IT & TECH
Career development when you don’t have time — a conversation with IT consultant Arne Trodahl
Career changes don’t always happen because something is wrong. Sometimes they happen because life changes — and time becomes the scarcest resource.
“Mapping out the market myself would have taken a considerable amount of time and energy. That didn’t really appeal to me at the time.”
This is the story of Arne Trodahl, an IT consultant who developed his career with Worko over time. Busy is normal — that’s why we career plan in the background, while you focus on your current projects.
Not looking — and not available to talk
When Worko first contacted Arne in 2023, he had been working at the same company for many years. With small children at home, stability mattered, so he wasn’t thinking about changing jobs at all.
Like many experienced developers, Arne was familiar with recruiter outreach — especially on LinkedIn. But most of it felt disconnected from what he actually did.
“You get a lot of messages saying things like ‘your profile is hot’ or calls from someone non-technical,” he explains. “The roles didn’t really match me, and it rarely felt relevant for where I was at that moment.”
Timing was another challenge. Between work, family life, and everyday responsibilities, there simply wasn’t space to engage in traditional recruitment processes.
“My experience is that it’s challenging to find a good time to talk on the phone,” Arne says. “If it’s not pre-planned, I’m usually in the middle of something.”
An open invitation — without pressure
This is where the tone of Worko’s outreach made a difference.
“One email said: If you want a conversation now, we can do that — and if not, it’s also fine to talk in a year,” Arne recalls. “That removed all pressure. Many regular headhunters drop you if you’re not immediately available.”
That low-pressure approach stayed with him.
“I’ve experienced pressure before,” he says. “Messages like ‘don’t miss out’ or ‘you have to look at this now.’ That usually puts me off.”
With Worko, the dialogue remained open — and optional. When he eventually took a meeting, the focus wasn’t on selling a role.
“If it had been pushy, I wouldn’t have accepted an interview, but that approach made it very easy to say yes later. It felt like outsourcing the job-hunting part, which was actually very appealing.”
What mattered when ready
When Arne did start to reflect more seriously, he had a clear idea of what he wanted — even if he hadn’t put it down as a formal career plan.
“I had a few bullet points,” he says. “I liked the idea of working with other senior people in a culture where you can learn from colleagues, and a strong technical environment. I’ve felt that my potential for growth needed to be challenged.”
Having worked at a distance from the customers for many years, he also wanted to work closer to them. But despite knowing there was room for improvements like these, time was still the main constraint.
Less effort, more context
This is where Arne felt the biggest value of career planning with Worko — providing insights into the market with trends, needs, and what companies are actually looking for. Having that context upfront reduced both effort and uncertainty.
“It felt like outsourcing everything related to recruitment,” he says. “And because it was non-binding, the threshold to engage was very low.”
He also felt confident in the perspective he was getting.
“I understood that you talk to many people in similar situations. That gave me confidence that you understand what’s going on in the market.”
Why this felt right
When the new company was introduced, the suggestion made a lot of sense.
“The culture sounded good,” he says. “Skilled people. A place where I could work with others at a high level. After the first conversation with the company, it felt new and exciting, and I ended up in a place where I can spar with colleagues — that was important to me.”
“And there’s a lot of experience within my unit,” Arne continues. “It’s inspiring to work with people like that.”
The value of career planning over time — low effort, high impact
Looking back, Arne describes the process as long, but natural. The value was never about speed. He appreciated knowing that the conversation could stay open.
“Two years passed from first contact to signing, and that was completely fine. It saved me time and reduced stress. I lost nothing by talking to Worko. There was no pressure, no obligation.”
When asked if he would recommend Worko, it’s a definite yes — especially to people like himself. For him, the difference was simple.
“If you’re someone who would appreciate professionals coming alongside you in your job hunt, working for you as you go about your busy life, or even just reminding you that there are other interesting opportunitues, Worko is a great service. You start with an open, non-binding conversation, with people who understand the market — and who genuinely want to help.”
Curious about your next step — without adding more to your plate?
You don’t have to be ready for something new — you don’t even have to be looking. Sometimes, it’s enough to have someone keep an eye on the market, while you focus on everything else.
Worko is a career planner, helping you find a great match for your next step. We listen, track opportunities in the background, and introduce you only when the right role shows up.
Let us help with your career management.
Want more career tips, inspiration, and insights in your industry? Read more on our blog!
