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Fun fact: in Dutch, we call the hospitality sector "horeca", which stands for ho(s)tel, restaurant, and café (bar) 🍹 A lot of part-time hospitality jobs don't require a diploma and have flexible hours, so these are perfect for students.

Is hospitality not your cup of tea? Have you recently been feeling a little lost in finding a side job that fits your busy study schedule perfectly? No problem at all 😊

There are a bunch of companies in the North that are more than happy to hire internationals and non-Dutch speakers, however, they are often a bit hidden. Make sure to join career and/or networking events organised in the Northern Netherlands and get to know the companies you find interesting a bit better.

Have you already found your dream company(ies), but they don´t have a job opening fitting your background? No problem at all! You can and definitely should always send them open applications where you introduce yourself a bit along with your strong, relevant skill sets with the desired position you would like to apply for. In most cases, they will offer you an introductory interview and, if you´re lucky, you could land the position of your dreams in no time.

If you're looking for a job in retail or hospitality, you can always walk into the place you'd like to work at. This gives you a chance to find out if it's up your alley, and you can personally introduce yourself and ask if there are any vacancies. Take a printout of your CV with you or have a draft email ready to send!

If you're applying to a different kind of job, be sure to add relevant people on LinkedIn. Employees, people with roles related to your studies or experience, recruiters, and the CEO (be brave!). Include a personal message. You can also call the company/recruiter directly.

Applying for a job and all the tasks related to that process often require you to learn new skills: writing a CV and cover letter based on the latest trends, calling or emailing companies, doing a job interview or carrying out a networking conversation… We know it’s a lot. It’s FAR better to practice (and mess up) with some low-stakes jobs first, instead of going for your dream job immediately. Also, applying to multiple companies or jobs will also make any rejection you might get, easier to deal with.

As a student coming from a country outside of the European Union, there are some additional regulations you need to be aware of that don't apply to your peers holding an EU passport.

Orientation year visa
Once you've graduated, you can apply for the orientation year visa. During this year, you'll be able to work freely or complete an internship in the Netherlands without having your employer apply for a work permit. More information here.

Is your situation unique and would you like specific advice related to your visa? If you'd like to have a chat with someone about your specific situation, reach out to the International Welcome Center North (IWCN).

Of course, it is of utmost importance to read your employment contract very well before signing and learn about your worker rights in the Netherlands. Do your research on the company/sector before signing your contract: and ask people with similar jobs to tell you about their experience regarding the employer. The main reason for this step is to make sure that you will be working in a friendly atmosphere and that you won´t end up getting used or discriminated against by the employer. Do you know someone who is being discriminated against at work? Make sure to get them familiar with the discrimination hotline.

Need more tips and tricks? Have a look at all the other resources on our website. We're rooting for you! 💚