The last part of the bank is about getting started in everyday Dutch life. Both men and women work, and you should start looking for work as soon as possible. Work in industry (factories) is becoming scarcer, while there is a lot of work in health care (de zorg), and work in security is easier to find than work in agriculture. Most people find work through family, and you can register at an uitzendbureau (temp agency). At a job interview you shake hands first. Daily life has its own pictures: the Netherlands is wet and it rains a lot, the roads are busy, bicycles are everywhere, people spend a lot of time indoors, and when you visit someone you make an appointment first. Most people find life in the Netherlands expensive.
Pictures you will see in the exam
Bicycles
A job interview
A curriculum vitae
What you'll learn
- When to look for work (zo snel mogelijk) and where to register (een uitzendbureau)
- Which sectors have less work (industrie) and more work (de zorg)
- The job interview: first shake hands (eerst een hand geven)
- Everyday pictures: rain, busy roads, bicycles, living mostly indoors
- Customs: making an appointment before a visit, and why most people find life expensive (duur)
Real KNS questions on this topic
Q: "U heeft een sollicitatiegesprek met de directeur van een bedrijf. Geeft u eerst een hand of gaat u direct zitten?" (At a job interview, do you shake hands first or sit down?) — A: "Eerst een hand geven."
Q: "Waar kunt u zich inschrijven als u werk zoekt, bij een school of bij een uitzendbureau?" (Where can you register when you look for work?) — A: "Bij een uitzendbureau."
Frequently asked questions
Do these answers apply to everyone?
They are the answers the exam expects, based on how most people experience the labour market and daily life. Treat them as the typical situation, and learn the exact wording because the exam is multiple choice.
What does an uitzendbureau do?
It is a temp agency: you register there and the agency finds you temporary work with companies. It is the answer when the question asks where to register when you look for work.
Can I practise with the pictures?
Yes. Asagno's KNS study page shows each question with its picture, and you can listen to the Dutch question with the Listen button.