Fish factory CV for Norway: what the production supervisor scans for

A production supervisor at a Norwegian fish plant or salmon slaughterhouse spends less than a minute on your CV. She is looking for five answers: which shifts you can work, whether you have done physical work before, whether you know safety and hygiene routines, whether you hold a forklift certificate, and how much Norwegian you understand. Put those at the top and you are already ahead of most applicants.

Many applicants from abroad send a long, general CV listing everything they have ever done. A fish factory CV works the other way round: short, specific and honest. It is also a CV that staffing agencies read in exactly the same way.

What the production supervisor checks

Shifts and availability. Fish processing runs on shifts, and when a big catch comes in, extra hands are needed. Write it plainly: "Available for day, evening and weekend shifts. Night shifts possible." Add your start date and, for seasonal work, how long you can stay.

Physical work. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority describes work in fishing and aquaculture as heavy physical work, often in the cold and at night (Arbeidstilsynet, in Norwegian). Experience from warehouses, construction, farming, cleaning or any production line counts. Say what you did and for how long.

HMS and hygiene. HMS is the Norwegian abbreviation for health, environment and safety, and supervisors use it constantly. List any safety courses, and say you are used to protective equipment. If you have handled food before, write it — hygiene matters when the product is fish.

Forklift certificate. Driving a forklift with a fixed operator seat in Norway requires training from a certified provider (Arbeidstilsynet, in Norwegian). If you hold a Norwegian certificate (kompetansebevis), list the classes. If your training is foreign, say so honestly: with foreign qualifications you need permission from Norwegian authorities before operating a forklift here.

Language level. Safety instructions are often given in Norwegian. State your level honestly, ideally with CEFR: "Norwegian A2 — understands simple instructions. English B1." See language levels on a Norwegian CV.

The skeleton

One page, PDF, single column.

Name · phone · email · location
Availability: shifts and start date
Certificates: forklift, driving licence, safety and hygiene courses
Work experience, newest first
Education
Languages
References

A constructed example — invented, copy the shape and not the content:

Production operative (seasonal) — fish landing plant, Nordland (Jan–Apr 2025)
Filleting and packing cod on a processing line
Two-shift rotation, days and evenings, with weekend shifts during heavy landings
Wore protective equipment and followed food hygiene routines
Forklift class T4 in cold storage

Notice that it names the species, the task, the shift pattern and the equipment. That is exactly what the supervisor is scanning for.

What the pay data says

The median monthly salary for "food production operators" (operatører innen næringsmiddelproduksjon) was NOK 43,480 in 2025, with the middle half between 39,390 and 49,890 (Statistics Norway, table 11418). The fish processing industry had a legal minimum wage until 3 August 2026, when the regulation was repealed; a new proposal is under consideration (Arbeidstilsynet, in Norwegian, checked 2 October 2026). Always ask about the hourly rate and shift supplements.

Staffing agencies and recruiters

Many people start in fish processing through a staffing agency. Agencies must be approved by the Labour Inspection Authority, and you are entitled to the same pay and hours as a direct employee (Arbeidstilsynet, in Norwegian). No agency may charge you a fee for placing you in a job (Working Environment Services Act § 26, in Norwegian). If you live outside the EU/EEA, read the permit and scam section in fish factory interview questions before you send your CV to anyone who asks for money.

Common mistakes

No shift availability. The supervisor cannot place you on the rota.
"Forklift experience" without classes. Name the classes you are certified for.
Overstated Norwegian. It shows on day one and costs trust.
A long personal profile. Two lines is plenty; shifts and certificates matter more.
No reference. A former supervisor who can confirm you showed up every day is worth a lot.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply without fish experience? Yes. Build the CV on other physical work, attendance and precision, and state that you are ready for cold conditions and shifts.

Should I say a job was seasonal? Yes. Seasonal work is normal in this industry and shows you have done the job before.

Should I add a photo? It is neither required nor forbidden in Norway. The space is usually better used for shifts and certificates.

Next step

Run your CV through a free CV check against the ad, then read fish factory interview questions. If the job is closer to warehouse work, see the warehouse CV guide.