Having a temporary contract with a recruitment agency
When finding a job via a recruitment agency, like Abroad Experience, you will either have a direct contract with the company you’ll be working for or you will start with a temporary agency contract via Abroad Experience. When starting as a temporary employee at Abroad Experience, you will receive an employment contract and a corresponding assignment sheet that outlines all the relevant information regarding your starting date, salary, work location, travel allowance, etc.
Contract signing steps
A draft contract will normally be sent to you by e-mail ahead of the contract signing so that you have time to go through it, can identify any questions that you might have and correct any errors in personal information such as your address or given name before the contract signing. At the contract signing, your recruitment consultant at Abroad Experience will also go through the contract with you page by page so that everything is clear and all of your questions are answered.
Types of agencies temporary contract
There are different kinds of temporary contracts and, in general, the hiring company has set policies in regard to what contract they can offer to you as a new employee in terms of duration and employment type.
The most common route is to start on a Temporary Contract with an agency clause (In Dutch: uitzendbeding). This is an open-ended contract that is valid for a maximum period of 52 worked weeks (CAO Phase A). While working in Phase A, you are paid for the hours that you actually work. During this period you have a notification period of one day and the employer has a notification period that varies from 0-14 calendar days depending on the time length of time employed. Most hiring companies choose to offer the employee a direct contract after a period of approximately 6 months.
Some companies prefer to offer the employee a fixed-term contract (in Dutch: detachering). In this case, you would get a contract valid for a specific period of time and for a fixed amount of hours per week.
For more information about contracts, please visit our Youtube channel where we have additional informative video material about contracts & many other topics.
Although it is not compulsory, most companies in The Netherlands reimburse the cost of your work travel expense. The policy regarding the amount to be compensated for public and private transport varies from company to company.
When travelling by private transport it is common to receive €0.19 cents per KM up to a certain KM distance per day. The KM distance per day is once again decided by the company. When travelling by public transport companies request invoices/receipts of your travel costs, to insure the reimbursement of your travel expense. The policy regarding travel expenses will be stated in the Assignment that you sign with us.
How to get travel expense payments?
When starting a new position and travelling by public transport you are required to obtain the yellow personalized OVchipcard (persoonlijke OV-chipkaart) with your photo on it. You can request this through the NS/OV chipkaart website. You will need to provide a passport picture for your card, as seen below.
If you do not have a personalized OV chipcard yet, you will need to buy it as soon as possible as it may take up to 2 weeks for you to receive the card at home. For our information, you will need a Dutch bank account to order this card. If you do already have it, you will only need to pay for the new monthly “abonnement” via the website.
Please be aware that we will not be able to reimburse the cost of the card itself (around 7,5€). You can pay via IDEAL and you will receive an invoice with the charge. Once you email us the invoice as proof of payment, we will reimburse your travel costs in your 4 weekly salary payments.
After a little prayer, you click apply. Congratulations! Your application has been sent into the clouds of hundreds of job-seeking hopeful like yourself, hoping for an email or call back. But days and maybe even weeks go by, and you haven’t heard anything. We wanted to share a few reasons why your CV might have not made the cut and ended up on the rejected CV pile.
1. Irrelevant Experience
If your skillset doesn’t match the skills required in the job description, then it’s more than likely that your application was put in the “no” pile. The competition is fierce, and although there is no such thing as the “perfect” candidate, your experience needs to align with what the company is looking for to avoid being rejected.
How to fix it? Choose wisely the experience and skills that you send. Your CV shouldn’t be one CV that you send to as many recruiters as possible. You should customize its content to match the skills, education and experience according to what you read in the job description (without lying of course).
2. Your Languages don’t match
As an agency that recruits multilingual professionals, we can vouch for this one. Let’s say you only speak German, and the language required for the role is Italian… well… I guess this one speaks for itself.
How to fix it?It is more difficult to overcome this obstacle. However, if you are studying Dutch and are looking for an English role in the Netherlands, always mention that you are learning Dutch and your level (even if it is A1). It really shows that you’re trying to get integrated into the culture and that you are planning to stay here.
3. You’re off the map
Whether you’re living a three-hour commute away from the role, or the company isn’t considering candidates who are still living abroad, your application has probably been rejected especially if the position is to be filled urgently. It is important to be realistic with your commute time. Would you be ready to travel 3 hours per day? Probably not!
How to fix it? If moving is not a problem for you, give a disclaimer or heading on your CV that you already have set plans to move, or are willing to relocate. But always remember that finding accommodation in the Netherlands is difficult and recruiters know that.
4. Too much (or too little) information
You scoff now, but imagine having to read through a CV that looks like a medical thesis in 5.5 font. We can see how much time and energy you have put into this “summary” of your experience, but avoid the newspaper format and take the word count down a notch. Less is always more unless the paper is scarce from information, but even a CV with just titles will be more likely to get a response than the first one.
How to fix it? First, follow rule 1 and filter the information you want to show on your CV to match the job description.
Second, summarize, summarize, summarize! Recruiters don’t need to know the name of each project you worked on in the past (except if it is 1000% relevant). They want to know your previous job titles, the companies you worked for, how long you stayed in each role and your key responsibilities.
Abroad Experience International Recruitment wishes you the best of luck in your job search!
Focus your search and become clear about your expectations
The Dutch housing market is very competitive and because there are limited options available the prices are rising continuously- not just when you’re looking to buy but also when you’re looking to rent a room/studio/apartment/house. But before you get all worried and frustrated about the challenges of finding housing in the Netherlands, take your time to go through our top tips below and to check out the housing links that we recommend.
Because housing options are so limited, many people request home visits- needless to say, once a place is available on the market it’ll be gone before you know it. Have high expectations about aspects such as having a big kitchen, a balcony, a bathtub etc.? Take some time to overthink what is actually important to you when it comes to finding a room/studio/apartment. Note down your budget and make sure to answer the following questions for yourself before starting your search:
How much am I willing to pay for my accommodation (taking into account extra costs, such as gas, water & electricity)?
Is the city I prefer living in affordable for me or can I also consider nearby cities/towns?
Will I be dependent on public transport or can I live outside of a city and commute by car?
Are there nearby school facilities if relocating with my family?
What are the most recommended areas to live in?
Are there shops, restaurants and sports facilities nearby and how important is this to me?
These questions will help narrow down what you’re exactly looking for and help to speed up the process of finding accommodation in the Netherlands that fits you and your needs.
Make sure to bring patience, as it often takes up to several months to find accommodation. So the earlier you start your search, the better!
Finding accommodation – our top tips
First of all, it’s crucial to keep in mind that finding housing in the Netherlands tends to be more successful when you are already on Dutch ground. Getting invited to visit a potential future home is therefore more likely when you are already in the Netherlands.
We understand that you do not want to settle for accommodation before you have found a job but as a matter of fact, your job search will also be more successful when you already have accommodation in the Netherlands. Companies in the Netherlands are well aware of the current challenges on the Dutch housing market and therefore often only invite candidates to interview if they already have accommodation available or can stay with family/friends/acquaintances in the beginning.
One of the quickest ways to find accommodation is via real estate agencies, where you can arrange to see multiple accommodations that are currently available. A few examples of such housing agencies are Funda, 123wonen, Domvast and Domica. For further information please see the list of agencies further below.
Another option if you are in a hurry is to look at temporary lease agreements, such as someone renting out their room for a month or two. This will give you a place to stay and give you more time to search for more permanent accommodation. Along with housing agencies have a look at www.marktplaats.nl. This is a Dutch website similar to Craigslist or eBay on a wide range of products. Do take into consideration though that renting through Marktplaats is generally through the landlord themselves. Please note that it is not always possible to sign in with the municipality and to get your BSN number when you are staying in a temporary room or apartment.
An additional way to find a roof over your head if you are looking for something quick and short-term is to stay in an Airbnb/ hostel/ hotel. These can be slightly more expensive options but will provide you with short-term accommodation, allows you to be closer to the area you would like to live in and also allow you to take action quickly if a more permanent housing opportunity becomes available.
You can also search for accommodation on the following agency and housing search websites:
Kamernet.nl
Huurwoningen.nl
Domica.nl
Vanderhuizen.com
Pararius.nl
Huurstunt.nl
Funda.nl
123wonen.nl
Nederwoon.nl
Housinganywhere.com
Martkplaats.nl
Facebook Housing groups
You can also find a good overview of all real estate agencies in the link below:
Lastly, it can be a helpful tip to let friends, family, acquaintances and your new colleagues know that you are looking for a place. Telling as many people as possible that you are searching for housing could help steer you towards the right network of people who can help you further.
Looking for accommodation in the Netherlands with a low budget?
Housing in large cities in the Netherlands are almost always more expensive- so if you are on a budget, consider concentrating your housing search on smaller cities and towns outside of city centers. As mentioned above, research typical housing prices across various cities and locations until you can find a location and price that fits your budget.
Shared accommodation is also a very affordable means of housing and very popular in the Netherlands. Sharing a home with roommates means that you share common facilities such as the kitchen and bathroom with a few other people. Rent will vary according to size and location and will, in many cases, include the costs of utilities like gas, water and electricity (but you should ask to be sure). Rooms can be furnished or unfurnished.
What to keep in mind when visiting potential future home properties
Remember to:
Be on time! It’s polite and the Dutch appreciate punctuality.
Have a look around the neighbourhood. Is the property located near public transport, supermarkets, banks, restaurants etc.?
Take pictures. After you’ve seen 5 properties in one day, it will help remind you.
Ask questions. Who was the previous tenant and why did they leave? How long had they lived there? What are the neighbours like?
Check any damages and be sure to ask when the landlord or agency expects to repair it. Do this in writing.
Test the faucets and toilet. Is the water pressure okay? Does the water heat up quickly? Does the toilet flush correctly?
Trust your instinct! If you do not feel that the property is for you, don’t let yourself feel pressured by the landlord or agent.
If you have a chance to visit a potential home, we advise you to take action FAST- the best is to let the real estate agent or current homeowner know ASAP if you are interested in the place. The best is to already ask during a visit of a home what the next steps are in the procedure (this way you highlight your interest straight away).
Housing advert vocabulary
Gestoffeerd – The flat will have painted walls and flooring.
Kaal – The flat will not have certain necessities, such as painted walls or flooring, that you will need to install yourself.
Inclusief – This usually includes water, gas, electricity costs and city taxes. Often internet is also included, this really depends on the accommodation.
Exclusief – This does not include water, gas, electricity costs, city taxes, internet etc., so the monthly rental price will be much higher eventually.
So you’ve found your ideal accommodation! Now what?
Go over the lease agreement in detail and make sure that everything is understandable and nothing is left unclear or vague. Discuss notice periods, service agreements, house rules and other relevant details you want to be cleared up in advance, before signing. For any specific agreements or consent for certain options make sure to get it in writing! For example, if repairs need to be made, get an agreement in writing rather than verbally.
Check that appliances are in good working order.
Accompany the landlord or agent on an inspection of the state of the property and make sure that any preexisting damages are noted. Also, take your own photos so that there can be no discrepancy when you leave.
Most landlords or agencies will require 1-2 months’ rent as a deposit, which should be taken into consideration.
It can also be normal for a landlord or agency to request to see a salary slip (salarisstrook/loonstrook) or employment contract in order to verify that your salary exceeds the monthly rent.
Out take-home message: Stay alert!
Make it a habit to check new housing opportunities right away when you get up in the morning- the earlier the better. The earlier in the day, you contact real estate agencies/ housing owners to request a viewing, the higher your chances to get invited for a first viewing. Many people wonder why they do not receive replies from agencies or homeowners- this is because they’ve already been overloaded with viewing requests and don’t consider any more viewers. Often times they also only apply when you are registered on their website with a subscription, this is really worth it for housing search pages, such as huurwoningen.nl.
Abroad Experience wishes you good luck in your search for accommodation.
On a final note, we can unfortunately not support you in your search for accommodation but do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you need help in your job search!
We also advise you to follow us on our Instagram page (@abroad.experience.recruitment) for additional tips in regard to relocation to the Netherlands, application tips and Dutch market trends!
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