her first three years, she sent out over 200 applications, which led to just 25 interviews. READ ALSO: 'Norway's hidden job market': Why networking is essential if you want to find work What surprised her most compared to job seeking in other countries was how long the process takes, even for highly qualified candidates. 'I constantly meet or hear about super educated internationals who would get a great job in seconds in other countries, and it takes up to six months to get an opportunity here. It's really hard, regardless of their education and experience.' Senior Marketing Specialist. Donata Marciulionyte, 32. Photo: Donata Marciulionyte And then there's the ghosting — a common thread among international applicants. 'When I arrived here, I was a recent graduate out of the university in the UK. I know a lot has changed, but 95 percent ghosted me.' Still, Donata learned how to navigate the system — and offers three clear, practical tips for jobseekers: Build a network Tweak your CV for every position. Be proactive and experiment with it all the time. Build a relationship with agencies and recruiters — ask for advice to help you, send you in the right direction. But perhaps the most important lesson is emotional resilience: 'It's very important to understand that in this process, you will experience a rollercoaster. You get rejections and start thinking you are the problem — maybe you should take a course or switch careers. But this is not you. Don't lose hope. Norway is a bit tricky. Once you are in, you are in.' Advertisement EXPLAINED: The main hurdles foreigners face when working in Norway What recruiters actually want Eva Thorsdottir, Global Talent Acquisition Specialist at SuperOffice, has seen it all and confirms that while the Norwegian job market is tough to crack, there are practical ways to make it easier. One of the most common mistakes, she feels, is not being personal enough. 'A misconception is that you need to be perfect. The best interviews I've had are the ones where people show themselves — show little quirks, fun facts, try to stay true to themselves,' she explains. Eva also highlights two important cultural factors to keep in mind: 'Referrals are very powerful. Also, show that you're going to stay, that you want to learn Norwegian, and share your motivation for being here. It really helps. I'm lucky that my company is very open to internationals — but integrating always helps.' Her practical tips: CV: 'Keep it to one page, two max. Make it concrete and focus on your impact, not just your tasks.' Photo: 'We do anonymous screening, but if you look approachable, it's a plus.' Cover letter: 'Optional. If you're repeating your CV, skip it. Show motivation and something personal.' Interview prep? 'Bring questions about the job and responsibilities. Study the company page, understand the product. Pro tip: if you find something they could improve, frame it positively — like 'how about implementing XYZ?' Also, dress comfy casual. And in the intro, try to be personal. Find common ground.' Follow-ups: 'Always follow up. You stay top of mind. A short message on LinkedIn is great.' Ghosting: 'Ask during the interview when you'll hear back. Put that date in your calendar. If you forget to ask previously, wait five working days and then check in.' Advertisement Useful links for startup job openings: Vouch The Hub For events and networking: Oslo Business Region PWN Norway Rede People
Local Norway
a day ago
- Business
- Local Norway
How will Norway's shock interest rate cut affect your finances?
What has changed? Norges Bank, Norway's central bank, announced that it is reducing its policy rate by a quarter point from 4.5 percent to 4.25 percent, following a unanimous decision of its Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee on June 18th. This marks the first cut in the interest rate in five years. While other central banks have reduced interest rates, Norges Bank has stuck fast to its 4.5 percent rate since December 2023. In a press conference, the bank said that the cut was the start of "a cautious normalisation of the policy rate", with the rate likely to be cut again over the next six months, probably in September and December, ending the year at just under 4 percent. In her press conference, the bank's governor Ida Wolden Bache conceded that the bank had not yet reached its 2 percent inflation target, but said that other economic considerations also needed to be taken into account. "The job of getting inflation back to target is not complete. But we believe the time has now come to ease the brakes a little." Advertisement What will the change mean to mortgage rates? Norway's largest bank, DNB, immediately followed the announcement with a quarter-point cut to its mortgage rate, taking the standard rate to 5.24 percent. Its competitors Nordea and SpareBank1 Sør-Norge followed shortly afterwards with their own cuts. This will bring welcome relief to homeowners with large mortgages. In six weeks' time, according to a calculation by Norway's public broadcaster NRK , a family with a 4m kroner mortgage will be paying about 800 kroner less a month in interest before tax. "It's gratifying that Norges Bank is reducing rates today," Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, wrote in a post on Facebook. "This is especially good news for everyone who has a mortgage." However, in the press conference Bache said that she did not expect mortgage lenders to pass through all of the future cuts the bank is planning. The bank expects the average mortgage rate to fall from 5.6 percent today to 4.6 percent in 2028. Advertisement What will the cuts mean for property prices? Lower interest rates, and the prospect of still lower rates in the future, are likely to further push up the price of apartments and detached houses in Norway as buyers calculate they will be able to afford the payments on larger loans. What will the change mean for Norwegian krone exchange rates? The krone has been steadily strengthening against the US dollar since the start of this year, dropping from close to 11.5 kroner to the dollar to around 9.8 earlier this week. After the rate cut was announced it shot back to about 10 kroner. This is good news for people who live in Norway but who are paid in dollars or euro, bringing an effective pay rise. It is an effective pay cut, however, for foreigners living in Norway and earning in kroner, meaning any money sent to relatives or savings accounts outside Norway will be worth less. The weakening of the krone will also make it more expensive for people living in Norway to travel abroad, especially to the eurozone. A euro, worth only 8.13 kroner in 2014, is worth 11.55 kroner, up from 11.44 before today's announcement. Advertisement What will the cuts mean for inf lation? The inflation rate in May was 3 percent , still well above the bank's 2 percent target, although the bank said in its announcement that, excluding energy prices, inflation had been "lower than expected" in recent months. The bank said that it expected restrained wage growth to pull the inflation rate back towards 2 percent even with the rate cuts. In his Facebook post, Gahr Støre, said the government could take some credit for the decision to cut rates, as could Norway's unions. "The government has led a responsible and safe economic policy, and the working parties [unions and employers] have agreed on responsible wage settlements, so that price growth can continue to go down and help lay the foundation for interest cuts." There is a risk, however, that the central bank has miscalculated and that by cutting rates too early, it will allow inflation to start to rise again. Kjetil Storesletten, Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota, said that he believed the bank was moving too soon to cut rates. " I think this was early. They probably thought that the Norwegian krone would finally strengthen. I expect that there will be a weak krone, and that there will be inflationary pressure in Norway," he told the TV2 broadcaster . With record low unemployment and oil money being spent, he believes that inflation will bounce back.
Local Norway
a day ago
- Business
- Local Norway
Norway's national bank announces surprise rate cut
Norges Bank lowered its policy rate by a quarter point to 4.25 percent and said it could make another cut this year "if the economy evolves broadly as currently projected". The bank had kept its rate unchanged since December 2023 after hiking them in efforts to tame inflation. Analysts had expected the bank to keep its rate unchanged until September. Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache said inflation had declined since its March monetary policy meeting. "The inflation outlook for the coming year indicates lower inflation than previously expected," she said. "A cautious normalisation of the policy rate will pave the way for inflation to return to target without restricting the economy more than necessary." Core inflation -- which excludes volatile energy prices -- slowed to 2.8 percent in May. While it is cooling, inflation remains above the central bank's two-percent target. Advertisement The rate cut comes as financial markets worry about the economic impact of US President Donald Trump's tariffs and the conflict between Israel and Iran. "The uncertainty surrounding the outlook is greater than normal," Norges Bank said in a statement. "An escalation of conflicts between countries and uncertainty about future trade policies may result in renewed financial market turbulence and could impact both Norwegian and international growth prospects," it said. The bank added: "If the economy takes a different path than currently envisaged, the policy rate path may also differ from that implied by the forecast."
Local Norway
2 days ago
- General
- Local Norway
'Gjør det selv': Essential vocabulary for talking about DIY in Norway
There's a reason why the fringes of each and every Norwegian town are crammed with branches of building supply stores and DIY chains like Montér, XL-Bygg , Byggtorget , Byggeriet , and Byggmax . Norwegians can be a bit reserved, but if you engage them in a discussion on a practical subject, such as how best to drain. The only problem for a foreigner, is that as soon as the talk strays into this territory, you quickly get into specialist vocabulary you have never previously encountered. In every building shop you'll find a section for jernvare , which literally means "iron goods", and covers all sorts of screws (skrue/ skruvar ), nails (spik/spiker), nuts ( mutter ), hooks ( krok/krokar ) and much else besides. There are also still ironmongers (jernvarehandel), particularly in towns too small for an out of town retail park. Most jobs will require tools, such as a screwdriver (s krutrekker ), saw ( sag ), or an adjustable spanner ( skiftenøkkel ). You'll need an electric drill or boremaskin. A hammer (hammare) will come in useful. Advertisement You'll also need a spirit level (vater) to keep your angles straight, and a folding ruler ( målestokk) or measuring tape ( måleband ), to measure everything out. You'll need to keep all this in a verktygslåda (toolbox). If you're engaged in a more ambitious DIY project, you will probably need wooden building materials. Wood as a material is tre. Often it's easiest when covering a wall or roof to use rupanel , tongue and groove panels that slot together. When you're putting on the finishing touches to a wall you'll need lister, or skirting boards. Once you've made the frame, you're most likely to cover the wall with plasterboard ( gipsplater ) or possibly chipboard (OSB or spanskskive ). You might stick in some insulation or isolasjon first, usually mineral wool ( steinull ). If you're painting a wall you will need paint, or maling , although to put it on you'll need to mala (paint). You might want to lay on some plaster (noun sparkel or verb spakla). And if you want to sand (slipa) the wall to make it smooth, you will need use sandpaper (sandpapir), or perhaps a sanding machine (slipamaskin). Swedes don't tend to go for this in a big way, but you might decide to use wallpaper (tapet) instead. Advertisement Redoing the bathroom is one of the most common renovation projects, and if you are convinced to do this, you'll need to get tiles ( fliser ), and grouting ( fugemasse ). If you are laying down a new bathroom floor, you might also need liquid putty or flytepakke , to make the floor slope down to the drain. Good luck!
