How to start your career (again)Â as an expat spouse?
So you found yourself moving to the Netherlands because your partner found a great job opportunity in Groningen, Friesland, or Drenthe.
While that’s great news for them, you may also be itching to get back to doing the work you love, or perhaps you’ll use this opportunity to try something new. In this article we’ll guide you through the main things you’ll need to keep in mind when considering to (re-)start your career over here in the North of the Netherlands.
Your start in the North
Finding a new job can be important... but if you've recently arrived in the Netherlands, you also have a million other things to do. If your partner works full-time, a lot of the practical matters and figuring things out fall on you. Maybe you even need to juggle family life with young children on top of that. Altogether, it’s not strange that this is an intense time, and you shouldn't expect yourself to get everything done - including finding a job - in a couple of weeks. Adapting to Dutch culture, language, and the Northern Dutch way of life will take time and effort, but it's really worth the investment to help you find joy in this completely new place, and it will help you on your career journey once you are ready for it.
It’s helpful to manage your expectations to avoid feeling overwhelmed
- It may feel lonely to have your spouse work full-time while you’re still planning your next steps. You're not alone in this experience, and it's helpful to focus on finding yourself a local community - a group of people that's YOUR group of people
- Be prepared for your job hunt to take at least a couple of months
- While using English in day-to-day life gets you quite far, by far most jobs require Dutch proficiency
- While Dutch people are generally helpful, many expats find it difficult to form close social connections with their Dutch colleagues
To ease some of your burden, you can reach out to the International Welcome Center North (IWCN). Its team is there to support international newcomers in smoothly transitioning to settling in the Northern Netherlands. Aside from advice on administrative matters, the IWCN organises many social events that can help you meet fellow expats and locals.
Before looking for a job
If you already have a job lined up or are already familiar with the lay of the land, you can skip this section. However, if you’re still not 100% sure of the direction you’re heading in, it may be a good idea to start thinking about whether you’ll be transitioning into a role which is similar to the one you left or if you’d like to pivot and head in a different direction.
Once we've figured out the answers to the following questions, it'll be clearer for you what your options are. (We'll help you figure out the answer to each of these questions further below.)
- Are your qualifications recognised in the Netherlands?
- Do you have the right skills for the job?
- Do you need to speak fluent Dutch for this type of job in the North?
If your previous role is not easily accessible in the Netherlands, or if you have always wanted to try something different, this move could be the perfect chance to transition into a new field. If you’d like to carry on the same path you were following, it’s important for you to understand how your profession fits into the Dutch labour market.
Dutch language and your career
Even if your desired job is available in English, Dutch will unlock new career opportunities for you.
Nothing will teach you Dutch faster than being forced to use it. Consider practicing through international-friendly volunteering opportunities - which will also connect you to the local community!
1. Getting your qualifications recognised
Credential evaluation shows whether the qualification you obtained from outside of the Netherlands meets the education and training requirements of your future employer. It also gives Dutch employers an easier way to understand where your knowledge and skill level is at.
To apply for a credential evaluation when you want to work in the Netherlands, click here.
Some professions, such as doctor, architect or accountant, are protected by law. If this is the case for your profession, credential evaluation does not automatically entitle you to work. You must first apply for professional recognition by a Dutch professional association. Don't know if your profession is protected? You can check it here.
2. Do you have the required skills and language for the job?
A local job as a nurse or graphic designer might require different or additional skills from what you're used to. Have a look through jobs that are similar to what you've done before. You don’t need to tick 100% of the requirements listed in a vacancy’s job description but of course having a profile that’s a good fit for a vacancy leads to higher chances of success.
Are your skills and qualifications a match to what local employers ask for so you can continue in your previous line of work? If not, you’ll have to ask yourself if you want to invest the time, energy, and money in order to enhance or broaden your skillset to match what the local job market asks for in your field.
If not, you could refocus: what other jobs or fields might match your current skills and knowledge?
The Northern Dutch job market
While the Netherlands continues to rank high in global English-proficiency rankings and is the language of business in various companies, several jobs still require Dutch proficiency. In some fields, such as healthcare, HR, and education, this requirement is more prevalent than in others. Have a look at the article below to get a full scope of international-friendly opportunities in the North.
Want to know about current opportunities? Take a look at the vacancy pages of companies you’re interested in working at to get a feel for their language requirements. If you want to immediately start searching for jobs open to non-Dutch speakers, you can visit Make it in the North’s job board.
Applying for a job
Generally, the application process for jobs in the North of the Netherlands is similar to that in other parts of the world. A company advertises a jobs, candidates apply to fill the position, interviews are held, and the top candidate is offered the job.
When applying for one of these jobs, give yourself a head start by tailoring your CV to the Northern Dutch job market. If you’re looking for a step-by-step plan showing you exactly how to do this, visit our CV guide here.
Northern Dutch companies generally won't AI-scan your application: a human will be reading it.
So make sure to tailor each CV and cover letter according to each specific job and company you’re applying for. Make it personal: why are YOU interested in this job and company? Generic or copy-pasted applications generally have a low chance of success.
If you’ve found a company you’d love to work for but haven’t seen any suitable jobs being advertised on their website, check if they are open to receiving open applications. In a nut shell, this is when you approach a company with a CV and cover letter even if they are not hiring at that particular moment – more on how to do this here.
Networking
We can’t stress enough how important networking is in the Netherlands for finding a job. Many positions are filled through referrals – meaning that even though you may be a company’s perfect candidate, you won’t be able to get the job because you wouldn’t have heard about it.
Forming connections with different companies will help put you on their radar so that when a suitable position does open up you can be the first person they reach out to.
It’s also useful to network with fellow spouses and jobseekers to form a support network that can also personally recommend you to companies they may already be or will in the future be working at. You can also exchange experiences and learn from those who’ve been in your shoes.
How to
Make it in the North:
Career Roadmap
Get your personal job hunting checklist by making an account on Make it in the North. You get easy access to all of our articles about the Northern Dutch jobmarket: tips and tricks for every step of the way before, during and after your job hunt!
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If you want to dive right into the opportunities the North has to offer, you can browse jobs, internships and traineeships, and volunteering opportunities that Make it in the North is advertising. Get to know about career services, or outsource your job hunt by working with a recruitment agency.
Networking is crucial for the success of your career in the Netherlands. You can find a list of international-friendly events on our website.
If you are already living in Groningen, Friesland, or Drenthe you can apply for a free one-on-one job hunt advice session.
Working in the Netherlands with a family
In the Netherlands, there are various types of leave available when you're expecting a child, such as maternity leave, and partner's leave. If you're planning to start a family, it's reassuring to know in advance what your rights are and what arrangements you can make. That way, you don’t have to worry about figuring everything out at the last minute, and you can focus on enjoying this new phase of life while maintaining a good balance between work and family. Here you'll find links to all relevant information from the UWV, so you can easily check what applies to your situation.
Maternity leave Additional partner's leave
