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Finding a part-time job for a student in the Netherlands


Did you happen to catch yourself thinking of how great it would be to have a part-time job next to the study that would allow you to travel the world or buy something you were always dreaming about? Then, in this blog-post, especially for you, I will review the ways in which you could find this additional source of income, places where you could apply, and tips that would help you with it. So, let’s start!

First of all, let’s review what do you need before applying for the job at all. 

  • Are you from the EU/EEA or Switzerland?

  • If YES, then you are free to work without the restrictions.

  • If NOT, there are certain restrictions:

  • You need a work permit, and your employer can help you with requesting the one for you. It is free of charge to apply for one, but it may take up to 5 weeks to process the application. If the employer is willing to have you in his/her team, they will make an effort to request the work permit for you.


  • Do you have insurance?

  • Before applying for a part-time job, you have to have Dutch public health insurance. The health insurance issued in your country of origin is usually not accepted.

  • Do you have a BSN number?

  • BSN number is a social security number that you can obtain when registering with your local council.

  • You also need it to apply for the insurance!

When you think that you have everything ready, it is time to look for the options that will match the best with the full-time study occupation. Options to consider are based on the criteria of flexibility and ability to get the job in a short period. Let’s take a look at the possibilities!

Platforms for finding the job

If you already happened to enter Google ‘Finding the job in the Netherlands’, then most likely you have seen that there are many platforms as well as employment agencies with a bunch of different vacancies for all tastes and preferences. A couple of examples include:


These platforms are great for finding the internship or job after graduation but I would recommend not focusing on them when looking for a part-time job to combine with the study. Many of the vacancies, despite that they are oriented on the students, require either an obtained Bachelor/Master degree, proficiency in Dutch or full-time availability. 

Finding the job directly through the website of the company

Applying for the job directly through the website of the company, in my opinion, is the best option. There are many places where you could apply.

These are just a couple of examples where you could apply directly through the website of the company and be accepted. The chances for that are very high and even if you have not been accepted the first time, keep applying and reapplying until you will be finally granted a place in the team.

Important information

 If after you applied online you still were not accepted or have to wait a long time, it is time for a plan B!

What is plan B?

Plan B: Prepare a good, exciting CV and print it on the paper in 20 - 30 copies. Choose the day when you are free, take a shower, put nice clothes and a beautiful smile, and prepare to complete a walk all around the city during which you would drop by to different cafes, shops, and restaurants and personally ask the employee or the manager of the working place to collect your resume in case if they need people. Use your charms and make them want to have you in their team. The chance that they will accept you is very high, especially if you have good communication skills and charisma. Such a walk can easily result in you having a couple of job offers in one day and instead of waiting you would have to choose from various options which suit the most of your interests.

Tips

  1. Learning Dutch will definitely enhance your chances of finding the job. You do not have to aim for fluency. If you can have a simple conversation in Dutch with your employer, your chances increase substantially. 

  2. Ask your friends at the university, whom you know have a job, to ask their managers/ boss whether they are looking for extra people. If yes, then your friend can help you by asking their boss to have a working interview with you. It is a win-win situation, your friend gets a lovely colleague, and you get a job.

  3. Applying for a job is selling yourself to a potential employer - therefore be interesting and original, ask questions, do not answer “ I do not know”- even if you really don’t know, try to come up with something, even if it’s not entirely true. 

  4. Research before the interview. Employers like to ask what do you know about the company. 

  5. Become your own boss. If you have a hobby that you think you could transfer into something that would allow you to make money - go for it. It can be photography, web-developing, blogging/vlogging, singing, or anything that you believe you can be good at. 

  6. Hustle. The one who looks will always find. 

To conclude this article, I would like to say that no matter what kind of job you do – it deserves respect, and combining the job and study deserves even more respect. Also, if your first job in the Netherlands will not be something you were dreaming about, it is alright – allow yourself to be a beginner, no one starts at the top. Do your best and think of all those fantastic opportunities the job can give you. You can do it! 




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