Working in the Netherlands - Recruitment

It is advisable to start looking for work before you leave for the Netherlands. The EURES adviser in your country of origin can help you at this stage. Once you arrive in the Netherlands, there are various options available.

Personal Contacts

The Dutch appreciate direct, personal contact. Although it is not customary to ask people directly for work, you can certainly inquire if someone knows who you should contact about possible job vacancies or for information about the job market. Usually, you will then be put in touch with people who may be able to help you in your search. Please note, however, that the Dutch do not like to have the feeling they are being 'forced' to help someone.

The Labour Exchange

The Dutch labour exchange – in the Netherlands, we now call this the CWI (Centre for Work and Income) – is very well placed to help you in your search for work. The CWIs play an active role in the Dutch job market. Not only do they help people find work, but also they also provide advice, information and further assistance. You do not have to be registered with a CWI in order to receive advice and assistance in looking for work. However, you must be registered in order to apply for unemployment benefit. To receive such benefit, you must be in possession of a personal tax and social security (SOFI) number. You also need a SOFI number to be able to work in the Netherlands. Every Dutch national is assigned a SOFI number at the age of 14. Foreigners legally resident in the Netherlands can apply to the Dutch tax authorities (Belastingdienst) for their SOFI number.

Employment Agencies

There are many employment agencies in the Netherlands. Their addresses can be found in the Yellow Pages (Gouden Gids), and there is also a host of information available on the Internet. Temporary work is an accepted and widespread form of employment. In the past, employment agencies concentrated on secretarial jobs, but nowadays there are specialised employment agencies for almost all professions and occupations. For example, there are agencies for nurses, computer experts, engineers, consultants and so on. There are even specialised agencies for students. Many young people start their career with an employment agency in order to gain work experience, which is considered very important in the Netherlands.

Advertisements

Job seekers are advised to consult the Dutch newspapers for job vacancies. The Saturday editions of NRC Handelsblad, De Volkskrant, De Telegraaf and the Algemeen Dagblad all contain job vacancy sections. Those in the NRC Handelsblad are mainly for managerial positions. De Volkskrant lists job ads for the public sector, academia and the medical profession. The papers that carry the most commercial vacancies are De Telegraaf and the Algemeen Dagblad.

Regional papers can also be consulted for jobs in the relevant region. During the week, two papers – Metro and Spits – are distributed free of charge at rail and bus stations. There are also a number of fortnightly magazines aimed at students and graduates, namely O-N, Carp and Intermediair. Both Intermediair and O-N have a yearbook, which is available free of charge at Dutch universities and colleges.

The Internet

The Internet is playing an increasingly important role in the Dutch job market. Many companies are encouraging candidates to apply online on their own websites, and there are many CV databases where job seekers can post their CV. Employers seeking new staff regularly check sites of this nature. According to recent surveys, 44 percent of Dutch employers advertise vacancies in this way.

EURES offers a CV search for all sectors.

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
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