Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us Working at the University of Groningen Dual Career Support

Job Search

Dual Career Support (DCS) can help you with finding your way to the labour market. We cannot guarantee that you will find a job. Dutch language requirements and limited availability of jobs for non-dutch speakers, ask for full-time dedication to find a job. However, it is not impossible and many of our partners have succeeded finding employment with the help of various resources. On this page you’ll read more about the Dutch job market. We’ll give you some tips and a list of websites that might come in handy during your job search.

The Dutch job market

The northern part of Netherlands consists of three main provinces: Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. These three provinces belong to the least densely populated region in the country. The city Groningen is seen as the principal urban area in the north Netherlands and it is known for its service, innovation and knowledge development industries.

In terms of economic structure, these three provinces are seen as fairly well connected but each province has their emphasis on certain industries. Both provinces of Fryslân and Drenthe are well known for their tourism industry. The city Groningen and Assen remain to be the centers for various companies and institutions in public service and care. The town Leeuwarden is home for financial services and institutions. A large part of the labour market in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe consists of small and medium sized companies. Industrial activities are mainly situated in south-east Drenthe, eastern Groningen, around the Eemshaven port and in Fryslân. More information about the region you can find at EURES.

Although the unemployment rate is higher in the northern part of the Netherlands than in other regions, there is an increasing number of vacancies that need to be filled in, not only in technology and engineering, construction and IT sectors, but also transport and logistics, healthcare, and education.

The main language of the labour market in the Netherlands is Dutch, particularly in Groningen, Fryslân and Drenthe. Although big companies and institutions may have experience with hiring non-Dutch speakers, small and medium have less experience employing non-Dutch speakers. Be prepared that almost all vacancies are published in Dutch language.

Job search tips
  • Learn Dutch. Understanding and speaking Dutch is necessary if you want to be fully involved and be part of Dutch society as to create personal and professional networks. For most of the non-academic positions (staff) at the UG, Dutch language proficiency (at least at level B2) is often a requirement. The local labour market in general assumes applicants to speak Dutch. For academic positions at the UG, fluency in Dutch is plus. So, we advise you to start learning Dutch as soon as possible.
  • Network, network, network! Networking is an effective way of landing a job in the Netherlands. All kinds of networks and contacts – whether they’re professional or social – can help to improve possibilities of finding a job or some other meaningful activities. DCS holds workshops and various networking events for you to attend and participate. Many regional networking events are organized throughout the year in Groningen and cities nearby. Additionally we can connect you with individuals in our DCS buddy network. This network consists of partners who have lived in Groningen more than two years and who would be happy to share their experiences. If you are interested send us an email.
  • Build a complete and representable LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is considered to be a strong platform in the Netherlands to find job opportunities and get connected with recruiters. This is where employers can find you and it also helps you to build your professional network and stay up to date with the job industry you are looking into.
  • Build a strong and catchy resume. Have a good story and motivation to tell your potential employer why you are a good fit. Ask for feedback from other partners and advisors and trainers you will meet at our events. Take note of the pages of Career Services for career advice. Be ready to compete on a competitive labour market in a region with a lot of graduates of UG and Hanze, university of Applied Science. During these times of Corona, prepare also for presenting yourself at online interviews. Be on-time, prepare for the technical aspects, as well as your presentation.
  • Familiarize yourself. The art of job search and application doesn’t come with set answers and certainly not in every region/country. It is good to familiarize yourself with the recruitment process in the region, application requirements and prepare yourself accordingly.
  • Reinvent and reflect, perhaps even retarget. Prepare yourself as much as you can by staying active. Be ready to take a new step in your career. Reflect and analyze your talents and interests. Taking personality tests can help to better understand yourself and what motivates you. Take the time to invest in yourself by taking online courses. Attend offline and online networking events. Gain work experience. Understand and research where the opportunities are. Think of what skill set you can bring in another industry and another role.
  • It is one thing to say you are open to flexible hours and can do your job remotely. But it is another thing to meet the demands of your future employer. Don’t be hesitant to suggest your own working schemes and arrangements by working from home at flexible hours.
  • Start volunteering. Are you looking for something meaningful to do or looking for opportunities to improve your Dutch or ways to brush up your old skills? Consider a volunteer job. It is a great way to get in touch with local culture, meet new people and even can lead you to employment. UG can offer you a non-paid voluntary experience position (REP). In a REP you can gain up-to-date working experience in a university environment and you can practice your Dutch at the workplace. DCS can support you in finding experience opportunities within UG. Please send us an email if you are interested in a REP position.
List of useful websites Places to Volunteer
  • If you are interested in volunteering your time for other meaningful projects outside of the university, check out:
Last modified:24 November 2023 10.58 a.m.
View this page in: Nederlands