You're looking for werk, toch? 🔎
Groningen and the Northern Netherlands boast 300+ international-friendly employers and many English-speaking jobs!
And we at Make it in the North help connect these Northern Dutch companies with English-speaking internationals living here.
How do we do that exactly? Let's dive in together!
We are a non-profit project for international jobseekers and for employers in the Northern Netherlands. We're supported by local universities, government and businesses, who all want internationals to feel more at home and succeed in the North. 🙌
International-friendly jobs 💚
We are excited to tell you all about your job opportunities!
The jobs you see on our portal are all open to internationals! You will be able to start working in English - the company language might even be English, or there may be no language barriers to doing the work.
I think there are a lot of people who wait for a position to open up in a company or on LinkedIn. But if there’s a company that you like, my tip is to just send an open application and try your luck.
![Afnan Portrait]()
Afnan Biologist at Bioclear Earth
Loads of job opportunities remain hidden. Many internationals create their own job by sending open applications to international-friendly companies.
* not for eating but for doing smart jobs
You bring de brains, toch? 🧠👍
Knowledge to boost your job hunt 💡
Getting a job in the (Northern) Netherlands without any Dutch is not easy. But 20.000+ internationals are working in the Northern Netherlands, so plenty of jobseekers before you have succeeded. Whether you'll be successful depends on a few things:
- Do your skills match the local job market demand, and is that demand big enough that Dutch is not required?
- Have you made sure your CV and cover letter properly represent you to Northern Dutch employers - and are you personalizing your application to the job and company you're applying with?
- Are you investing in integrating locally: networking and starting Dutch classes (even Duolingo!)
If the answer to one or more of the above is "no", you've got a to do list ahead of you, as making sure you can say "yes" to all the above will majorly increase your chances to find an English-speaking job here. It's in your hands, you can do this. 💪
If you've sent 15+ applications and you've barely heard anything back, you need to change your strategy. Inform yourself! Our website has all the resources you need.
![Marjolein Talking About How To Inform Yourself To Find A Job In Groningen]()
Marjolein Wiersma Project lead at Make it in the North
We see people every week who have a CV that matches the local job market, but it's full of accidental red flags that will make a Northern Dutch company reject an application. Don't be this person! Instead, follow our Career Roadmap ⬇️
How to
Make it in the North:
Career Roadmap
Get your personal job hunting checklist by making an account on Make it in the North. You get easy access to all of our articles about the Northern Dutch jobmarket: tips and tricks for every step of the way before, during and after your job hunt!
Login to your dashboard
Networking events 🕸️
If you're new to the country, you will have to build your local professional network from the scratch. Sounds daunting, hè? That is exactly why we organise career events to help you out.
For people like me who come from abroad, understanding the local job market and social norms can be quite challenging. Both the well-structured information on your website and the Job Hunt Advice session I attended provided me with many important insights and learning opportunities, which were very helpful.
![Shuhei K Job Hunt Advice Testimonial]()
Shuhei K Cloud engineer from Japan, living in Groningen, looking to Make it in the North
A little extra help
You don't just have the challenge of living in a foreign country, there may be more to your situation. Check out our starter pages!
I'm a spouse I'm a permitholder I'm a PhD I'm from outside of Europe I'm looking for an internship I'd like personal help