International graduate trying to find a job in the Netherlands, any advice?
Hellu everyone ! I’m currently finishing my MSc and I’m hoping to move to the Netherlands after graduating. I don’t speak Dutch yet and I’m eligible to apply for the orientation year (zoekjaar) based on my degree, but I’m currently still living in the UK and would ideally like to secure a job before moving.
I’ve mainly been applying for junior roles in business analysis, consulting, operations, project management and business development. I’ve only recently started applying, but I’m already noticing that quite a few roles either require Dutch or prefer candidates who already have the right to work in the Netherlands.
I’d really love to hear from other internationals who were in a similar position, especially non-EU graduates.
What helped you actually get interviews? Did you apply before or after getting your zoekjaar? Were there particular companies, industries or job sites that were more open to English-speaking international candidates? And did networking on LinkedIn make much of a difference?
Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated. Thank you!