Herning municipality offers nursing jobs without formal applications

Home care services in Herning, Denmark, are now hiring nurses through informal drop-in interviews to simplify the application process, DR reports.

The municipality’s nursing division, Sygepleje Syd, is struggling to attract qualified applicants for vacant positions. To address the shortage, district manager Susanne Bach Andersen has introduced unstructured, in-person meetings where candidates can discuss opportunities without first submitting a written application.

“It’s non-committal. It’s informal. You can call, drop by, and learn about the workplace and the job,” Andersen told DR. She added that the approach also helps assess candidates more authentically, as written applications often appear generic or AI-generated.

The first drop-in session will be held on May 10.

The concept was inspired by Regionshospitalet Gødstrup, a nearby hospital where five departments—including the emergency unit—have used drop-in interviews for two to three years. Bente Graugaard Sørensen, head nurse in the emergency department, described the method as “super effective” for recruitment, allowing both sides to quickly gauge fit.

“We can immediately sense if there’s chemistry and a good match,” Sørensen said. “Applicants get to see the department, and sometimes they decide it’s not for them—that’s fine too.”

Drop-in interviews replace traditional applications with brief, on-site conversations. At Gødstrup Hospital, candidates submit just three lines explaining their interest before attending. Thisted Municipality’s care centers have also adopted the practice, though Denmark’s National Nursing Council reports no wider national uptake yet.

Tags: healthcare, recruitment, denmark