Post by Shruti Mishra

🌎 My job-hunt in The #Netherlands: Four lessons I learnt along the way 🌎 When I explored opportunities in The #Netherlands, I realised that Dutch recruitment is built on a fascinating mix of logic, openness, and pragmatism. Here are four things I learnt that I found unique to the Dutch market: 1️⃣ Dutch directness is not rudeness - it’s respect: In Dutch hiring culture, clarity equals trust. If you’re vague about salary expectations, career goals, or relocation readiness, it can come across as indecision. The Dutch prefer an honest “Here’s what I’m looking for” over diplomatic vagueness. It doesn’t make you demanding, it makes you dependable. 2️⃣ Balance is seen as strength, not compromise: While other markets reward overwork, the Dutch admire efficiency and balance. They’d rather hear how you built a process that saved your team 10 hours a week than how you pulled all-nighters to make it work. Work-life balance isn’t a side benefit here - it’s part of your professional credibility. 3️⃣ Motivation letters aren’t optional (and shouldn’t sound robotic): The Dutch genuinely read cover letters. It’s your chance to connect the dots, why this role, why now, and why you. Avoid buzzwords and tailor your story to the company’s purpose. The tone can be warm yet factual, much like their communication style (Use ChatGPT, Perplexity,Grok or any LLM of your choice to help you with that). 4️⃣ Be yourself but back it with substance: The Dutch hiring system appreciates authenticity. You don’t have to oversell or wrap achievements in marketing language. Instead, be genuine about what you’ve done and the value you bring. They value straightforward professionals who can explain results, not slogans. Of course, these are based on my personal experience and observations; it’s not a one-size-fits-all playbook. And yes, I know what it feels like when CVs disappear into the void, messages go unanswered, and interviews suddenly stop mid-way. I’ve been there - many times. My only intent here is to share what I’ve learnt, in case it helps someone else feel a little less stuck 😊 Resources that I used: Jobindex A/S Ofir.dk LinkedIn, Expatica, workinholland.com Women in Tech Netherlands Netherlands Innovation Network Germany adplist.org