How to find jobs online in the Netherlands

Job hunting online has never been easier. Find out what you should be searching for with our guide to finding jobs online in the Netherlands.

Quine Brown, Marketing Assistant at Undutchables Recruitment Agency, which specializes in international candidates, gives her tips on how to find a job online in the Netherlands, and how to promote your personal brand online.

“Start by building an online profile which showcases your portfolio and skills,” she explains. “This should complement, rather than replace, your CV. It will be an excellent resource for employers and recruitment agents to find you,” she adds.

&Work

If you’re looking for work in the Netherlands, check out &Work. You'll find a range of job vacancies on their site, from developers and designers to lawyers and notaries. See how &Work can help you find your next role in the Netherlands.

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Build your brand

If you plan to find a job online in the Netherlands, knock your online profile into shape. The internet job pool has many fish. A snazzy online profile makes you a bigger fish.

“An online profile gives your personal brand a competitive edge. It could be a polished, up-to-date LinkedIn profile, your own website or blog, or even a video resume – all go down well with employers and recruitment agencies,” says Brown.

A great portfolio showcases your capabilities (work examples or client testimonials, for example), is easy to navigate, and easy to find. Include keywords in the pages that you would expect (or want!) people to use to find you.

Online networking

The old adage ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ still rings true, even in the digital age – and that includes online job hunting. Online networking is effective because you can connect quickly and get your message across by, for example, participating in professional online forums or discussion groups (for example, the Amsterdam Expat or Expats in the Hague Facebook pages), where you can seek advice on jobs.

LinkedIn is now the go-to resource for many professional job seekers and networkers. On this platform, you can connect very effectively with Dutch companies – and with HR personnel who post jobs.

Brown also suggests using social media to reach out to companies, even if they aren’t advertising jobs.

“If a company is hosting an event advertised on social media, attend. Equip yourself with knowledge about the company to make a good impression. You never know what might turn up, or who you’ll meet,” she says.

She says the usual rules of engagement apply when engaging with companies via social media.

“Assume that a prospective employer will, for example, check out your Facebook and other platforms. Keep it as professional as you can.”

Use the Internet to do your research on the company, too. Don’t just look through the rose-tinted spectacles of the glossy corporate website, its polished testimonials and idealistic mission statements. Go through news (the good, the bad and the ugly!) about the company, or delve into sites like Glassdoor to find out what it’s really like to work there from the people that do.

Online job hunting: does it feel too much like hard work?

You might get lucky, but while hammering search engines may feel as natural as breathing for many, online job hunting is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. Landing the gig is arduous – application forms, tailored cover letters, motivation letters. And filters. Lots of filters.

If you’re finding Google Translate is your best friend during the job search, then you might be on the wrong track. You should find sites that have English (or other) language pages if you’re a non-Dutch speaker looking for a job online in the Netherlands.

Signing up to a specialist recruitment agency is another good strategy, says Brown.

“Only a relatively small percentage of jobs are actually advertised online,” she says. “A recruitment agency will know those that aren’t.”

Finally, should we be worried about data privacy?

“Don’t leave too much personal information on your social media. If you’re dealing with a reputable company – or recruitment agency – you can be confident that your details are safe. Be sure that information will only be passed on with your consent,” she explains.

Where to find a job online in the Netherlands

For many expats, the first port of call when it comes to finding a job in the Netherlands is checking out local job websites. Not only might they help you find your next dream job, but they’ll also give you a good idea of the local job market conditions.

There are a number of job sites listing openings in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and across the Netherlands and in many sectors popular with expats. These job sites include the following:

• Expatica jobs – English-speaking jobs across the country.
• &Work – nationwide site with ICT, tech, and finance roles.
• Good Company – ICT, tech, marketing and more.
• Jouw ICT Vacature – for ICT vacancies, but only in Dutch.
• LinkedIn – the tried, tested, and trusted portal for targeted job searches, and a good shop window for candidates to promote their credentials.
• ExpatJobs – a Europe-wide site.
• College Life – Dutch job listings and more
• European Employment Services (EURES) is the European Commission’s job mobility portal for EU, EEA and Swiss job seekers.
• Stepstone – part of a global network.
• Top Language Jobs – English-language and multilingual jobs.
• Careerjet – employment search engine which identifies job listings from both large and specialist recruitment sites, Dutch only.
• AngelList – specializing in jobs with start-ups.
• Honeypot – tech-focused job platform in Europe.
• Werk.nl – the Netherlands public employment service with a network of partner sites and employment agencies and an online database of more than 125,000 vacancies. Caters mainly to Dutch speakers.
• Nationale Vacaturebank – general vacancies, although the website is in Dutch only.
• Intermediair – mostly Dutch positions.
• Mundialz – an integrated careers platform that provides job seekers with work and lifestyle opportunities around the world.
• Monsterboard.nl – part of a global network, although the website is in Dutch only.
• Indeed.nl – part of a global network, although the website is in Dutch only.
• Glassdoor – part of a global network, although the website is in Dutch only.

Find a job online in the Netherlands: manual labor

As one of the EU’s strongest economies, and offering an enviable quality of life, the Netherlands is a magnet for seasonal, temporary, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers. Many of the main job sites in the Netherlands post openings for manual labor jobs, as well as Careerstructure for listings in English.

Retail Choice is handy for shop workers and service industry jobs, while for individuals looking to secure work in the Netherlands’ buoyant hospitality and catering industry, HotelCareer includes job postings for full time, management as well as seasonal and part-time work. Caterer.com is similar, while Hospitalityonline.com offers a wide range of job options for expats.

If picking strawberries under the warm Dutch summer sun is more your thing, Seasonalwork.nl lists jobs for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals looking to work in the agriculture sector in the Netherlands. Check out also the relevant page on the Immigration and Naturalization Service website, which offers information on the formalities and regulations of working in the Netherlands for seasonal workers.