Arbeidsliv (working life)
Job adverts, applications, interviews and the words of the workplace.
15 minutes · A free lesson from B1: Selvstendig (independent) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
Working life
At a job interview
About you
- Jeg har jobbet som elektriker i fem år.Say: yai har yobuht soom ehluhktreekuhr ee fehm ohr.یائی ہار یوبَت سُوم اےلَکتریکَر ای فےم اور.Means: I have worked as an electrician for five years.
- Jeg er flink til å samarbeide.Say: yai ehr flink teel oh samarbaiduh.یائی اےر فلِنک تیل او ساماربائدَ.Means: I am good at working with others.
- Jeg lærer raskt.Say: yai laaruhr raskt.یائی لارَر راسکت.Means: I learn quickly.
Questions to ask
- Hvordan ser en vanlig arbeidsdag ut?Say: vordan sehr ehn vanli arbaidsdag oot?ووردان سےر اےن وانلِ آربائدسداگ اُوت?Means: What does a normal working day look like?
- Når kan jeg begynne?Say: nohr kan yai buhyuennuh?نور کان یائی بَییُننَ?Means: When can I start?
In Norway, working life rests on a few things everyone is expected to know: a written arbeidsavtale (employment contract), a normal working week of about 37.5 hours, at least four weeks and a day of holiday a year by law (many employers give five), and the right to join a fagforening (trade union). Being on time, telling your manager early when you are ill, and saying so when you do not understand are signs of a good colleague.
| arbeidsavtale | Say arbaidsavtaluh | آربائدساوتالَ | Means: an employment contract |
| fagforening | Say fagfoorehning | فاگفُورےنِنگ | Means: a trade union |
Et jobbintervju
Sign in to play the recording. The transcript:
- Leder: Fortell litt om deg selv.Say: furtehl lit om dai sehl.فُرتےل لِت اوم دائی سےل.Means: Tell me a little about yourself.
- Samira: Jeg heter Samira, og jeg er utdannet regnskapsfører fra Pakistan. I Norge har jeg hatt arbeidspraksis i et regnskapsbyrå.Say: yai hehtuhr sameera, oh yai ehr utdannuht rehngnskapsfoeruhr fra pakistan. ee norguh har yai hat arbaidspraksees ee eht rehngnskapsbueroh.یائی ہےتَر سامیرا, او یائی اےر اُتداننَت رےنگنسکاپسفوےرَر فرا پاکِستان. ای نورگَ ہار یائی ہات آربائدسپراکسیس ای اےت رےنگنسکاپسبیُرو.Means: My name is Samira, and I am a trained accountant from Pakistan. In Norway I have had a work placement at an accounting firm.
- Leder: Hva er dine sterke sider?Say: va ehr deenuh starkuh seeduhr?وا اےر دینَ ستارکَ سیدَر?Means: What are your strengths?
- Samira: Jeg er nøyaktig og lærer raskt. Dessuten er jeg flink til å samarbeide.Say: yai ehr noyakti oh laaruhr raskt. dehssootuhn ehr yai flink teel oh samarbaiduh.یائی اےر نوئاکتِ او لارَر راسکت. دےسسُوتَن اےر یائی فلِنک تیل او ساماربائدَ.Means: I am accurate and I learn quickly. Besides, I am good at working with others.
- Leder: Har du noen spørsmål til oss?Say: har doo nuuhn spoeshmohl teel os?ہار دُو نُاَن سپوےشمول تیل اوس?Means: Do you have any questions for us?
- Samira: Ja, hvordan ser en vanlig arbeidsdag ut hos dere?Say: ya, vordan sehr ehn vanli arbaidsdag oot hoos dehruh?یا, ووردان سےر اےن وانلِ آربائدسداگ اُوت ہُوس دےرَ?Means: Yes, what does a normal working day look like here?
Say it out loud (50 seconds): Svar på et vanlig intervjuspørsmål: Hva er dine sterke sider? Gi et eksempel.Say: svar poh eht vanli intarvyuspoeshmohl. va ehr deenuh starkuh seeduhr? yee eht ehksehmpuhl.سوار پو اےت وانلِ اِنتارویُسپوےشمول. وا اےر دینَ ستارکَ سیدَر? یی اےت اےکسےمپَل.Means: Answer a common interview question: What are your strengths? Give an example.
A model answer
Jeg er pålitelig og flink til å samarbeide. Da jeg hadde arbeidspraksis, ble en kollega syk, og jeg tok over oppgavene hennes i en uke. Lederen sa etterpå at hun var veldig fornøyd med meg.Say: yai ehr pohleetehli oh flink teel oh samarbaiduh. da yai haduh arbaidspraksees, bleh ehn kollehga suek, oh yai took oovuhr opgavehnuh hehnnuhs ee ehn ookuh. lehdehruhn sa ehtarpoh at hoon var vehlli fornoyd meh mai.یائی اےر پولیتےلِ او فلِنک تیل او ساماربائدَ. دا یائی ہادَ آربائدسپراکسیس, بلے اےن کوللےگا سیُک, او یائی تُوک اُووَر اوپگاوےنَ ہےننَس ای اےن اُوکَ. لےدےرَن سا اےتارپو ات ہُون وار وےللِ فورنوئد مے مائی.Means: I am reliable and good at working with others. When I had a work placement, a colleague fell ill, and I took over her tasks for a week. Afterwards the manager said that she was very pleased with me.
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: What is “en stillingsannonse”?
- A job advert
- A job interview
- A contract
Show the answer
A: A job advert — en stilling is a job, and en annonse an advert.
Quick check: What is “en sykmelding”?
- A sick child
- A health insurance card
- A doctor's note that you are off sick
Show the answer
C: A doctor's note that you are off sick — A doctor writes a sykmelding when you cannot work.
Quick check: Which question can you ask at the end of an interview?
- Jeg lærer raskt.
- Når kan jeg begynne?
- Jeg har jobbet som elektriker i fem år.
Show the answer
B: Når kan jeg begynne? — Når kan jeg begynne? asks when you can start.
Quick check: What does “fast stilling” mean?
- a part-time job
- a temporary job
- a permanent job
Show the answer
C: a permanent job — fast means permanent here.
Marked as soon as you finish — free with an account.Practise now