Netherlands; how to find a decent job without a degree and no Dutch. Let's get real!
Posted by Vivid_Addition_347@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Hello beautiful humans,
I am going to need y'all to be real on this one. I speak English fluently but no Dutch, I have been living in Holland for a year now and before I was working as a massage therapist, I have some experience in that field but it's something that I didn't enjoy anymore so I tried to switch to something more office-like, and failed.
The Company that hired me after that, promised me to give me a chance in customer service but after a few months they hired a Dutchie (no previous experience in CS).
I left that company for multiple reasons and I am now taking my time to properly scout for something that might fit me and what I want to do in life. Ideally I would like something hybrid, I don't mind going to an office most of the time but I see this reality a lot in the Netherlands and I would love to try it for once.
Now, the tricky part *dun dun dun*. I do not have a degree, and my experience is pretty much limited to the beauty world, I worked a bit as a make-up artist and a few years as a massage therapist. In your humble opinion, is there a way or any advice you can give me on how to finally land a job that would not make me cry everyday as soon as I get home? (jk but not really).
I speak English fluently, Italian and Spanish as well. Not the most useful languages, I'm afraid.
Also any tips, recruiter agencies or websites where I haven't cried my eyeballs out yet are well welcomed.
Thank you all,
Lots of love.
trashnici2@reddit
My company might be looking for someone in customer service with your language skills. Send me a dm if interested
Sea_Jicama_7075@reddit
Hey there I sent you a DM
jomamasayshi@reddit
i’m interested 😭
trashnici2@reddit
Send me a dm
jomamasayshi@reddit
just did
Ok_Cress_56@reddit
You were hoping for a position in Customer Service without speaking the local language? Lol.
Cevohklan@reddit
I don't know how they even think that would work :P
Grapegoop@reddit
Teach English online from home
Kraknoix007@reddit
You need to learn dutch, put in the effort first
CheesypoofExtreme@reddit
Your best bet for a hybrid role with no degree is probably a call center.
bortukali@reddit
International companies are your best bet. There are companies that do business mainly outside NL so they wont care you dont know dutch as much
Cevohklan@reddit
After one year you still don't speak Dutch ? Thats a bit ridiculous now isn't it.
Move to a country where you speak the language.
You really do not have anything to offer companies in the Netherlands.
thalamisa@reddit
Try working in horeca or jobs that require Spanish or Italian. Language is usually taken for granted, you also need a technical skill to add more values.
wanderingdev@reddit
what about trying for a reception position at a spa in a hotel that caters to tourists? kind of a way to bridge the experience gap and get office work on your resume in a situation where your language abilities might be very useful. because with no language skills and no experience in those kinds of roles and no education, you're not giving employers much to work with.
Anansi44@reddit
Try to get into a college program there. Maybe one for the dutch language. This would help improve your chances of eventually getting a job. If money is an issue, you probably could work (Cafés etc) and study at the same time.
carnivorousdrew@reddit
Many Italians and Spanish are sold basically a scam believing that moving to the Netherlands for the same job they can do in their home country will let them make more money. Given the housing crisis in the Netherlands and the more hostile and not healthy climate you will find yourself making probably just a couple of hundred euros more per month while having to make a lot of sacrifices that you would not have to make otherwise in Italy or Spain. For example, Let's assume you move from a smaller Italian/Spanish city (population 200k-300k) or smaller towns around them (population 5k-15k) to an equivalent place in the Netherlands. You will find yourself making probably 100-200 euros more (if you have no health inconveniences or things not covered by the insurances you have) but you will have to live in a place that is probably half the size of the apartment/house you could afford in Italy/Spain. You will also have to deal with a form of healthcare that is very different and in contrast with most western healthcare, and will find yourself spending money out of pocket to get chrckups done abroad. You will also risk having a poorer diet, since quality produce is way more expensive. You will also eat/drink out less, because restaurants and cafes have ridiculous prices. The only way to have it make sense is being in a field that is highly sought after and pays more than twice net what it would pay in Italy or the Netherlands.
I have Italian friends that moved to the NL and some that stayed that have very similar jobs. The ones in the NL live in small, cramped 40sqm apartments, cannot even consider having children or buying a home, have to obviously spend a lot more on vacation because no place with decent weather is nearby, and similar things. My friends in Italy live in 80-100sqm apartments, they are starting to have kids, and in the end they save just 100-200 euros less per month than the ones in the NL, and cam go to the beach in the summer by just spending gas money for the car (which you won't be able to afford probably in the NL). Consider this very carefully and don't fall for the PR. Try to make some accurate calculations before deciding.
Artichoke-Ok@reddit
Learn Dutch or get an advanced Stem degree. You are asking for the impossible.
Heather_Biblow@reddit
Maybe hospitality, OP. Hotel clerk, hostess for events, etc. have a look at agencies hiring staff for that.
Negative_Promise7026@reddit
In construction or any handjobs.
fullspeedahead7@reddit
Learn Dutch and look into getting a degree in something. Your not really of any use for most companies since you don’t speak Dutch and don’t have any degree
reditforce@reddit
If you're lucky you can be a sweeper or cleaner
camilatricolor@reddit
My situation is different but my recommendation is to just put in the effort and learn Dutch. I speak English and Spanish, and once I learned Dutch, a whole world of jobs opened for me. I'm in Finance so not comparable to your situation but a lot of service and customer related jobs will require you to speak the local language.
John198777@reddit
Why don't you move to a country that speaks English, Italian or Spanish? You don't really offer anything to Dutch employers unless you have a genuinely high level in all of those languages.
DivineAlmond@reddit
well uh first thing I wanna mention is its also "real" to find a job with a degree and no Dutch!
Being able to speak three languages is a pretty nifty skill to have, also you can exaggerate your involvement a bit and look for horeca/receptionist jobs. It would also help if you are a presentable person - you sound fun so i'm assuming this angle is covered!
I'd strongly recommend exercising during this period to take care of your mental and psychical health - lookism is one of the most prevalent phenomena that exists in any society and someone who looks good AND is empowered by their positive attitude will have more options available.
Also if you are below 30 college might still be a good idea while you are pursuing other positions!
Intelligent_Bother59@reddit
experienced software engineer