annette birkmann


about me

I help people make good decisions about work, both when someone is being hired and when an employment relationship comes to an end.

In recruitment, I act as a sparring partner for hiring managers and take part in interviews with candidates. I bring hands-on recruitment experience across the Nordics and Germany, spanning multiple industries and roles. Among others, I have recruited for Tryg in Denmark and Norway, Trygg-Hansa in Sweden, and GlobalConnect across the Nordics and Germany.

In outplacement and career advising, I help employees who are facing something new, often with the question of whether it’s time for a completely different direction.

I know that question from my own life. I have a background as a lawyer and changed careers to recruitment, career advising and writing.

In my experience, good decisions start with an open mind and the courage to let your guard down. They are built on self-insight – on giving yourself time to look inward, ask the difficult questions and take your doubts seriously. That applies to the manager who is hiring as much as to the employee who is finding a new path.

I draw inspiration from far beyond the world of recruitment, which gives me new ways of seeing candidates, leaders and careers.

I am the author of Rejsen til mig (The Journey to Me) and co-author of Håndbog i ophavsret (Handbook of Copyright Law), and I also work as a speaker. I’m currently writing a practical guide to changing careers.

Professional background

I am certified in a range of recognised personality and ability assessments: Saville Assessment’s aptitude and personality assessments, HPTI, TEIQue and DISC from Thomas International, and Clevry’s personality and cognitive assessments. I am also an accredited Professional Facilitator of Self-Inquiry with The Art of Being Human and a certified Facilitator of The Living Inquiries.

I am a qualified Danish lawyer (advokat) with a law degree (cand.jur.) from Aarhus University and a Master of Intellectual Property Law from Stockholm University.

What drives me

My legal background has given me thoroughness and precision. But it has also taught me something even more important: how essential it is to work with something you truly care about.

Law wasn’t the right fit for me, and that experience is a big part of why I now help companies find the people who suit the job – and people find work that suits them.

When I’m not working
I love reading and writing, chasing a fuzzy yellow ball around a tennis court, yoga, meditation, riding motorcycles and kayaking. Above all, I love being in nature and consciously sensing the life we all are.