I can work in the Netherlands, but how do I find a job?
December 13, 2010 9:55 AM Subscribe
I'm entitled to work in the Netherlands, now how do I find a job? Only catch - I don't speak Dutch
I moved to Amsterdam with my partner. His employer sponsored my visa, which means I'm entitled to work. I've been here for four months, and I've spent all that time finishing my PhD in a humanities field. Now I'm a proofread or two away from submission, and I'm ready to start looking for a job.
I could look for a sessional teaching position, but I'm feeling quite burnt out on academia and I'd like to take this opportunity to get some more diverse work experience before I go back to Australia. I'm trying to let everyone I know here that I'm looking for work, and I'm bracing myself for the awfulness that are job search websites, I'm just after advice and suggestions relevant to my situation.
Here's a bit more about my skills/experience:
- I have all the experience you'd expect from someone who's finished a PhD - a ton of teaching, writing, research, presenting, writing funding applications, a bit of editing and so on. I want to emphasise that I did my PhD in a humanities field, which means I have no real technical skills other than, you know, completing a giant research project.
- I have some experience with copywriting. I helped an ex start his design-related business, and he mentioned that I'd make a great advertising copywriter. I've also done a bit of grant writing for artists, and I've learned that I have a skill for helping to make artists a bit more coherent. I've also done some copyediting.
- I started a food blog a while ago, and that got me an ongoing gig with a larger blog. As part of that, I'm fairly handy with a camera and flash, though by no means professional, but I'm used to photographing and editing a lot of food each week.
- Perhaps not wholly relevant, but I do standup, so I like to think I'm reasonably creative.
- Oh, I'm also a huge nerdly net native with a terrible RSS habit.
My #1 top dream ultimate job would be something entry level, preferably part time, in advertising or PR. Below that would be an internship in a similar field. Below that would be sessional teaching. As for the Dutch situation, I haven't even attempted to start learning while finishing my thesis, but I definitely want to put a lot of effort into learning Dutch next year. But right now I have 0 Dutch.
I'm a bit dim when it comes to finding jobs 'in the real world'. I went straight from my undergrad degree to my PhD, and while I don't regret this at all (there are certainly worse ways to spend your 20s!) I really want some more diverse work experience.
Is there any place for me in the job market in Amsterdam? What are my chances of finding work in these areas? And how do I start looking?
I moved to Amsterdam with my partner. His employer sponsored my visa, which means I'm entitled to work. I've been here for four months, and I've spent all that time finishing my PhD in a humanities field. Now I'm a proofread or two away from submission, and I'm ready to start looking for a job.
I could look for a sessional teaching position, but I'm feeling quite burnt out on academia and I'd like to take this opportunity to get some more diverse work experience before I go back to Australia. I'm trying to let everyone I know here that I'm looking for work, and I'm bracing myself for the awfulness that are job search websites, I'm just after advice and suggestions relevant to my situation.
Here's a bit more about my skills/experience:
- I have all the experience you'd expect from someone who's finished a PhD - a ton of teaching, writing, research, presenting, writing funding applications, a bit of editing and so on. I want to emphasise that I did my PhD in a humanities field, which means I have no real technical skills other than, you know, completing a giant research project.
- I have some experience with copywriting. I helped an ex start his design-related business, and he mentioned that I'd make a great advertising copywriter. I've also done a bit of grant writing for artists, and I've learned that I have a skill for helping to make artists a bit more coherent. I've also done some copyediting.
- I started a food blog a while ago, and that got me an ongoing gig with a larger blog. As part of that, I'm fairly handy with a camera and flash, though by no means professional, but I'm used to photographing and editing a lot of food each week.
- Perhaps not wholly relevant, but I do standup, so I like to think I'm reasonably creative.
- Oh, I'm also a huge nerdly net native with a terrible RSS habit.
My #1 top dream ultimate job would be something entry level, preferably part time, in advertising or PR. Below that would be an internship in a similar field. Below that would be sessional teaching. As for the Dutch situation, I haven't even attempted to start learning while finishing my thesis, but I definitely want to put a lot of effort into learning Dutch next year. But right now I have 0 Dutch.
I'm a bit dim when it comes to finding jobs 'in the real world'. I went straight from my undergrad degree to my PhD, and while I don't regret this at all (there are certainly worse ways to spend your 20s!) I really want some more diverse work experience.
Is there any place for me in the job market in Amsterdam? What are my chances of finding work in these areas? And how do I start looking?
Best answer: I got a job without speaking Dutch and without having a work permit. So you've got one up on me! :) But it will be hard, because you've got the economy working against you. My advice:
1. Make sure your CV plays up your native English skills. This is an advantage you have over native Dutch speakers in roles that require lots of writing in English.
2. Start looking at the web sites of big, international employers: Philips, Tom Tom, Canon, Adobe, Google, IBM, etc. Sorry, I'm in software so my recommendations are weighted toward technology. But you get the idea. The bigger the company, the more likely they are to hire expats with no Dutch skills. Also, the bigger the company, the more likely they are to hire interns.
3. Post your CV on monsterboard.nl. Google Chrome has a lovely built-in translator that will make Dutch sites fairly navigable. If you use Firefox, I recommend the gTranslate add-on. Be warned that most job posting boards here are full of recruiters and employment agencies. Probably not too much of a concern for you because you have a work permit, but personally I much prefer to apply directly to the company.
4. A bunch of other job boards:
Expatica
English Language Jobs
Multilingual Careers
Total Jobs
Unique Multilinguals
Tip Top Job
Nationale Vacaturebank
Note: I didn't have to actually use these myself, so I can't really vouch for their value.
5. Since you have a permit, recruiters like Undutchables, Adams', and Blue Lynx will be willing to work with you. They're probably your best bet, since they make money by putting people in jobs. They're also all used to working with expats.
6. Make lots of expat friends. There's a huge Australian expat community in Amsterdam. There seem to be a lot of Australian hair stylists, for some reason! Networking is an excellent way to get a job in the Netherlands. Having someone "on the inside" to vouch for you goes a long way.
7. Be willing to commute. It's not unusual for people to live in Utrecht and commute to Amsterdam, live in Amsterdam and commute to The Hague, etc. So you're competing against people who are willing to endure a one- to two-hour commute each way.
8. Act like you're actively trying to learn Dutch, even if you're not.
Feel free to send me a MeFi mail if you have any questions!
posted by neushoorn at 10:43 AM on December 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
1. Make sure your CV plays up your native English skills. This is an advantage you have over native Dutch speakers in roles that require lots of writing in English.
2. Start looking at the web sites of big, international employers: Philips, Tom Tom, Canon, Adobe, Google, IBM, etc. Sorry, I'm in software so my recommendations are weighted toward technology. But you get the idea. The bigger the company, the more likely they are to hire expats with no Dutch skills. Also, the bigger the company, the more likely they are to hire interns.
3. Post your CV on monsterboard.nl. Google Chrome has a lovely built-in translator that will make Dutch sites fairly navigable. If you use Firefox, I recommend the gTranslate add-on. Be warned that most job posting boards here are full of recruiters and employment agencies. Probably not too much of a concern for you because you have a work permit, but personally I much prefer to apply directly to the company.
4. A bunch of other job boards:
Expatica
English Language Jobs
Multilingual Careers
Total Jobs
Unique Multilinguals
Tip Top Job
Nationale Vacaturebank
Note: I didn't have to actually use these myself, so I can't really vouch for their value.
5. Since you have a permit, recruiters like Undutchables, Adams', and Blue Lynx will be willing to work with you. They're probably your best bet, since they make money by putting people in jobs. They're also all used to working with expats.
6. Make lots of expat friends. There's a huge Australian expat community in Amsterdam. There seem to be a lot of Australian hair stylists, for some reason! Networking is an excellent way to get a job in the Netherlands. Having someone "on the inside" to vouch for you goes a long way.
7. Be willing to commute. It's not unusual for people to live in Utrecht and commute to Amsterdam, live in Amsterdam and commute to The Hague, etc. So you're competing against people who are willing to endure a one- to two-hour commute each way.
8. Act like you're actively trying to learn Dutch, even if you're not.
Feel free to send me a MeFi mail if you have any questions!
posted by neushoorn at 10:43 AM on December 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
One thing that I can tell you is that English is very commonly spoken in the Netherlands. My Uncle has lived there for 30 years and rarely comes home or hangs out with Americans, but his answering machine message is in English.
posted by radioamy at 11:35 AM on December 13, 2010
posted by radioamy at 11:35 AM on December 13, 2010
Nike has a pretty large presence in the Netherlands. You might check them out.
posted by MonsieurBon at 12:02 PM on December 13, 2010
posted by MonsieurBon at 12:02 PM on December 13, 2010
Response by poster: Sidehedevil - I hadn't thought of that, I'll definitely follow it up!
Chbrooks - I've seen Undutchables, but job websites make me feel a bit nauseous, but I'll definitely follow it up.
Neushoorn - wow, so much advice! I'm just starting to appreciate how small the Netherlands. Thanks!
posted by nerdfish at 10:21 AM on December 15, 2010
Chbrooks - I've seen Undutchables, but job websites make me feel a bit nauseous, but I'll definitely follow it up.
Neushoorn - wow, so much advice! I'm just starting to appreciate how small the Netherlands. Thanks!
posted by nerdfish at 10:21 AM on December 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Beyond that, it seems like your best bet would be looking for work related specifically to the English-speaking tourism market and/or English-speaking expatriate community, yes? I mean, presuming you don't want to teach English per se.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:04 AM on December 13, 2010