Commuting by bike, happy and down to earth people and a good work-life balance. No wonder that The Netherlands comes to mind when thinking about working in a different country. But, how do you find work in The Netherlands? This article will help you out:

1. Employment agencies

Many companies and recruiters use recruitment agencies or employment agencies to find the right person. They often place vacancies on their website, but you can also give them a call or pass by their office:

Blue Lynx – Specialized in finding talented multilingual internationals great roles

Undutchables – Recruitment partner for internationals

Unique – Dutch Employment agency that also looks after multilingual jobs

Huxley – Specialized in finance, IT, engineering and supply chain

Page Personnel – Recruitment agency

2. Job boards

You can find work in The Netherlands by looking at different job boards. You can apply directly with the company through the job board and on some websites you can also place your resume. There are also job boards per region and niche. Think of sites aimed at marketing vacancies, sales vacancies, ICT vacancies, etc. Here you can find jobs in The Netherlands:

Expatica and I Am Expat– jobs for expats in The Netherlands

EURES – European Employment Services facilitates free movement between the EU by posting jobs and giving legal advice

Top Language Jobs – Multilingual jobs

Indeed – Search engine for vacancies. Here you can find millions of postings. Quite some vacancies are written in English.

Angel.co – Browse through hundreds of startup jobs in The Netherlands

TQ.co – Startup jobs in Amsterdam posted by the tech hub TQ

Of course there are more job boards for finding work in The Netherlands, but most of them are written in Dutch. Some well known Dutch job boards are Nationale Vacaturebank and Werk.nl.

3. Social Media

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Twitter
Recruiters can use Twitter to find suitable candidates. You can state in your Twitter biography that you’re looking for a new job. You can also follow accounts that post vacancies, such as the employment agencies and job boards listed above.

Facebook
Although Facebook is a personal network, there are certainly opportunities to find a job through this social network. For example, you can place a message that you’re looking for work, follow companies that you find interesting and connect with relevant groups within your field.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the most famous online network tool for professional use. The platform offers many opportunities for making contacts and finding vacancies. For example, on LinkedIn Jobs you can find many vacancies. You can also join relevant groups. Make sure you have in your LinkedIn settings that you are open to new job. This will make it easier for recruiters to approach you through LinkedIn.

4. Your own network

Most jobs are fulfilled through word of mouth. Networking is one of the most effective ways to get work. Let your family, friends and acquaintances (in The Netherlands) know that you are looking for work. Everyone knows other people; even though your direct network can not help you in your job search, they might know someone who can. There are many job opportunities available, make sure people think of you when a new opportunity arises. There are different ways to get the most out of your network. For example, you can make a list of people in your network who have many connections and see how you can best strengthen the relationship. If your network can use an upgrade, you can visit places where people come who can do something for you. Think of meetups, conferences etc.

5. Job fairs

Visiting job fairs can be a good way to look for work in The Netherlands. Every year there are several major career fairs such as the National Career Fair and the Dutch Career Days. You can get in touch with companies like Salesforce, ING, Unilever and Deloitte during those days. There will also be workshops, for example on how to craft the perfect resume. You can also check what kind of events are organized in the area in which you want to be employed. Think of professional associations, meetups and conferences in your field. You can get the most out of events by checking in advance who the visitors are. This way you can decide who you want to speak with and who can bring you a step closer to a job.

6. Open application

You do not have to wait until a vacancy becomes available at your favorite company, you can also send an application letter on your own initiative. Think about which companies you would like to work with and what you could mean to them. Here you can find an overview of international companies in Amsterdam. Sending an open application letter shows that you are motivated. You have less competition. You can call the company where you want to work in advance in order to obtain information and find out who you can address your application to. Also check in your network if you do not already know someone in the organization that can introduce you.

7. Advertisements

Although more and more vacancies can be found on the internet, the paper newspaper is still a good source of information. There are often many vacancies in the Saturday newspaper. In addition, you can make your search more specific by looking in a local newspaper or in specific journals and magazines. By reading the newspaper and the latest news in your field you also stay informed of interesting HR developments. Will Uber, for example, hire more people in the Netherlands? Is there a shortage of technical staff at Coolblue? You can respond to the latest developments at companies by sending a targeted open application.