Expertise in Labour Mobility has prepared practical fact sheets to support you in your job hunting abroad. A thorough preparation will give you a head start in the country of your choice. Here is some info on the Netherlands:

Work permits in the Netherlands

• EEA citizens are free to move and work wherever they want to, within the EEA (including the Netherlands).
• You must apply for a residence permit. This is valid for five years and should be issued within six months of your arrival.
• Contact the Dutch embassy in your home country for more information.

The job application procedure in the Netherlands

•  Expect questions about your motivation, your character, strengths and weaknesses, your education and the company itself.
• Take copies of your CV, diplomas and employer testimonials to an interview.
• At the end of the interview in the Netherlands it is common to ask some questions yourself.

Writing a CV in the Netherlands

• The key focus of your CV should be to persuade the employer to invite you for an interview. Therefore, your CV is a marketing tool, which should be adapted to the market in which you intend to use it.
• A Dutch CV uses a direct factual style and is written in reversed chronological order on (preferably) one page maximum.
• Include personal details, education, work experience and leisure activities.
• Highlight not only your qualifications, but your individual capabilities and what makes you ‘employable'.
• The application letter in the Netherlands
• The style should be short, direct and professional.
• Start with the reason for applying, followed by an explanation why you consider yourself the right candidate for the job.
• It is not necessary to include copies of official documents, unless specifically asked for.

Do:

• Look interested -- ask questions.
• Emphasise your soft skills.
• Explain previous roles and responsibilities.
• Ask for clarification if you don't understand the question.
• Be able to provide examples to prove your achievements.
• Ask questions at the end of the interview in the Netherlands.
• Phone in advance of a speculative application.

Don't:

• Sit until invited in a Dutch application interview.
• Criticise former employers.
• Be unmotivated for the job and/or organisation.
• Go over the top--stay calm and stick to the facts.
• Be offended by the typical Dutch directness ¡V it is not meant to be impolite!

Management culture in the Netherlands

• Dutch business is characterised by horizontal organisational structure.
• Dutch companies follow usually step-by-step plans.
• Meetings are informal and have the goal to reach consensus with every party involved. As a consequence meetings tend to be long and they are held quite often.
• Decisions are taken after all options have been discussed --the decision-making process is rather time consuming.
• On the other hand, ‘Time is money' in the Netherlands.