Need to move abroad? Are you the type of person who embodies efficiency while also wanting to live a stress-free life as much as possible? The Netherlands is the country for you. With a population of 17 million, a booming economy, and one of the world’s highest rates of quality of life, it’s no surprise that people all around the globe are prioritizing the opportunity to work in the Netherlands.
Aspects concerning work in the Netherlands
The Netherlands depicts a formal business culture where all the emphasis is on accomplishing things within the given deadlines. The perks associated with salaries, social security benefits, and working hours, make it worthwhile to land a job in the Netherlands.
So, if you’re thinking about taking the leap and exploring new opportunities to work in the Netherlands, here are some of the highlights of working in the Netherlands that may enable you to make your decision.
Flexible working hours
Dutch employers, for the most part, acknowledge that there are many aspects to life other than just work. Regular work in the Netherlands starts from 8:00 a.m. but continuing it till 8:00 p.m. may even be frowned upon. Dutch prefers enjoying the quality of life with more than half of the population working part-time. The common working hours are between 38-40 hours in a week. Working in the Netherlands allows you to live the adage “work hard, play hard.”
Delightful commute to work
In the Netherlands, cycling is a popular mode of transportation. 800,000 bicycles are used in Amsterdam alone! Biking in major cities like Amsterdam can be a little overwhelming at times, but once you learn the ways of the Dutch cyclist, you will be able to enjoy the many benefits of biking to work in the Netherlands.
Standard of living
According to the World Happiness report 2020, the Netherlands is among the top 5 happiest countries in the world. The Dutch have considerably higher levels of life satisfaction than the global average, thanks to above-average career and earnings opportunities, housing, education, health, and environmental standards.
Growing economy
The Dutch economy is one of the most secure and affluent in the European Union. This, combined with an appealing tax system and location in the heart of Europe, has made the Netherlands extremely attractive to international businesses. Leading international companies such as Royal Dutch Shell and Unilever have their headquarters in the country, attracting a large number of international expertise. This demand is only increasing as more companies relocate there, creating a need for skilled workers in renewable energy, information technology, healthcare, and, most notably, engineering. It is an intelligent decision to work in the Netherlands if you want to work in a rapidly expanding market.
How do you get an opportunity to work in the Netherlands?
The presence of commercial businesses and multi-national companies have opened more opportunities for near/native English speakers with little or no fluency in Dutch required. However, it still requires some time and effort to get a job here as a foreigner. There is no best way for a foreigner to get a job in the Netherlands. There are, however, a few steps to take that should result in you getting a job in the Dutch labor market.
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Work Permit
There are three important documents that you require to work in the Netherlands, Work Permit, Resident Permit, and Long Stay Visa (MVV). The type of work permit and employment visa required to live and work in the Netherlands is determined by your home country. You do not, however, need to apply for a work permit or employment visa unless you are an investor or entrepreneur. The employer who serves as your host in the country is in charge of the application process.
Online postings & Recruitment agencies
As is the case with any labor market, you will find many online job postings on platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor. Some of the useful sources on jobs in Holland include EURES, the European employment services website for jobseekers and employers throughout Europe. The website of the Centre for Work and Income (CWI) at www.werk.nl, is Holland’s public employment service.
If you want to leave the job search on professionals then there are lots of recruitment agencies who especially look for international candidates such as Prismatixrecruitment.eu, Undutchables, Adams Recruitment, Unique Multilingual Services, Madison Parker, Randstad, etc. The thing to note is that each agency might be specializing in a different category, for example, offering mostly management roles, international positions, or jobs in IT.
Networking
Whether you are or not present in the country, you could still manage to find a job through Networking. Use of social media to connect with people already residing in the country and possibly make professional connections or attending networking events like job fairs organized by ex-pat communities of your region might help you accomplish the dream to work in the Netherlands.
CV Style
The CV should not be more than 2 pages and should always go along with the cover letter. You need to write the CV and cover letter in the company’s language (Dutch, English, French, or German are the most common) and should be tailored according to the posting.
The Netherlands happens to be a hotbed for companies as well as job-seekers from all around the globe. The priority to the quality of life along with hard work makes the Dutch country unique in itself.
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