Source: Expatica.com 

In the current economic climate, many expats have found themselves looking for a new job or even a new career in the Netherlands. If you are one of those expats or even just beginning your job search, then come to the “i am not a tourist” Fair in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam on Sunday, 25 October, where Expatica has gathered six recruitment agencies to help you.

Michiel Drenth, General Manager at Unique Multilingual Services (over 20 years of experience and bronze sponsor of the “i am not a tourist” Fair), can confirm that they have been able to place people as a direct result of the fair. He goes on to say that “The ‘i am not a tourist’ Fair provides Unique Multilingual Services with a unique way to directly help the right people find the right job in their own language. This approach both supports our candidate network as well as our business network.”

Even if your Dutch skills are not completely up to speed (yet), the fair is a good starting point for your job hunt. According to Ilse Visser, Marketing Manager at UNDUTCHABLES (established in 1996 and silver sponsor of the “i am not a tourist” Fair), the English language is sometimes more important on the job market in the Netherlands than Dutch: “In the Netherlands, there are quite good opportunities for non-Dutch speakers within international corporations. English can be of more value than Dutch, as some companies are specifically looking for native speakers who can be an asset to their contact with foreign clients. Also, more often than not, English is their internal language. All kinds of vacancies, ranging from junior (administrative) to senior (executive) level are available and just waiting to be filled.”

If you are looking for one of these vacancies, help is nearby. Recruitment agencies in the Netherlands will typically invite you for an extensive interview when job opportunities arise, will always inform you about the job they want to introduce you to and will help you in preparing properly for the interview with the client. Ilse advises to check what kind of procedure the agency follows when you register. Moreover, the UNDUTCHABLES website contains detailed information about writing a good CV and preparing for an interview. Ilse reveals one obvious tip: “Being on time is very much appreciated in the Netherlands!”