From linguistics to public administration: I found a job where I use my entire skill set

“I decided early on that I wanted to study English, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do afterwards. At first, I kept the door open to becoming an upper-secondary school teacher, but along the way I realised that wasn’t the direction I wanted to go in. What really captured my interest was linguistics and how we use language – and that became an important thread running through my working life.

A decisive moment for me was an elective course early in my bachelor’s degree with a professor who was deeply engaged in his field and his students. Through him, I became involved in a research centre at SDU and had the opportunity to take part in seminars and conferences – even as a bachelor’s student. That led to a student job on a research project, which I had for several years. There, I wasn’t just a student assistant; I took part in interviews, analyses and writing, and I was a co-author on an article. It was the first time I experienced how my academic skills could be used in practice.

Today I work at the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, where my primary task is to establish grade conversions for international applicants to Danish higher education programmes. It is a technical field involving statistics and international data, but also an area of considerable political and public interest. There are enquiries from citizens, cases for the minister, and ongoing dialogue with both Danish and international stakeholders. I use both my analytical skills and my language competencies when communicating in Danish and English.

In addition, I work on projects related to research funding and gender balance in the research sector, e.g. as part of an EU collaboration, where I collect and quality-assure Danish data. I am also often asked to proofread and translate larger surveys, because I have an eye for detail and language.

Among of the most important things that I have taken with me from my studies is my attention to detail and the ability to analyse context and audience. I have learned to adapt my communication – both written and oral – and I use that every day in my work as a civil servant. At the same time, I have always been driven by a desire to learn and to take responsibility. That was true during my studies, and it still is. For me, studying English has given me a solid toolbox that I use in many different ways in a working life I didn’t necessarily imagine from the outset.”