'They are extremely motivated to succeed'

‘We see this reflected in career events that we organise’, says Van Noordenburg. 'About sixty percent of the visitors are international. It is simply more difficult for them to get a job.'

On the one hand, this has to do with mastering the language. 'Dutch is still the working language for many employers. Think of a municipality or a job in healthcare. Those sorts of employers are out of reach. In addition,' says Van Noordenburg, 'foreign alumni sometimes only realise at the last minute that they want to stay in the Netherlands. Then it is too late to learn the Dutch language while also looking for a job at the same time.'

Her advice? 'Apply to the large, internationally oriented companies where English is the official language.' But even then, Van Noordenburg recommends at least learning social Dutch. 'Basic Dutch, because Dutch is often spoken at the coffee table and during the lunch break. Make sure you get a little involved in the conversations, otherwise it will be lonely. Showing interest helps a lot.’

Another reason why internationals have difficulty finding a job is the imbalance in the distribution of vacancies. ‘As the workforce is ageing, there are a relatively high number of senior positions available. For recent graduates, this is often a mismatch for their profile.’ (text continues below picture)

If success does not come immediately, she advises broadening your search area. ‘Look further afield and think outside the box. While it is, of course, still important to do work that gives you energy and suits you, there are often other opportunities that overlap with your field of interest. These may not be obvious at first, but they can still offer valuable prospects.’ She continues, ‘Students also often have ‘transferable skills’ acquired during their studies or work experience that can be applied in other sectors or roles. Make sure to highlight these.’ She strongly advices making the most of your network. ‘You need to make yourself visible. Be findable, network actively and adopt an extrovert approach when looking for a job. Sometimes that doesn’t come naturally for some cultural backgrounds. Therefore it is important to maintain informal relationships and don’t hesitate to ask for advice.’

Van Noordenburg mainly sees highly driven internationals. 'They have a broad knowledge of languages, often already have work experience and possess a strong intercultural competency. Moreover, they are extremely motivated to succeed.' 

And she is well aware of those successes. She remembers a student from India. 'She just could not find a job. After her studies, she decided to do a four-month internship at a small company to gain work experience. In the end, that company offered her a contract.'

According to Van Noordenburg, it is easier to find a job in some sectors than in others. 'There is a lot of demand for technical staff, data analytics, biotechnicians, etc. It will also depend on the position whether the Dutch language is a requirement. In a more technical position, language is a less important requirement. If your CV shows that you already have a good command of the language and that you are willing to develop yourself further, that is certainly a plus.'