Build your network to land your next job in the North
Loads of Dutch people find out about job opportunities “via via”: through a friend who knows a guy who knows a gall. If you’re new here, you lack this formal/informal network, and you miss out on opportunities! Because many jobs simply never appear online: companies first check if they already have someone suitable in their network.
While many job opportunities are only one click away, applying to jobs without ever investing in your network is a bad idea.
Especially if you want to work in the North, where many smaller companies only put a job online if they cannot find someone suitable to fill a role through their formal-informal network.
For example, if a company is looking for a new marketing person, the recruiter might first ask the company's current marketing team if anyone knows people from a previous workplace or study that they think would fit in well, especially people they already had a positive work experience with.
And the recruiter might go through the company's stack of open applications to see if there is someone who wants to work at the company who is suitable for the job.
Both of these options are less work for the company than putting the job out and interviewing unknown candidates through several rounds, so it makes sense they'll try to find someone recommended through their network first.
If you've only recently arrived, this may sound incredibly daunting. How do you get your foot in the door if you don't know anyone yet?! You've guessed the answer: networking. Not just to find out about opportunities before they hit the job market, but also to get 'inside information' or even recommendations that will help your applications stand out from all the others.
Step 1: Where to find the right people?
Networking events and LinkedIn are your greatest tools for this in the North. The North of the Netherlands features tightly knit business communities, so if you go to the right event you’ll probably meet a good number of companies all in one place.
It’s possible that a manager within the company is present at the fair, if not the CEO themselves, and you could have a chat with them about the company. It’s also a good opportunity to make a solid first impression.
There are also various meetups being organised that typically feature a keynote speech followed by a networking opportunity. Use events like these to ask people where they’re working, how they found their job, and for any advice they might have to offer.
Make it in the North regularly organizes these types of events. You'll be able to find the upcoming ones on our events page.
On LinkedIn, you can literally look up recruiters and the people with the jobs you'd wanna have at companies that you find interesting. You don't even need to leave the house - but you do wanna make sure your own LinkedIn profile looks great.
Network at these events
Step 2: How to connect with the right people?
Yep, LinkedIn. Always add a personalized message when you add the person you found at an event or directly on Linkedin.
Hi! Your talk at [career event] was fantastic and I'd love to stay connected to see what else you're doing.
Hi! Your role at [company] is super interesting to me and I wonder if you mind connecting and perhaps have time to tell me something about what your job looks like?
You can also do this via email or via WhatsApp, but it's easier to stay connected over LinkedIn.
You want to add everyone you know on LinkedIn: study mates, your teachers, your neighbors, your friends. Especially local people, especially in your industry. On your feed, you will see what these people like and share, and you'll find out which people consistently bring relevant content to your front page. People who help you see local industry news and jobs are super helpful - and other people, you can simply unfollow.
Step 3: How to follow-up with the right people?
Maybe you came across a person who works for a company you’d be willing to work for. Why not invite them for a cup of coffee or a phone call and ask them about a typical week in their office? What do they like about their job? What don’t they like?
If you’re meeting a person who handles recruitment within the company you should ask them about their company culture, what type of person would fit in there. This gives you ammunition to use in your next cover letter to that company!
You want to make sure you come from a place of curiosity during a coffee or a call. Don't come with a "give me a job" attitude.
The end goal of networking is to find a job - but the conversation goal is to get information.
To keep the ball rolling, at the end of each coffee meetup ask the person you’re meeting to recommend someone else you should have a coffee with. Before you know it, your network will expand to a considerable size!
(Former) employees
At the events, you might bump into former employees of a company you are interested in. Pick their brains about their time working there! They’ll be able to give you a different perspective about things. They also don’t have to worry about possible competition since they’ve now moved on to a different workplace.
"Networking is a lot like nutrition and fitness: we know what to do, the hard part is making it a top priority."
Herminia Ibarra
Impressions from our previous Networking Mixer centered around IT and tech
Say thanks with a postcard
As your network grows, why not send a postcard to thank the people you meet along the way? It’s a nice gesture that apart from showing gratitude also reminds the person about your conversation. Perhaps they heard of a job opening and remember that you were thinking about a career in that area.
You never quite know which person you meet will be the one to introduce you to your future job, so keep on growing your network! Don't just connect with recruiters; also connect with fellow jobseekers in your field. If they found a job at a company you're interested in before you did, you will be able to ask them about the company and other opportunities there. And in turn, when you become part of a large circle, don’t forget to help newcomers who might start coming to you for advice.
Make it in the North spoke with Fransis Bosch from the Talent and Career Centre and recruiter Dick Wierenga from Spindle for advice on networking in the Netherlands.
