Searching for a Job as a Permitholder

Congratulations on getting your Dutch residence permit! What's next? You might want to find a job. But first, there are some things you should know. Read further to find out everything you need to know to equip yourself to find a job in the Northern Netherlands.

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Important things to know

Your Right to Work

Look at the back of your residence permit card to find out what your right to work is.

Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist: You can work like a regular Dutch citizen, and your employer doesn't need to get a special work permit for you.
Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV vereist: You are allowed to work in the Netherlands, but your employer must arrange a work permit for you. In this case, if your employer cannot arrange a work permit, you can ask your case manager when you will have a new permit which allows you to work freely without a work permit.
Arbeid niet toegestaan: This means that you are unfortunately not allowed to work in the Netherlands. If you still would like to work, ask your case manager what your possible options are.

If you still live in a COA (asylum) location:

1) Get to know if Reba applies to you
Reba is your paid contribution for your reception at the COA location. When you start working, you need to inform your COA Participation Desk Coordinator (COA coördinator meedoenbalie). Depending on how much you earn, you might need to pay some money (called reba) to COA. You can read more about reba here, or ask your case manager or Participation Desk Coordinator for help.

2) Tell your employer about the weekly reporting
You need to report to your COA Location Manager every week, and the time when you need to report could change. You should tell your employer about this requirement, so they know you need some flexibility in your schedule to be able to report. Dutch working culture values being on time, which is why it’s important for your employer to know beforehand if and when you will be late.

Before you start looking for a job...

You have a case manager. They can help you start to look for jobs in Northern Netherlands. Before you start looking, these questions are helpful to ask yourself:

Do I know what kind of job I want?
Do I have the required skills for the job? If not, do I want to learn them?
Do I need to speak fluent Dutch for the job?
If Dutch is not required but English is, do I speak enough English for the job?

Your case manager can help you answer these questions. Make it in the North can also help you out—there is a lot of information on our website about the Northern Dutch job market and what is happening in which industry.

Can I find a job with just English language proficiency?

That depends on your field and your level of English. If you speak English at a very minimal level (A1 or A2), it's a better idea to focus on your Dutch.

If you speak English at B1 level already, then English-language job opportunities and/or study opportunities might be interesting for you! In general, many Dutch people are able to speak English at B2 level and up. B2 English is often also the language requirement to follow academic courses, in case you would like to focus on studying first.

Join a course at English Academy for Newcomers to improve your English (B1 English required, and they can help you scale up to B2, C1 or even C2).

If your English is already at B2 or up? Then many of the opportunities you find through Make it in the North will be relevant for you, and you can keep on reading!

If you know the answers, you're ready to start looking for a job! Here's how to prepare:

Get a professional to check your CV. Your case manager can support you to access help, or sign up for our free 1-on-1 CV Critique (timeslots open two weeks in advance)
Learn how to write a good motivation letter.
If you need your diplomas or certificates translated or evaluated to the Dutch standard (diplomawaardering), your case manager can help you with this.

Once you have the above settled, you are ready to start your job hunt journey!

Where to start looking for a job?

Presentation Minke Jobs In English Makeitinthenorth (1)

This is where Make it in the North can start helping you.

Check out these resources we have for you! 👇🏼

Check out our jobs page Check out local recruitment agencies if they have something for you Be proactive! Send out open applications Need inspiration what companies to reach out to? Try our company culture matchtool Attend career events! Here's how you can make the most out of it Learn Dutch to further your career in the North A bunch more resources to help you on your job search journey

Employers can get support and subsidies for hiring you. They might not know!

The Dutch government has programs to help companies hire permitholders, and many companies do not know about this yet. In addition, companies can receive subsidies for hiring you. It’s a great idea to be up to date on this so that you can inform potential employers about this.

Companies located in Groningen and Noord-Drenthe that need support to hire permitholders should contact Werk in Zicht (info@werkinzicht.nl or call 050 1234567). Companies can also email team.werkgeversdienstverlening@groningen.nl or call 050 367 5009.

While you're looking for a paid job, consider volunteering

ANY work experience can help you find a job. While you're looking, try volunteering. This gives you experience, helps you build a local network, and shows you what it's like to work in Northern Netherlands. It's also a good way to explore what you like doing.