THE NETHERLANDS - EUROPE'S MOST INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY
Hours, attractive wages, flexible employment contracts, demand for strong profiles... These are the main factors which attract foreigners to the Netherlands. In fact, the country attracts thousands of young professionals in search of new opportunities every year. They are likely to be hired in various fields such as industry, health care, education, finance, tourism and hospitality, catering, construction, etc.
You can start your job search by checking out classified ads in local newspapers, on general and specialized job websites or on virtual employment platforms. You may as well spot a few big national and international firms to which you can send spontaneous applications or establish a first contact. You might be lucky, who knows? Registering with a recruitment agency should also help.
Working part-time during your studies
As an international student in Holland, you might want to take a part-time job, just as Dutch students do. Besides helping to cover your costs, a job can also give you useful work experience, allow you to participate in Dutch society and make it easier for you to learn the language. Your position as a job applicant is somewhat different from that of Dutch
students, however. That is what this factsheet is about.
How do I find a part-time job?
The easiest way to find a job is through an employment agency, or uitzendbureau. Some agencies specialise in jobs for students. The student affairs office at the Dutch institution where you are enrolled can provide addresses or may even have their own job agency. Of course you can also respond to advertisements or search for a job on the internet.
Your position is different from that of Dutch students and you will have to take several practical restrictions into account, such as your probable lack of fluency in the Dutch language. It goes without saying that if you are enrolled in an English-taught programme and have not had to learn any Dutch, certain jobs will be out of your reach. But even if
you do speak Dutch, some jobs simply require the fluency of a native speaker. Always make sure you know about the relevant formalities and rules before you begin to look for a job.
