Here you will find a summary of the work-life related cultural experiences the Norwegian and German students have made during the project meetings in various media formats.
Working conditions in Norway - Fabia and Sabrina When we arrived at our internship company – Toyota Hell Bil – we immediately recognized the very pleasant work climate. We were nicely welcomed and Petter (Norvegian student) showed us around. After the tour we were invited to work on client vehicles. At the end of the working day we have figured out that the differences between working in Norway and working in Germany are not as big as imagined. Working climate is very relaxed and pleasant here. The normal working day is a bit shorter here compared to Germany: they start at 7.00 and finish at 15.00 (every day at Toyota Hell Bil). Additionally they have more breaks here: First 9.00 – 9.15, second 11.00 – 11.30 and the third 13.30 – 13.45. On average you could say that Norwegian employees take a break every 2 hours. Many work processes are very similar to the ones in Germany. However there are also some very particular differences: Here in Norway nobody rushes – but still the get stuff done. However they are not as quick as in Germany. In Germany there always is a lot of time pressure. It doesn’t seem like this in Norway. Another difference is the repair of body parts. In Germany they tend to repair damaged body parts. Only if it is more economical to exchange damaged parts they will be renewed. Here in Norway they seem to exchange damaged parts much earlier – as soon as filler would be involved to repair the damage. In Germany this wouldn’t be possible because there is the margin that – especially in small companies – is needed to earn some money. Very nice was the division of the different departments here at Toyota Hell Bil. Vehicle mechanics are located on the first floor with some vehicle lifts and their specific equipment. The car-painting department is divided into one area for disassembly, one for sanding and filler, the painting area, an assembly and a separate finishing area. Additionally they have their own car wash facility. Especially the area for sanding and filling is extraordinary. There is a seperate area consisting of three boxes for two vehicles each. All boxes have their own tool cabinet with abrasives and tapes etc. Additionally they have special curtains and an extraction system in order to be able to use filler right there. Furthermore they have a new system of infrared dryers that can be used anywhere inside of the boxes. All in all here in Norway car-painters don’t work very differently compared to the companies in Germany. They may have different focus points but work-safety measures not as strict as imagined. Working here in Norway has been pure pleasure and we have learned a lot.
Interview with Nico Nico is a German Painter who has been living in Trondheim for two years now. We met him during our internship periods and he was very open to answer some questions concerning his life here.
Sascha / Chris: Why did you move to Norway? Nico: I had been visiting Norway during my vacations for 15 years. During those years I had a good chance to learn a lot about Norwegian culture and the way people conduct their everyday life. That was so attractive to me that I decided to move here. Sascha / Chris: Was it difficult to settle down and to establish yourself? Nico: The start was very difficult – especially due to stereotypes Norwegians had. With help of a friend and my own persistence I was able to earn recognition and respect. Sascha / Chris: For how long have you been living here by now? Nico: In June 2015 it will have been two years. Sascha / Chris: Did they recognize your vocational training here in Norway? Nico: Yes, they did recognize my vocational training. However the company is not bound to this decision. Sascha / Chris: Has it been difficult for you to learn Norwegian? Nico: In the beginning it was very difficult. After six months I slowly but surely understood the Norwegians. After one year I was able to communicate in Norwegian. Sascha / Chris: Did they acknowledge you immediatly? Nico: It was difficult in the beginning. You have to prove yourself a lot and you have to be persistent. Never give up! Sascha / Chris: What are the major differences between Norway and Germany? Nico: The cost of living. Norway is really expensive compared to Germany. On the other hand working is much more relaxed here – hardly any real stress here. And it is difficult to find real friends here. Sascha / Chris: Did they recognize your German driver’s license? Nico: Yes, they did? They exchanged mine against a Norwegian driver’s license. Sascha / Chris: Thank you for answering our questions.
Conclusion Within this project students gained insights into the vocational education system and into every day working life of the other partner country. Studying and working within the same professions (two Norwegian-German-groups – painters and car-painters) with a shared understanding of the particular work-methods and materials laid the foundation for a mutual understanding. However cultural differences became clearly visible within the two professions: While Norwegian students are spending a great part of their vocational education in schools and gain professional practice within internships, German students are employed by companies. Therefore Norwegian students acquire their vocational training in somewhat protected peer-groups rather than having to take responsibility for the work / the products of a company. The second clearly noticeable difference was to be found looking at the working conditions inside of the companies. The Students identified three major differences comparing Norwegian and German companies: working-space, working-speed/-time and work-safety. While Norwegian companies tended to have much more space available to work (car-painting companies) the overall work-pace seemed to be much slower and more relaxed. Rest-times seemed much more natural. Additionally work-safety is a lot more emphasized in Norway with a clear focus on employees’ health. Obviously the cultural differences are so strong that Norwegian car-painting students really had a hard time staying in German car-painting companies at first due to the air quality inside of the working areas. Students noticed these differences and shared their impressions in a diary-blog and in video-interviews they conducted in among Norwegian and German students.
Evaluation
Here you will find the project evaluation done by the German students at the end of the third project meeting in Trondheim (German only).
Work-life culture
Here you will find a summary of the work-life related cultural experiences the Norwegian and German students have made during the project meetings in various media formats.
Working conditions in Norway - Fabia and Sabrina
When we arrived at our internship company – Toyota Hell Bil – we immediately recognized the very pleasant work climate. We were nicely welcomed and Petter (Norvegian student) showed us around. After the tour we were invited to work on client vehicles. At the end of the working day we have figured out that the differences between working in Norway and working in Germany are not as big as imagined.
Working climate is very relaxed and pleasant here. The normal working day is a bit shorter here compared to Germany: they start at 7.00 and finish at 15.00 (every day at Toyota Hell Bil). Additionally they have more breaks here: First 9.00 – 9.15, second 11.00 – 11.30 and the third 13.30 – 13.45. On average you could say that Norwegian employees take a break every 2 hours. Many work processes are very similar to the ones in Germany.
However there are also some very particular differences: Here in Norway nobody rushes – but still the get stuff done. However they are not as quick as in Germany. In Germany there always is a lot of time pressure. It doesn’t seem like this in Norway. Another difference is the repair of body parts. In Germany they tend to repair damaged body parts. Only if it is more economical to exchange damaged parts they will be renewed. Here in Norway they seem to exchange damaged parts much earlier – as soon as filler would be involved to repair the damage. In Germany this wouldn’t be possible because there is the margin that – especially in small companies – is needed to earn some money.
Very nice was the division of the different departments here at Toyota Hell Bil. Vehicle mechanics are located on the first floor with some vehicle lifts and their specific equipment. The car-painting department is divided into one area for disassembly, one for sanding and filler, the painting area, an assembly and a separate finishing area. Additionally they have their own car wash facility.
Especially the area for sanding and filling is extraordinary. There is a seperate area consisting of three boxes for two vehicles each. All boxes have their own tool cabinet with abrasives and tapes etc. Additionally they have special curtains and an extraction system in order to be able to use filler right there. Furthermore they have a new system of infrared dryers that can be used anywhere inside of the boxes.
All in all here in Norway car-painters don’t work very differently compared to the companies in Germany. They may have different focus points but work-safety measures not as strict as imagined. Working here in Norway has been pure pleasure and we have learned a lot.
Interview with Nico
Nico is a German Painter who has been living in Trondheim for two years now. We met him during our internship periods and he was very open to answer some questions concerning his life here.
Sascha / Chris: Why did you move to Norway?
Nico: I had been visiting Norway during my vacations for 15 years. During those years I had a good chance to learn a lot about Norwegian culture and the way people conduct their everyday life. That was so attractive to me that I decided to move here.
Sascha / Chris: Was it difficult to settle down and to establish yourself?
Nico: The start was very difficult – especially due to stereotypes Norwegians had. With help of a friend and my own persistence I was able to earn recognition and respect.
Sascha / Chris: For how long have you been living here by now?
Nico: In June 2015 it will have been two years.
Sascha / Chris: Did they recognize your vocational training here in Norway?
Nico: Yes, they did recognize my vocational training. However the company is not bound to this decision.
Sascha / Chris: Has it been difficult for you to learn Norwegian?
Nico: In the beginning it was very difficult. After six months I slowly but surely understood the Norwegians. After one year I was able to communicate in Norwegian.
Sascha / Chris: Did they acknowledge you immediatly?
Nico: It was difficult in the beginning. You have to prove yourself a lot and you have to be persistent. Never give up!
Sascha / Chris: What are the major differences between Norway and Germany?
Nico: The cost of living. Norway is really expensive compared to Germany. On the other hand working is much more relaxed here – hardly any real stress here. And it is difficult to find real friends here.
Sascha / Chris: Did they recognize your German driver’s license?
Nico: Yes, they did? They exchanged mine against a Norwegian driver’s license.
Sascha / Chris: Thank you for answering our questions.
Conclusion
Within this project students gained insights into the vocational education system and into every day working life of the other partner country. Studying and working within the same professions (two Norwegian-German-groups – painters and car-painters) with a shared understanding of the particular work-methods and materials laid the foundation for a mutual understanding.
However cultural differences became clearly visible within the two professions: While Norwegian students are spending a great part of their vocational education in schools and gain professional practice within internships, German students are employed by companies. Therefore Norwegian students acquire their vocational training in somewhat protected peer-groups rather than having to take responsibility for the work / the products of a company.
The second clearly noticeable difference was to be found looking at the working conditions inside of the companies. The Students identified three major differences comparing Norwegian and German companies: working-space, working-speed/-time and work-safety. While Norwegian companies tended to have much more space available to work (car-painting companies) the overall work-pace seemed to be much slower and more relaxed. Rest-times seemed much more natural. Additionally work-safety is a lot more emphasized in Norway with a clear focus on employees’ health. Obviously the cultural differences are so strong that Norwegian car-painting students really had a hard time staying in German car-painting companies at first due to the air quality inside of the working areas.
Students noticed these differences and shared their impressions in a diary-blog and in video-interviews they conducted in among Norwegian and German students.
Evaluation
Here you will find the project evaluation done by the German students at the end of the third project meeting in Trondheim (German only).