From Turkey to Norway - Meet Pinar Dumlu

If you ever meet Pinar – IRL or digitally – you’ll for sure be fascinated by her charisma, warmth, and engagement. She's a fabulous digital designer, supportive and engaging colleague, and very much appreciated by our clients. Having started her job in EGGS in the middle of a pandemic, she's had somewhat of an unusual beginning to her journey with us. To find out what her experience has been like, we met her (on Teams, of course!) for a chat.

Pinar, we’re so curious to hear about your experience of having started in EGGS. What has it been like to move to a new country?

Well, I already had an idea of what I was diving into as I had studied in Norway when I did an exchange at NTNU in Trondheim. I loved my experience then – the culture, the people, and the design style, so I decided to move back to Norway to work. So, the second time around, I was kind of prepared for what it would be like. I guess the hardest thing has been the bureaucracy of moving to a new country. There’s a lot of paperwork involved. However, EGGS has been very helpful as an employer in this aspect. You’ve done everything you can to help smoothen the process. I feel like I have a strong community surrounding, where I have the support I need.

What do you think about Norway? What is it like to live and work here?

I really like that it's a trust-based culture. Both in society as a whole and also in EGGS as a company. As a country, I feel Norway and Norwegians are very wholesome, it's cozy, and I appreciate the general focus on sustainability. Workwise, I feel the culture fits me, and vice versa. When I was looking for a job, I looked for a place where I could be myself. I wanted to be in a place with an environment of trust, with people you can rely on and who care – both about other people and about their work. EGGS is what I was looking for! It’s a trusting and caring environment where people really love what they do and believe they can make a difference. I appreciate that people are kind, constructive, and honest. People say what they mean; you don't have to "interpret" and guess all the time. What you see is what you get!

When I was looking for a job, I looked for a place where I could be myself. I wanted to be in a place with an environment of trust, with people you can rely on and who care – both about other people and about their work. EGGS is what I was looking for!

What’s the biggest difference between working in Norway and working in other countries that you have experience from?

I think, in general, that Norway, and perhaps all of Scandinavia, is quite unique in the sense of having generally flat organisations, like in EGGS. There’s little focus on hierarchy and titles. You can speak directly to anyone in the organisation, regardless of your title. In EGGS, you’re encouraged to be yourself and to express yourself. That makes it easy to be open and make your voice and opinion heard. In my opinion, this is a great way to build an innovative company culture and making great things together.

What has it been like to start a new job in the middle of a pandemic and social distancing?

I won't lie. It's been quite challenging. But EGGS has been really supportive and accommodating. But because of the social restrictions, there are additional challenges when starting a new life in a new place. It’s a real challenge when everything is sort of in the air. Normally, you can meet new people, visit places and so on, but now things are different. However, I've felt that I've received a very warm and surprisingly present welcome from all my colleagues! I was nervous in the beginning because everything was digital, but everyone was super friendly, greeted me with open arms. It’s been as soft as possible.

What do you think of the onboarding you’ve gotten in EGGS?

I have had a great onboarding experience, even though I worked the first three months remotely from Turkey. Everything was done online for that time, but once I got here, I’ve also spent some time in the office. There are some advantages to not meeting everyone physically as well. You get more one-on-one time with those that you meet – digitally or physically. So, I feel you get to have deeper conversations than you would when spending time together with everyone at once.

There are some advantages to not meeting everyone physically as well. You get more one-on-one time with those that you meet – digitally or physically.

Do you have any tips for people who want to move to another country for work?

Don’t go somewhere with expectations. Every place has pros and cons, its beautiful and challenging sides. You need to go with an open mind and be flexible. And moving abroad is not just for “certain” people - anyone can do it. It’s just a matter of having a mindset of accepting that you are in this new context now, and you need to make the most of it. I’ve moved a lot in my life, and I’ve learned that there is no perfect place. You have to immerse yourself in the culture, learn about it and understand why things are the way they are. It’s like happiness - it’s a mindset. Also, I think it's important to make an effort to learn the local language. It's such an important key to understand the culture and to feel included and integrated.

I’ve moved a lot in my life, and I’ve learned that there is no perfect place. You have to immerse yourself in the culture, learn about it and understand why things are the way they are.