Podcast
Internationals, watch our new IG podcast episode on building your career in The Netherlands. Host Anastasija Zihareva welcomes guests Marjolein Wiersma & Natalie Voo.
Make it in the North
(01:34 -02:05)
Make it in the North bridges the gap between English-speaking jobseekers and internationally minded companies located in the Northern Netherlands.
It is a non-profit project and platform fully in English with everything one needs to start building their career, or to take the next step of their career, in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe.
Via Make it in the North you can:
Find international-friendly jobs and companies in the North
Get practical tips on (net)working in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe
Join physical and online networking events and workshops
To Start
(05:00 - 13:18)
A very important pillar of Dutch (corporate) culture is: being proactive. If you applied to a job but did not hear back from the company, give them a call! Reach out! It's normal in the Dutch corporate culture to really go after what you want, in that way you show how seriously you take it. You can even create opportunities yourself by being proactive. If you like a company, a job or a course, reach out! Tell the company or institution why you like them, what you would like to do and what you could offer them. Again, proactivity is a very positive thing in the Netherlands, so it will mostly be appreciated.
Bonus: you will always learn something new from reaching out. If they ended up not wanting you or not liking your CV/motivation letter, it’s ok to ask for their feedback!You either show your eagerness that the company will appreciate, or learn how to improve your presentation for the next job application.
Natalie: "Networking is so important, especially if you are not fluent in Dutch. You have to leverage what you can. You just have to go for it and create your own opportunities."
Your rights
(13:19 - 19:48)
Unfortunately, not all employers uphold fair practices—even in the North. As an international you need to be careful and know your rights so no one can take advantage of you. A few things to take into account to protect yourself:
Do not work before your work permit is official. If you do so without one, you have no legal ground to stay on when your employer decides not to pay for the hours you’ve worked.
Make sure you have the right legal basis, meaning: a clear contract in which your hours, salary, rights and possibilities are stated.
The Netherlands has pretty good laws when it comes to employee rights. Therefore, it's good to educate yourself on them. Make it in the North lists them for you!
You can get free legal advice at Juridisch Loket
- You can report discrimination at Discriminatie.nl.
Natalie: "It's just like a number, that you can call for legal advice in the Netherlands, for free. I think most commonly people call them to ask for their legal rights as tenants."
Marjolein: "Especially if you have a landlord or employer telling you: 'well this is what the rules are' and you're like that sounds sus. Or even if it doesn't sound sus, but you just don't know, you can call Juridisch Loket."
How to find a studentjob
(19:50 - 23:55)
If you want to work just to make some money, you could walk around the city and look for places that want to hire people. Or go to the website of Make it in the North to see all the different international vacancies in the North.
As a University of Groningen student, there is also a big career database where the university and other companies add vacancies to. Most of these positions are specifically intended for students.
Marjolein: "In the city you will see lots of retail or hospitality places have an ad or poster in the window, inviting you to drop in and drop your CV. That’s a very common way!"
Internships
(23:55 - 33:30)
If you're aiming high with your internship search, be prepared for plenty of competition. Dutch graduates are also applying for these roles, and they’re generally in high demand. You'll need a strong CV and a compelling motivation letter—and a bit of luck never hurts.
To create an amazing CV and motivation letter you have to experiment with it. If your application doesn’t work out, think about what you can adjust, add or change? Make your documents specific to the company and the job, study the company and adjust your CV and cover letter to it.
Furthermore, internships in the Netherlands usually don't always pay very well. You need to approach this period of time as a possibility to get more experience, which will help you later on.
Marjolein: "The major issue that we detect is that they copy-paste the same CV and motivation letter and send it everywhere, only replacing the company name."
Staying in the Netherlands
(33:30 - 38:45)
As a non-EU student, you can stay for an orientation year after graduating from your bachelor’s. In this particular year, you don't need a work permit or visa to stay. You can use this time to explore potential job opportunities and decide whether you’d like to remain in the Netherlands.
If you've already experienced the beauty of the North, why not stay?
The Randstad may offer higher salaries, but the cost of living is also significantly higher. While there are more large international corporations, there's also greater competition—for housing, hospitality, jobs, internships, and traineeships.
Groningen, on the other hand, offers great opportunities for internationals in the digital (IT, data-driven marketing, data science), energy and health sectors. The city is also known for its work-life balance, giving you the space to grow your career without giving up the quality of life.
Looking for a job
(38:45 - 48:40)
Looking for a job can be challenging—especially if you don’t yet have a strong network to rely on. To get started, think about the type of roles you’re interested in. What kind of industry do you want to work in? Is there a specific company you’d like to join?
Once you’ve narrowed that down, it’s time to prepare. Have a standard cover letter ready that you can easily tailor for each application. Consider the skills required for the job—do you already have them? If not, look for ways to build or upgrade your skill set.
Learn Dutch! Not a necessity, but very useful to be able to speak Dutch at a Dutch office. Additionally, create a LinkedIn profile. It’s a great platform for discovering networking events, job vacancies, and connecting with recruiters and other professionals. Start building your network!
A few important events to look for are: reqruitement days organised by EBF and Marug and look for career days or events in Groningen! Furthermore, Make it in the north and the Career services of the RUG also offer valuable support for all things career-related—from writing your cover letter to practicing for job interviews.
Natalie: "Apply to jobs even if you don’t fit the job description perfectly. If you are interested, chances are you will get it."
Marjolein: "In the Netherlands it’s common that they put out vacancies for which they know it's unrealistic to find someone who ticks all the boxes. They just want the person who ticks as many boxes as possible."
Dutch working culture
(48:40 - 56:20)
The Netherlands is known for its excellent work-life balance. There isn’t a single, unified work culture; it varies depending on the sector or company. For example, startups tend to have a more relaxed work environment, while larger corporations often have a more structured hierarchy.
Communication in Dutch workplaces is typically very open and direct. You’re encouraged to give honest feedback to colleagues at all levels, and discussions are often collaborative. Unlike some cultures, there is little emphasis on hierarchy, so it's common to challenge or question higher-ups in a respectful manner.
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