Applying for a job in the Netherlands

The main sites to search are LinkedIn, Indeed, Nationale Vacaturebank and Werk.nl of UWV, in addition to the companies' own sites and specialist sector sites such as Emerce for tech.

• Many jobs work through temporary recruitment agencies (uitzendbureau) such as Randstad, Adecco, Yacht and Tempo-Team, which may be a first step towards a permanent contract.
• Networks and recommendations play a big role, so contact your acquaintances, communities and LinkedIn groups, and attend job fairs.
• Register with UWV if you are a job seeker and eligible for services.
• And update your LinkedIn profile in English and Dutch, and add a professional photo.

The Dutch CV is concise of one to two pages, ordered chronologically from the latest, beginning with your personal and contact details (a photo is optional and not required), then experience, education, skills and languages.

• State your language level honestly using the European framework (A1–C2).
• The motivation letter is one page explaining why you suit this job and this company specifically, with concrete examples and not general phrases.
• Address it to a named person if possible.
• Do not write about personal reasons far from the job.
• Adapt your letter for each job and do not send a generic copy.
• And check spelling mistakes carefully.

To assess your foreign university qualification request an evaluation from Nuffic (the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education) that equates it to the Dutch system, which is useful for applying.

• In regulated professions such as medicine, nursing, teaching, law and engineering you need official recognition and professional registration (BIG for health).
• The work permit depends on your status: EU citizens work freely, holders of suitable residence often work without a special permit, and for others the employer applies for a permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning) or qualifies as a sponsor of a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) through the IND.
• Check your permit before accepting any offer.

Dutch law prohibits discrimination in hiring because of origin, religion, gender, age, disability, orientation or marital status (Algemene wet gelijke behandeling).

• The employer may not ask you in the interview about pregnancy, plans for children, your religion or your health status except regarding your ability to do the work directly.
• Even so, studies indicate that holders of non-Dutch names receive fewer replies, so networks and recommendations help.
• If you feel you were discriminated against report to the Institute for Human Rights (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) or the anti-discrimination office in your municipality, and note what happened.

UWV (the Employee Insurance Agency) provides advice and support to job seekers, and the Werk.nl site to upload your CV and apply.

• Municipalities provide integration programmes, work tracks and training for migrants, especially for those with asylum or integration status.
• There are vocational language courses (taal op de werkvloer), work-learning tracks (leerwerktraject) and vocational training (MBO) in the learning-and-working system.
• Ask your adviser about training budgets (SLIM or the former STAP) and about support for women returning to work.
• If you want to work freelance register with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) and learn the tax rules and the risks of false self-employment.

How many pages is a Dutch CV usually?