Offering traineeships in Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe
Join other forward-thinking companies in creating valuable opportunities for trainees in the Northern provinces of the Netherlands! Read on to discover how you can gain fresh perspectives, develop skilled professionals, and enhance your brand's reputation!
Have you been doing things in a certain way and think it’s time to get some new perspectives about your workflow? Would you like to enhance your team’s global awareness and cross-cultural communication skills? Do you want to work with people who can communicate effectively with your international partners and clients? Then maybe you should consider hiring a trainee!
Traineeships are a popular way in the Netherlands for students to bridge what they’ve learnt during their studies and what working life is truly like. Traineeships can be helpful tools for people who are looking for hands-on experiences or specialised training at companies that will help them take the next steps in their new careers.
Traineeships vs internships
While in some countries the words ‘traineeship’ and ‘internship’ are used interchangeably, here in the Netherlands there is more of a distinction between the two.
Traineeships are relatively long structured learning programmes that can range from 6 months all the way to two years. During this time, trainees receive a balance of on-the-job training and formal learning components. Traineeships are found across various industries, including finance, technology, healthcare, and more.
On the other hand, internships in the Netherlands are typically short-term arrangements (three to six months) during which students gain practical work experience at a company. They don’t usually have a structured educational component. Internships allow students to dip their toes in the water to explore whether a field is right for them without having to make any long-term commitments.
Why offer a traineeship in the North?
Research shows that while many international students choose to study in cities like Groningen, many end up having to move to the bigger cities in the Randstad. It’s important to give international students more information about study and career opportunities in the North of the Netherlands to help prevent brain drain and keep these regions competitive. This mission requires strong partnerships between universities, local companies, and organisations such as Make it in the North.
Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe offer trainees pleasant surroundings ensuring they have short commutes, an abundance of nature, and fun activities organised throughout the year. Of course, there are amazing work opportunities to be found and we’re always excited to see new vacancies open to internationals being posted on our website.
Finding the right trainee for you
Students have a wide variety of companies to choose from when pursuing an internship. It’s important to put your best foot forward and to make an effort to attract the best trainees. While creating a compelling message in your vacancy adverts is crucial, it’s equally as important that the actual experience at your company matches the expectations you’re setting.
To find the best trainees, it’s recommended that you:
- Identify the desired skills and tasks
Reflect on the tasks and projects that are critical to your company and align them with potential trainees’ interests and academic backgrounds. - Explore relevant fields
Consider the specific fields and topics that resonate with your company’s needs and the trainees’ aspirations. - Clarify future opportunities
Clearly communicate the potential career paths and job roles available within your company, ensuring alignment with trainees’ long-term goals.
How we can help
We make the process of finding your next trainee very simple. Once you've decided what kind of traineeship you would like to offer, it's time to advertise it on our traineeship board!
This is Make it in the North's dedicated space to connect companies with talented people looking for a traineeship. On this board, companies can advertise their open positions while individuals can create a card describing what kind of traineeship they're looking for.
To advertise your traineeship, go to your dashboard, just as you would do if you were posting a regular vacancy. Alternatively, you have a look at a list of people who are looking for a traineeship opportunity right now through the traineeship board. You can check out the list here and then let the person know you're interested in learning more about them.
Going international with AIESEC
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What if you’d like to attract talent from abroad? For 75 years the organisation AIESEC has been sending young trainees to prestigious enterprises, non-profit organisations, and startups globally, aiming to develop the leaders of the future.
AIESEC is an international student-run organisation that facilitates internships for foreign bachelor or master students. They do not participate in this for their studies, but by their own initiative, which makes them particularly motivated.
Are you interested in discovering a world of possibilities to bring talent to the North of the Netherlands? Visit AIESEC’s website today!
Boost your venture with international trainees
AIESEC currently has a global pool of 5,000 students available and operates in over 100 countries! AIESEC is a not-for-profit organisation, which allows it to offer trainees at a very fair rate. Aside from that, they also handle many practical matters, such as visas and supporting a trainee’s search for accommodation.
If you’re interested to learn more about AIESEC, visit their website and discover all the possibilities that exist.
