Go Netherlands! At Business France our goal is to satisfy French clients & Dutch partners

Annick has 13 years of experience working with French companies in the industry, transport and renewable energy sectors. Her bicultural profile and her knowledge of the Dutch and Luxembourg business environment are highly valued in her role. Annick shares some first-hand advice about the job market in the Netherlands.

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Business France is the government agency for the internationalisation of the French Economy. It has 1,500 employees worldwide and 15 employees in the Netherlands. Some 30% of the employees are international or binational. The working languages are French, Dutch and English.
 

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The work culture

Our office in the Netherlands is deeply marked by our double culture, we aim to combine the best of both. Indeed, our goal is to satisfy both our French clients and Dutch partners, and this means being able to follow the implicit business rules of each country.
We also believe in the Dutch way of thinking: what matters is getting your job well done on time, not the number of hours spent behind your desk. Resourcefulness and adaptability are our key values.

My advice & top tips

We look for candidates graduating from “Grandes Ecoles”, interested in international business. We also like students who have had previous experiences abroad. If they are half Dutch or speak the language, then it’s a dream come true! Openness and curiosity are the qualities we seek from candidates. During an interview in the Netherlands, make sure to give concrete examples of times when you adapted quickly, overcame obstacles or juggled multiple projects: this is what recruiters will expect from you! Also, don’t be afraid to go for it, to talk about your initiatives and ideas: they will always be welcome.

Myths & realities
 

• Speaking good English is important, it truly is the language of business.
• Always get straight to the point is very important.
• Punctuality and efficiency are key; this is certainly no myth. This also means being very concrete and giving explicit and tangible information during an interview or when talking to a colleague or a customer.
• In interpersonal relations, Dutch people tend to be less formal than the French. For example, it is common to be on first-name terms with everyone. They will also not hesitate to admit if they dislike anything or disagree with you. This may seem a bit direct and confusing at first, but again; it’s all about efficiency and frankness.

 

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