Go Netherlands! Finding a company to sponsor me was a major factor in deciding to come here

  • Career Center
  • Le 6 mai 2022

Audencia's Career Center and Alumni teams are delighted to to bring you “Go Netherlands!”, the guide to working in the Netherlands.

Following the success of the guide to working in France for internationals, this new edition focuses on a country that is a destination of choice for Audencians. Members of its thriving community of students and alumni say they choose the Netherlands for its economic stability, work-hard-play-hard lifestyle, multiculturalism and for being a country where English is often the working language.

“Go Netherlands!” is a valuable resource for students considering a career in the Netherlands after their studies. Starting with HR professionals’ top tips and debunking the myths and realities of the workplace, Go Netherlands! also showcases the experiences of more than 20 alumni who have aced the challenge of finding a job and settling in the Netherlands.


This week, discover what Lanre Balogun from Nigeria has to say.

About Lanre:

  • Graduated from the MSc SCPM programme in 2016
  • Currently working as: an IM Production Planner at PVH Group BV in Amsterdam
  • Native language: Yoruba
  • Other languages spoken: English
  • Level of Dutch: I plan on learning Dutch (good for permanent residency)
  • Been living in the Netherlands: for 3 years


Lanre's key message: "Finding a company that agreed to sponsor me was a major factor in deciding to come to the Netherlands."


My biggest challenge
I used to work in Italy, and the two environments are very different. The office communication style in the Netherlands is open and direct. It was a shock, especially coming from Nigeria, to discover that there is zero distance with your hierarchy. If your line of reasoning is good, you can challenge anyone and anything; you realise that your input is needed and valuable. The downside is that to validate a solution to a problem, everyone must be aligned, so decision-making can be slow. You learn to be patient.

My advice & top tips
You are encouraged to voice your thoughts and challenge other people’s opinions. Being direct is appreciated. Going to the office is more than just doing your job. Socialising at work is part of building your connections. You need to be friendly and open at work.

Quirky & cultural
I was expecting some form of food culture, but I haven’t found it yet, so I’ve taken up cooking! Arriving from Italy, I was used to having quite a long lunch break with 3 different courses, coffee, chit-chat, and then be back in the office by 2pm. Seeing the Dutch often just having a cheese sandwich took me a while to get used to.

And finally
The first time I came to the Netherlands was for my interview. When I arrived, I saw everyone cycling and this was the first thing I fell in love with. There were parents taking their kids to school on cargo bikes and bringing their groceries home. Wow, that was really something! Consequently, living here has allowed me to stay active while reducing my carbon footprint.
And lol, it’s got a great nightlife scene and Amsterdam is a decent place for queer folks.




 
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