Go Netherlands! The Dutch are very pragmatic & firm believers in the power of consensus
- Career Center
- Le 17 juin 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 Matthieu Coquet from France has to say.
About Matthieu:
- Graduated from the Grande Ecole Master in Management programme in 2000
- Currently working as: Senior Program Manager - Treasury & Financial Services at booking.com in Amsterdam
- Native language: French
- Other languages spoken: English
- Level of Dutch: intermediate
- Been living in the Netherlands: since 2018
Matthieu's key message: “The Dutch are very pragmatic and firm believers in the power of consensus."
My biggest challenge
The time you spend at work has to be used efficiently, so there is no time for chitchat or morning coffee breaks like you would do in France. However, it provides you with a much better work-life balance: people leave the office when they need to and enjoy quality time with their family.
My advice & top tips
There are many positives to working in the Netherlands; for example, there is usually a lot of trust among colleagues with flat leadership structures and little micromanagement. The Dutch have a very direct communication style, which can sometimes sound rude or intrusive. Feedback is usually immediate and doesn’t leave room for interpretation.
Quirky & cultural
My most memorable experience so far must surely be the King’s Day celebrations. This is when the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their king (also valid when there is a queen of course!). It’s an opportunity to put on your wildest orange outfit, hop on a boat and visit one of the many markets, and raise a toast to the king with an Oranjebitter.
And finally
Even if the Netherlands ranks among the most English-proficient countries in the world, it is also mostly true in large cities. I would absolutely recommend following some Dutch language courses, especially if you plan to stay for more than 2-3 years. You may not necessarily make a lot of Dutch friends, but this will definitely help you get a lot of goodwill from the locals, whether it is at work or in your everyday life (shopping, tourism / visits etc.).
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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 Stephanie Chica from Colombia has to say. About Stephanie: Stephanie Chica, from Colombia Graduated from the MSc IM programme in 2012 Currently working as: Tender Desk Manager at NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants, in The Hague Native language: Spanish Other languages spoken: English, French Level of Dutch: beginner Been living in the Netherlands for one month Stephanie's key message: “I can highly recommend the Netherlands as a career booster." My biggest challenge I relocated to The Hague only a month ago for a new role as Tender Desk Manager with airport development consultants NACO, so it is all still very new for me! I’m seeing new things every day and trying to take it all in. The greatest challenge I have encountered so far is adapting to a new country, new surroundings, new everything! I have already noticed how the Dutch work ethic is different to where I have worked previously, with a focus on learning by doing and being proactive. My advice & top tips Read up on the Netherlands before you arrive. It’s really important to be aware of the administrative differences with the country you are arriving from. For example, the 30% tax ruling applies to internationals so don’t neglect this advantage. You also need to make sure you get your BSN and BRP numbers as soon as you arrive. For more tips, you’ll have to come back and ask me in a year from now! Quirky & cultural It’s all new, but the cycling culture is amazing. You can go almost anywhere in the Netherlands on pedal power alone. And finally I’m still figuring it all out, but the Netherlands is a great place to grow professionally with many benefits for internationals and a large expat community. I’m thoroughly enjoying the work environment where I have a lot of room to put forward my ideas and implement them. Read your copy of "Go Netherlands" here
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