CV Finishing Touches: References and Polish

The CV finishing touches are often the last thing people think about – but they are what brings everything together. By the time you reach this stage, your CV is already structured, your content is clear, and your experience is well presented. It’s very tempting to think “this is it, I’m done.” But these CV finishing touches can quietly influence how professional your CV feels when someone opens it for the first time.


References: less is more

Let’s start with references. In the Netherlands, it is completely normal not to include them directly on your CV. Instead, a simple line such as “References available upon request” is more than enough. This keeps your CV clean and focused, and it also gives you more control over when and how your references are contacted.

It’s a small detail, but it contributes to a more professional and intentional presentation. And it saves valuable space for the content that actually matters at this stage – your experience and skills.


Consistency creates trust

Consistency is one of the most overlooked CV finishing touches at this stage. Take a moment to look at your CV as a whole. Are your dates aligned in the same format? Are your headings consistent? Does the spacing feel balanced across the page?

These are not design choices in the traditional sense, but they do shape how your CV feels. A consistent document gives the impression of structure and attention to detail – even if the reader cannot immediately point out why.

It also helps to check that your font and text size are consistent throughout. A CV that has been updated multiple times over the years often picks up small inconsistencies – a slightly different font here, an extra space there. These things are easy to miss when you are reading your own document, but they stand out immediately to someone reading it fresh.

And while you are checking consistency, take a moment to verify that all your dates are correct. It sounds obvious, but it is easy to leave an old end date unchanged, or to have a gap you did not notice. Recruiters pay attention to timelines, and a small date error can raise unnecessary questions about your work history. A quick check takes very little time but saves a lot of explaining later.


Small mistakes make a bigger impression than you think

Spelling and grammar also become more important at this stage. Especially when writing in a second language, small mistakes can easily happen. That is completely normal. But recruiters do notice them.

Taking the time to carefully review your CV (or asking someone else to check it) can make a meaningful difference in how polished your profile feels. Reading your CV out loud is one of the most effective ways to catch errors that your eye might skip over when reading silently. It slows you down and forces you to process every word individually.

If English is not your first language, tools like Grammarly can also help catch small grammar issues before your CV reaches a recruiter. They are not perfect, but they are a useful extra layer of review – and small CV finishing touches like this one are easy to skip but worth the extra few minutes.


Tailoring without rewriting

Another one of the key CV finishing touches is tailoring your CV for each application. This does not mean rewriting everything for every application. Instead, it is about small adjustments that help your profile feel more relevant to the role.

This could include reordering bullet points, highlighting certain skills more clearly, or adjusting emphasis depending on the job. Even small changes can shift how aligned your CV feels with a specific position.

A practical way to approach this is to keep a slightly longer master version of your CV (one that includes everything) and then trim and adjust from there for each application. That way you are never starting from scratch, and you always have the full picture to draw from.

It also helps to read the job description carefully before sending. Notice the specific words they use to describe the role and the ideal candidate. If you have the experience they are describing, make sure your CV reflects it in language that feels familiar to them.


File format and naming

One of the most overlooked CV finishing touches is how you save and name your CV file. Always send your CV as a PDF unless the job posting specifically asks for a Word document. PDFs preserve your formatting across different devices and operating systems, which means the version a recruiter opens looks exactly the way you intended it to.

The file name matters too. A file called “CV_2023_final_v2.docx” immediately feels less professional than “FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf.” It is a small thing, but it is the first thing a recruiter sees before they even open the document. Make it clean and easy to identify. It is one of those CV finishing touches that takes thirty seconds but leaves a strong impression.


Step back and look at the bigger picture

Among all the CV finishing touches, this final step of zooming out matters most. Try to look at your CV as if you were the recruiter seeing it for the first time.

Ask yourself: is it immediately clear what this person does? Is their direction easy to understand? Does the experience feel relevant to the role?

A strong CV does not make the reader search for answers. It guides them naturally through your profile. If you find yourself unsure about any section, that uncertainty is worth paying attention to. It usually means the information is there but not presented as clearly as it could be.

One final check worth doing is reading only the first line of each section. If those lines alone give a clear picture of your profile and direction, your CV is in good shape. If they feel vague or generic, that is where a little more work can make a real difference.


Bringing everything together

Over the last five blogs, we have moved step by step through the CV process – from foundations and first impressions, to structure, content, and finally, refinement.

And the main idea behind it all is quite simple. A strong CV is not about perfection. It is about getting the CV finishing touches right – clarity, structure, and intention. When all these elements come together, your CV does not just describe your past – it creates a clear picture of your next step. And that is exactly what helps it stand out in the job search.


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CV Skills and Achievements: Show Your Value

In our previous blog, we talked about CV layout and why readability matters more than overly creative design. But once your CV is easy to scan, the next question becomes: what actually makes this candidate valuable?

Your CV skills and achievements are what separate you from other candidates – but for many expats, this is the hardest part to get right. A CV is not just a summary of where you have worked. It is also a reflection of how you work, what you contribute, and what kind of impact you have in a role. And when it comes to CV skills and achievements, this is where many CVs still fall short.


Responsibilities explain the role, not the value

A lot of CVs focus mainly on daily tasks. Things like answering customer inquiries, managing schedules, supporting projects, or coordinating communication. And while these responsibilities are important, they do not automatically show how well someone performed in the role.

That is where achievements make the difference.

Think about it from a recruiter’s perspective. When they are comparing two candidates with similar backgrounds, the one who shows impact is almost always more memorable than the one who lists tasks. Tasks tell a recruiter what the job involved. Achievements tell them what you specifically brought to it.

A stronger CV goes one step further by adding context and impact. Instead of simply saying “handled customer inquiries”, you can make it more meaningful by adding the volume of requests you managed, improvements in response time, contribution to customer satisfaction, or support during peak periods.

Even without exact numbers, impact can still be shown. Things like improving a process, supporting a team during a difficult period, taking on additional responsibility, or training a new colleague already help to clarify how you contributed beyond your job description. The goal is not to exaggerate – it is simply to give enough context that a recruiter can actually picture you in action.


Why this changes how your CV is read

These details help translate experience into something more concrete. Two candidates can have similar roles on paper, but present them in very different ways. One focuses on tasks. The other focuses on outcomes. And in practice, that difference changes how a profile is perceived.

It also makes the conversation easier later on. When your CV already shows the impact you had, it gives recruiters and hiring managers a natural starting point for interview questions. You are not just telling them what you did – you are already showing them why it mattered.

A CV becomes easier to assess when it shows not only what someone did, but also how effectively they did it. That is why getting your CV skills and achievements right changes everything about how your profile is perceived.


Skills as context, not repetition

For expats, the skills section is often where things become a long list of everything someone can do. Software tools, languages, methodologies, soft skills – all of it thrown together in the hope that something sticks.

But more is not always better.

A focused selection works much more effectively. Think about the role you are applying for and ask yourself which skills are actually relevant to it. Three or four well-chosen skills that connect directly to your experience will land better than a list of fifteen that feel disconnected.

Your skills should support your experience – not repeat it. If your bullet points already show that you managed a multilingual team, you don’t need to separately list “team management” and “multilingual communication” in a skills section. The experience speaks for itself.

This is especially important for international profiles. Skills like language abilities, adaptability, working in multicultural environments, or navigating new systems quickly are all genuinely valuable in the Dutch market. But they become much stronger when they are clearly connected to your experience rather than listed in isolation.


A word on soft skills

Soft skills are one of the trickiest parts of any CV. Everyone lists them, which means they have largely stopped meaning anything on their own. “Good communicator”, “team player”, “problem solver” – these phrases appear on almost every CV a recruiter reads.

That doesn’t mean soft skills aren’t important. It just means the way you present them matters.

The most effective approach is to show soft skills through your experience rather than listing them separately. If you managed a project across three countries under a tight deadline, that already demonstrates organisation, communication, and adaptability without you having to say so directly. Let the examples do the work.

And perhaps most importantly – be honest with yourself. If you prefer working independently and thrive in the background, do not list “excellent leadership skills” just because it sounds impressive. Recruiters will ask about these things in an interview, and if your answers do not match what your CV suggests, it creates doubt. The goal is not to present the most impressive version of yourself on paper. It is to present the most accurate one – so that when you do land the role, it is actually a good fit for you too.


Using job descriptions as a reference point

A practical way to refine your CV is to look at job descriptions on LinkedIn. Instead of guessing what companies might be looking for, you can use real job ads as a reference. Most of them clearly outline the skills, tools, and experience expected for a role.

If you already have some of these skills, it can be useful to reflect the same wording in your CV — as long as it stays accurate and natural. This is not about copying keywords. It is about understanding the language companies use and making sure your CV speaks in a similar way.

Over time, this helps your profile feel more aligned with what recruiters are actually searching for. And for expats who are still learning how roles are described in the Dutch market, it is one of the most practical tools available.


Next up: the finishing touches that bring everything together

Once your experience, structure, and achievements are in place, there are still a few final details that can make your CV feel complete and professional. In our next blog, we’ll look at the finishing touches – from references to small formatting checks – that often make the biggest difference in how polished your CV feels.


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CV Layout and Design: Why Simple Often Works Better

In our previous blog, we talked about first impressions – from your photo to your headline, and how quickly recruiters can form an opinion when they open your CV.

But even with a strong profile, there is another factor that can immediately influence how professional your CV feels: the layout. Many expats assume their CV needs to stand out visually in order to get attention. More colour, more graphics, more design.

But in the Dutch job market, that is rarely what recruiters are looking for. Most of the time, they simply want to find information quickly and understand your profile without effort.


Structure creates readability

A good CV layout is not about fancy designs. It is about structure. Simple formatting choices often make the biggest difference – clear section titles, consistent spacing, aligned dates and job titles, and a logical order of information. These details help create flow across the page and make the document feel easier to navigate.

And honestly, this is where many CV templates become too complicated.

It is easy to see why expats reach for visually impressive templates. When you are new to a job market and unsure what will stand out, a polished design feels like a safe bet. But in practice, the templates that look the most impressive are often the hardest to read.

A few things to avoid: two-column layouts that split your experience awkwardly, dark or heavily coloured backgrounds that make text harder to scan, and design elements like icons or progress bars that take up space without adding information. These features might look modern, but they slow a recruiter down at exactly the moment you want them to move quickly through your profile.

A single-column layout with clear section headings, consistent fonts, and enough white space to breathe will almost always outperform a heavily designed template. It does not need to be boring – it just needs to be easy to read.


Fonts, spacing, and visual consistency

Beyond layout, the smaller visual details matter more than most people realise. They are easy to get wrong, especially when a CV has been updated multiple times over the years.

Font choice is one of the most overlooked details on a CV. Mixing two or three different fonts (sometimes without even noticing) immediately makes a CV feel less polished. Stick to one font throughout, or at most two if you want to differentiate headings from body text. Clean, readable fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia work well. Decorative or overly stylised fonts might look interesting but they slow down reading, which is the opposite of what you want.

Spacing is another area where small inconsistencies add up. Uneven margins, varying gaps between sections, or bullet points that don’t align properly all create a subtle sense of disorder. It does not need to be perfect, but it does need to feel intentional. When a CV looks like it was assembled carefully, it signals the same about the person behind it.

Colour is fine to use in small amounts – a subtle accent on headings or section dividers can actually help with navigation. But the moment colour becomes the main visual feature, it starts working against you. Keep it minimal and make sure it still looks clean when printed in black and white, since that does still happen.


The order of information matters too

The way information is positioned on your CV also changes how your profile is read. For many expats and recent graduates, it often makes sense to place education before work experience, especially when the studies are closely related to the role.

But this is not a fixed rule.

Once your experience becomes more relevant or stronger than your education, it usually makes more sense to place your work history first instead. Again, the goal is readability. The most relevant information should be the easiest to find.


The way you present experience matters too

Even strong experience can feel overwhelming when it is presented in large blocks of text. That is why bullet points are often much easier to read than long paragraphs.

But not all bullet points are equal. A common mistake is writing bullet points that read more like a job description than a personal contribution. “Responsible for managing customer inquiries” tells a recruiter what the role involved. “Handled customer inquiries across three languages in a high-volume environment” tells them something about you specifically.

This is also worth keeping in mind if you are using AI tools to help write your experience descriptions. AI tends to generate long, formal bullet points that sound impressive but say very little. “Demonstrated strong leadership capabilities while overseeing cross-functional initiatives” is the kind of sentence that looks polished but gives a recruiter almost no useful information. Shorter, more specific descriptions in your own words will almost always land better.

The goal is not to describe every task you have ever done. It is to highlight the parts that are most relevant for the role you are applying for now, and to phrase them in a way that gives a real sense of what you actually did and how you did it. When too much information is added without that focus, the main message of your CV can quickly become unclear.


Why simple formatting also matters behind the scenes

There is another reason to keep your CV clean that many candidates don’t think about. A lot of companies (particularly larger ones) use software to scan CVs before a human ever reads them. These systems, often called applicant tracking systems or ATS, are looking for keywords and relevant information. But they struggle with complex layouts.

Two-column formats, text boxes, tables, and graphics can confuse these systems entirely. Information gets misread or missed. In some cases, a CV that looks great on screen arrives in the recruiter’s inbox as a jumbled mess of text.

A simple, clean format is not just easier for recruiters to read. It is also far more likely to pass through automated screening without any issues. One more reason why straightforward often works better than clever.

 

Keep it focused

Another common question is CV length. For most roles in the Netherlands, one to two pages is completely enough. Even with years of experience, relevance is usually more important than completeness. A shorter, focused CV is often far more effective than a long document filled with unnecessary detail, especially when recruiters are reviewing multiple profiles back to back.


Next up: showing your value clearly

Now that the structure and layout of your CV are in place, the next step is making sure recruiters quickly understand the value you bring. In our next blog, we’ll talk about CV skills and achievements, and how to present your experience in a way that feels stronger, more relevant, and easier for recruiters to connect with.


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CV First Impressions: Photos and Headlines

Getting your CV first impressions right matters more than most people realise. Before a recruiter reads through your experience or skills, they can already form an opinion about your profile within seconds. In our previous blog, we talked about the importance of having a clear and focused CV – but even when the basics are in place, this is the factor that often gets overlooked.

And as an expat, that first impression can carry even more weight. You are often being compared to candidates who already understand the Dutch job market and know how to present themselves locally. That doesn’t mean you are less qualified – it just means your CV first impressions need to communicate professionalism quickly.


Should you include a photo?

This is probably one of the most common CV first impressions questions from internationals applying in the Netherlands. Including a photo on your CV is not required in the Dutch market, but it’s also very common – especially in roles involving communication, customer contact, or international environments.

If you decide to include one, keep it simple. A professional-looking headshot with natural lighting, a neutral background, and a friendly appearance is more than enough. The goal is not to stand out visually or look overly corporate. It’s simply about creating a professional and approachable first impression.

And honestly, recruiters notice when a photo feels off just as quickly as when it feels right.

The most common mistakes are easy to avoid once you know what to look for. Selfies, even well-lit ones, rarely come across as professional in this context. Group photos where you’ve cropped out the other people, holiday photos, or anything taken in a clearly social setting send the wrong signal – not because there’s anything wrong with those photos, but because they’re not the right context for a CV. These are the kinds of details that quietly shape your CV first impressions before a recruiter has even reached your experience.

On the other end, an overly formal corporate headshot can also feel a little stiff, especially for roles in international or people-facing environments where personality matters. The sweet spot is something that looks like you took it seriously, without looking like you’re applying to be a news anchor. A clean background, good lighting, and a natural expression is genuinely all you need.


Your headline matters more than you think

While your photo is part of your CV first impressions, your headline is what actually helps people understand your profile.

Job titles do not always translate well between countries. A position that sounds perfectly normal abroad may feel vague or unfamiliar in the Dutch market. Recruiters should not have to guess what your role involved or where you fit professionally.

That’s why your headline is so important. A strong headline can immediately give context by showing your specialisation, your level of experience, and your industry.
It helps to think of your headline less as a job title and more as a quick positioning statement. You’re not just telling a recruiter what you were called at your last job – you’re telling them how to understand you as a candidate.

For example, “Sales Professional” is vague. “Junior B2B Sales Professional | SaaS & Tech” is immediately more useful. “Customer Support” could mean almost anything. “Multilingual Customer Support Specialist | Dutch & English” already tells a recruiter something specific about what you bring.

The goal is not to impress with a fancy title. It is simply to remove doubt quickly. The moment someone immediately understands who you are professionally, they are much more likely to continue reading the rest of your CV.

If you’ve worked across different industries or roles, your headline is also a chance to anchor yourself. Choose the direction you’re heading in now, not a summary of everything you’ve ever done. A headline that tries to cover too much ends up saying very little — and that uncertainty is not the CV first impressions you want to leave.


The tone of your opening sets expectations

The photo and headline are the very first things a recruiter sees – and together they form your overall CV first impressions before a single line of experience is read

This is usually the profile summary or “About Me” section, and it’s worth treating it as part of that first impression rather than an afterthought.

A strong opening doesn’t need to be long. Two or three sentences that clearly explain who you are, what kind of experience you bring, and what you’re looking for is enough. What you want to avoid is opening with something so generic it could apply to anyone – phrases like “motivated professional with a passion for results” or “dynamic team player looking for new challenges” have been read so many times they’ve stopped meaning anything.

This is also where AI-generated content tends to show up most obviously. Tools like ChatGPT can produce a polished-sounding summary in seconds, and there’s nothing wrong with using them for inspiration or to get started. But when the output goes straight onto the CV without much editing, it usually shows. The sentences become longer, the vocabulary becomes more formal, and the whole thing starts to sound like it was written about someone rather than by someone. Recruiters read a lot of CVs and they notice the difference quickly. Use AI as a starting point if it helps, but make sure the final version actually sounds like you.

Write it the way you’d introduce yourself to someone in a professional context. Clear, direct, and specific to you. That tone (natural, confident, and to the point) is exactly what feels right in the Dutch market. And it completes the CV first impressions you have been building from the very top of the page



Next up: the layout of your CV

Now that your first impression is stronger, the next step is making sure your CV is easy to follow visually. In our next blog, we’ll talk about CV layout and how small formatting choices can completely change the way your profile is perceived.


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CV Foundations: Getting It Right

Getting your CV foundations right is one of the most important steps you can take when looking for work in the Netherlands. You open your old document, change your location, add your latest role, and start applying. Simple enough, right?

But then the responses don’t come.

For many expats, this is the moment they realise something isn’t translating properly. Not the language, but the expectations.


It’s not just a formatting issue

A lot of people assume the problem is visual. Maybe the font is wrong, or the layout looks outdated. So they download a template, rearrange a few sections, and try again.

Sometimes that helps. But more often, the real issue goes deeper than design.

Every country has its own unwritten rules around CVs. What counts as relevant experience, how much personal information to include, whether a photo is expected, how long the document should be – these things vary more than most people realise. And when you’ve spent years building your career in a different system, it’s easy to carry those habits over without noticing.

The Dutch job market has its own expectations. And understanding them is the first step to getting your CV foundations working for you here.


A different way of presenting yourself

In the Netherlands, CVs are usually expected to be clear, structured, and direct. Recruiters are not reading every sentence carefully from top to bottom. Most of the time, they’re scanning quickly to understand one thing: does this profile make sense for this role?

That means your CV needs to communicate your direction almost immediately.
What do you do? What are you good at?

When you are applying for a specific role, it can also make sense to include what kind of position you are looking for. But if you are still open to different directions, it’s usually better to leave this out. Otherwise, you might be limiting yourself without really meaning to.

And this is where things often go wrong for expats.

Not because the experience isn’t strong, but because the direction isn’t immediately clear. Within a few seconds, a recruiter should be able to understand where you fit. If that doesn’t happen, even a strong profile can feel harder to place.

 

Clarity matters more than completeness

One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to include everything.
Every internship. Every project. Every side task. Every industry.

It feels safer to show more, but in reality, too much information often hides the most important parts of your profile.


A strong CV is selective

It focuses on what is relevant for the role you are applying for now – not your entire career history. Your CV is not meant to tell your whole life story. It is meant to quickly position you as a strong match.

This can feel uncomfortable, especially if you’ve worked hard across different industries or roles. You want credit for everything you’ve done. That’s understandable. But a CV isn’t a full record of your career – that’s what a LinkedIn profile is for. Your CV foundations should act as a focused pitch, and the more targeted it is, the more effective it becomes.

And sometimes, the smallest details make a bigger difference than expected. Things like your location, spoken languages, availability, work authorisation, or notice period are often checked immediately by recruiters. These aren’t afterthoughts. Making them easy to find removes unnecessary uncertainty right away and keeps your application moving forward.


When your background doesn’t fit neatly into a box

This is something a lot of expats run into. You’ve worked across different countries, maybe in different industries, or in roles that don’t have a direct equivalent here. Your career makes sense to you – but on paper, it can look scattered to someone who doesn’t have that context.

Dutch recruiters are generally practical. They’re not going to read between the lines or assume connections that aren’t spelled out. If your international experience is relevant, you need to make that explicit. Don’t assume they’ll know what a particular job title means in your home country, or that they’ll recognise a company that wasn’t active in the Dutch market.

Getting your CV foundations right means making that context visible from the start. We’ll cover exactly how to write that opening summary in a later blog in this series.

It also helps to be specific about the kind of environment you’ve worked in. International teams, multilingual settings, cross-border projects — these are things that stand out in the Dutch market, especially for companies that work with international clients or operate across Europe. If that’s part of your background, don’t leave it buried in a job description. Make it visible.


A strong CV is selective

If you’re not sure where to begin, start with the role you actually want. Read a few job descriptions that genuinely interest you. Notice what keeps coming up – the skills, the experience, the kind of background they’re looking for. Then look at your own CV and ask honestly: does this reflect that?

If the answer is no, that’s useful information. It doesn’t mean your experience is wrong. It might just mean the way it’s presented isn’t connecting yet.

This is the foundation. Getting your CV foundations right here makes everything else easier – the applications, the responses, the conversations with recruiters.

At the end of the day, your CV is not just a summary of your past experience. It is a tool that helps shape your future opportunities.


Next up: first impressions matter more than you think

Now that the foundation of your CV is clear, the next step is making sure recruiters actually keep reading. In our next blog, we’ll talk about first impressions and the small mistakes that can instantly affect how professional your CV feels.


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Hybrid Work 101: Finding Your Rhythm

Hybrid work is the norm in many Dutch companies – and when you first start working in the Netherlands as an expat, that becomes clear pretty quickly. There’s no such thing as a standard workday anymore.

Some mornings you’re cycling to the office, dealing with the wind or rain, grabbing a matcha or coffee on the way in. Other days you’re working from home, starting your day in a quieter way. It sounds like a good balance (and often it is) but in the beginning it can feel a bit all over the place. Especially when you’re also adjusting to a new country, a new team, and a different work culture.


Not every company runs the same way

One thing that often surprises expats is how different hybrid work can look depending on the company.

In the Netherlands, expectations around hybrid work are usually clearly defined. Most companies already have a structure in place – whether that’s a fixed number of office days per week or specific team agreements about when people come in. It’s not something that’s left completely open, and it’s also not something you’re expected to figure out on your own. In most cases, the setup is explained from the start, and if you’re unsure, it’s worth asking during the interview process.

Still, even with that structure in place, it takes time to understand how it actually works within your specific team and role. If you want to get a better sense of the wider work culture behind it, our blog on Dutch work culture is a good place to start.


A small routine goes a long way

When your workdays keep switching between home and office, routine stops being something fixed and becomes something you create for yourself.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. Waking up around the same time, having a coffee before you open your laptop, starting work at roughly the same hour regardless of where you are – these small anchors make the day feel more consistent. They matter more than you’d think, especially when everything around you is still new.


Home days and office days don’t feel the same

One of the biggest adjustments with hybrid work is realising that office days and home days naturally feel different.

Office days are usually more social. You talk to colleagues, join meetings, and have those in-between conversations that don’t really happen online. It helps you feel more connected, especially when you’re still building relationships in a new country. Home days are quieter. There’s more focus, fewer interruptions, and often a better flow for getting work done. But if you have too many in a row, it can also feel a bit isolating.

Instead of trying to make both feel equal, it helps to accept the difference.

Use office days for connection and visibility. Use home days for focus and depth. Once you stop expecting every day to feel the same, things start to feel more manageable.


Don’t forget to move

This one only becomes obvious after a few weeks. Without a commute or natural breaks in your day, it’s easy to stay in the same position for hours – especially on home days.

Small moments of movement make a real difference. Stand up between meetings. Take a short walk outside at lunch. Step away from your screen when you can. It doesn’t need to be a big routine – just enough to break the pattern of sitting still all day. Your focus and energy at the end of the day will thank you for it.


Communication looks different in a hybrid setup

One thing expats don’t always anticipate is how much communication changes when your team is split between home and office.

Decisions get made in the office hallway that you might miss on a home day. Updates get shared in a quick chat that don’t always make it into an email. It’s not intentional – it’s just how hybrid teams work. Being proactive helps. Check in with your team regularly, ask questions when you’re unsure, and don’t wait for information to come to you. Over-communicating slightly is much better than being out of the loop.


It takes time to find your flow

Hybrid work sounds simple on paper, but in practice it takes time to figure out what works for you. And as an expat, you’re not only adjusting to a new way of working – you’re also settling into a new environment, new people, and new expectations all at once.

Some weeks will feel smooth and balanced. Others will feel a bit off. That’s completely normal. Over time you start noticing patterns – which days you prefer being in the office, when you focus best at home, how your week naturally starts to take shape.

And slowly, without forcing it, you find your rhythm.


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Your First Job in the Netherlands? Customer Service Might Be It

If you’ve recently moved to the Netherlands (or you’re planning to) customer service is often one of the most accessible ways to enter the job market here. But it’s not just about answering emails or picking up the phone.

Customer service is about how you communicate, how you solve problems, and how you make people feel. And for expats just starting out, it’s one of the best ways to build real, transferable experience quickly.


A strong starting point (and more)

A lot of expats start in customer service roles while figuring out their next step. What surprises many of them is how much they actually learn along the way.

You develop the ability to communicate clearly, often in a second language, handle different personalities and expectations, stay calm under pressure, and understand how Dutch workplaces actually operate from the inside. These aren’t just customer service skills – they’re career skills that stay with you regardless of where you go next.


Your language is your advantage

One thing many expats don’t realise at first: customer service in the Netherlands isn’t always just about Dutch.

Because so many companies here operate internationally, they actively look for people who speak different languages. You might be supporting customers in Spanish, French, German, Italian, or another language entirely. And if you’re supporting people in your native language, you already have a head start – you understand the cultural nuances, tone, and expectations in a way that non-native speakers simply can’t replicate. That’s exactly why so many companies value international talent in these roles.


What actually makes you good at it

You don’t need years of experience to do well in customer service, but you do need the right approach.

The most important thing is listening beyond the words. When someone asks “where is my order?”, they might actually be stressed, frustrated, or just in a hurry. Picking up on that helps you respond in a way that actually helps rather than just answers. Alongside that, clear and simple communication matters more than you’d think – especially as an expat, it can be tempting to over-explain, but customers appreciate directness and clarity.

Empathy goes a long way too, though it doesn’t need to be elaborate. A simple “I understand this is frustrating, let me sort this for you” is often enough. As you settle into a role, product knowledge builds naturally and makes every conversation smoother. And flexibility is key – modern customer service means switching between email, chat, and calls, sometimes within the same hour.


Where Customer service can take you

Customer service is often seen as a starting point, but it can also become a genuinely rewarding career in its own right – especially if you work in a complex environment or take on additional responsibilities like managing bigger accounts, guiding junior colleagues, or leading projects and processes.

Many expats also use customer service as a launchpad into other areas. Operations, account management, HR, marketing – these are all paths people have taken after starting in support roles. Working in customer service gives you a view of how a business operates from the inside: how customers think, where problems happen, and how teams solve them. That kind of knowledge is useful wherever you go next.

You also build confidence quickly. Handling real conversations, solving issues on the spot, and communicating across cultures pushes you to grow in a way that few entry-level roles do. Whether customer service is your chosen career path or just one part of your journey in the Netherlands, the experience opens doors.


Looking for a customer service role in the Netherlands?

At Abroad Experience we regularly place international professionals in customer service positions across the Netherlands – roles where your languages and personality are genuinely valued. Curious what’s available? Take a look at our current vacancies or send us an open application – we’d love to help you find the right fit!


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Eigen Risico Explained: Understanding Dutch Health Insurance

If you’ve recently arrived in the Netherlands, you’ve probably noticed that healthcare works differently here than in most other countries. One term that almost every expat stumbles over in the beginning is eigen risico.

It tends to pop up when you’re arranging your health insurance, and at first glance it can feel a bit unclear. But once you understand the idea behind it, it’s actually quite logical. In simple terms, eigen risico is the amount you pay yourself for certain medical costs before your insurance starts covering them – your personal contribution to healthcare each year.


Why it exists and why it matters

The Dutch system is built around shared responsibility. Everyone contributes through monthly premiums, but there’s also an expectation that you cover a portion of your own healthcare costs when you actually use services. That’s where eigen risico comes in.

For expats, this can feel unusual – especially if you’re coming from a country where healthcare costs are either fully covered or handled differently. In the Netherlands, you might receive a bill after treatment, which can be surprising the first time it happens. Understanding how eigen risico works early on saves you that “wait, why am I being charged?” moment.


How it works in everyday life

You won’t notice your eigen risico at all until you actually need certain types of care.

If you’re referred to a specialist or need hospital treatment, the provider sends the bill directly to your insurance company. Your insurer then checks whether the costs fall under your deductible. If you haven’t used your eigen risico yet that year, you’ll be asked to pay part or all of the bill yourself. Once you’ve reached the yearly limit, your insurance takes over and covers further eligible costs.

It’s not something you pay upfront – it gets settled along the way, depending on the care you use.


What counts and what doesn’t

One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking that everything goes toward your deductible. That’s not the case, and this is where a lot of expats get confused.

Seeing your GP (huisarts) is generally fully covered and doesn’t affect your eigen risico at all. The GP is your first point of contact in the Dutch healthcare system, and it’s built to stay accessible for everyone. That said, visits outside normal hours, such as at the weekend, can sometimes involve additional costs.

Hospital visits, specialists, and certain medications do count toward your deductible. Knowing this difference matters, both when you’re deciding whether to seek care and when you’re budgeting for the year.


Should you increase your eigen risico?

When choosing your insurance, you’ll have the option to voluntarily increase your deductible. A higher deductible means a lower monthly premium, which sounds appealing – and for some expats, especially those who are young and in good health, it can be a reasonable choice.

But it comes with a trade-off. If something unexpected happens, you’ll need to cover a larger amount yourself before your insurance steps in. It really comes down to your personal situation: how often you expect to use healthcare, and how comfortable you are with potential out-of-pocket costs. There’s no universal right answer here – it’s worth thinking through before you commit.


A practical tip most expats learn the hard way

Treat your eigen risico as a yearly expense, even if you hope not to use it. Setting aside a small buffer at the start of the year can make a real difference. If a bill does arrive, it won’t come as a financial shock.

Most Dutch insurers also have apps or online portals where you can track how much of your deductible you’ve used. It’s worth checking occasionally – especially after receiving treatment – so you always know where you stand.

For more detailed information, the official Dutch government website has a clear overview of how eigen risico works and what the current amounts are.


One part of a bigger picture

Eigen risico is just one piece of the Dutch healthcare system. Once you’ve got your insurance sorted and understand how the deductible works, the day-to-day experience of healthcare here is actually quite straightforward. Your GP is your starting point for almost everything, and the system is designed to be accessible – even if it takes a little getting used to at first. For more detailed information, visit the official Dutch government website.


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The Difference Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills

Starting or growing your career in a new country comes with its own set of challenges -and two things quickly become central to your success: your hard skills and soft skills.

As an expat in the Netherlands, you’re not just adapting to a new job market. You’re also learning a different work culture, a new communication style, and a different set of expectations. And one thing that often surprises people is this: it’s not just about what you know. It’s about how you work, how you communicate, and how you fit into a team. That balance between hard skills and soft skills is what really shapes your career here.


Hard skills: your professional foundation

Hard skills are your technical abilities – the things you’ve learned through education, training, or previous roles. They’re often the reason your CV gets noticed in the first place.

If you’re applying for jobs in the Netherlands, your hard skills might include your degree or certifications, experience with specific tools or systems, language skills (especially English and sometimes Dutch), or industry-specific knowledge. These are the things that help employers quickly understand your background, particularly when your experience comes from another country.

But here’s the reality: hard skills alone are rarely enough. The Dutch job market evolves quickly, and employers expect candidates to keep learning. Whether it’s new technologies, digital tools, or industry trends, staying up to date is simply part of the deal.


Soft skills: your advantage as an expat

Soft skills are often underestimated – but in an international environment, they can make all the difference. These are the skills that shape how you work with others, how you handle change, and how you navigate unfamiliar situations. And as an expat, you’ve already been practising all of those.

Dutch workplace culture is known for being direct, flat, and collaborative. Feedback is honest and to the point, hierarchies are minimal, and team input is genuinely valued. To thrive in that environment, employers look for people who can communicate clearly, adapt quickly, take initiative, and build relationships across cultures.

For many expats, this is actually where you stand out. Moving abroad already demonstrates resilience, flexibility, and openness – all qualities that Dutch employers actively look for, even if they’re not always listed in a job description.


Why Employers Expect Both

Think of it this way: hard skills get you in the door, soft skills help you stay, grow, and succeed.

You might be technically qualified for a role, but employers also want to know whether you can collaborate with a multicultural team, handle direct feedback without taking it personally, and adapt when things don’t go as planned. The candidates who build long-term careers here are the ones who combine real expertise with the ability to navigate people, change, and challenges.

Neither set of skills trumps the other. They work together – and the stronger both are, the more confident you’ll feel walking into any interview or starting any new role.


How to show both on your CV and in interviews

One common mistake expats make is focusing only on technical experience. While that’s important, your CV should also reflect how you work – not just what you’ve done.

For hard skills, be specific. Mention the tools, systems, and results you’ve worked with, align them with the job description, and highlight measurable impact where you can. For soft skills, use examples rather than labels. Instead of writing “team player”, try something like: “Collaborated with a multicultural team across three countries to deliver projects within tight deadlines.” That tells a much stronger story, especially for employers used to international workplaces.

If you want to go deeper on putting this into practice, our CV series covers exactly how to structure and present your experience as an expat – from foundations and layout to headlines and personal statements. It’s worth a read before you start applying.


Don’t just list your skills – own your story

Building a career abroad isn’t just about qualifications. The experience itself shapes you into a more adaptable, resourceful, and globally minded professional. That’s exactly what many employers in the Netherlands are looking for – and it’s something worth showing, not just saying.


Want to read more?

For more resources and insights, visit our blog. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay informed on everything we share.

Finding Your First Apartment as an Expat

If you’ve just moved to the Netherlands, or are planning to, finding your first apartment might quickly become your biggest challenge.

Cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague are popular for a reason – but that also means high demand and limited availability. It’s not unusual to respond to a listing and never hear back, or to compete with dozens of other applicants for one apartment. The good news is that once you understand how things work here, the process becomes a lot more manageable.


Start early and be ready to move fast

One of the biggest surprises for expats is how quickly the housing market moves. A good apartment can be listed in the morning and fully booked for viewings by the afternoon. That’s why timing matters.

If possible, start your search a few months before your move. Once you’re actively looking, check listings daily and respond quickly. It also helps to be clear about what you want before you start – your budget, preferred areas, commute, and whether you’re open to shared housing or only want a private apartment. The clearer you are, the faster you can act when something fits.


Understanding the Dutch rental system

The Dutch housing system can feel confusing at first, but the basics are straightforward.

Social housing is affordable but comes with waiting lists that can stretch for years, so it’s rarely an option for newcomers. Private rentals are where most expats end up – they’re more expensive and come with stricter requirements, but they’re accessible if you’re prepared.

Landlords in the private market want financial security. That means they’ll typically ask for proof of income, a work contract, and sometimes a Dutch bank account. A common rule of thumb is that your gross income should be around three to four times the monthly rent. It can feel like a lot, but it’s completely standard here.


Where expats actually find housing

There’s no single best platform – most expats use a combination Pararius and Funda are the go-to sites for private rentals, Kamernet is useful for rooms and shared housing, and Marktplaats has more informal listings. Facebook groups can also be helpful, especially for sublets, but this is where scams are more common.

A simple rule: if someone asks you to transfer money before you’ve seen the place or without a proper contract, walk away. If the process feels overwhelming, rental agencies can help guide you through it – just always check their fees upfront before committing.


Come prepared

In a competitive market, preparation makes all the difference. When you find an apartment you like, you don’t want to spend time gathering documents – you want to respond immediately.

Have these ready before you start actively searching: your ID or passport, employment contract, recent payslips or proof of income, bank statements, and references if you have them. It might seem like overkill, but being ready to send everything in one go can put you ahead of other applicants.


What viewings are actually like

Viewings in the Netherlands are often quick and practical – sometimes even a bit rushed. You might be walking through the apartment alongside several other people, all trying to make a good impression at the same time.

Use that time wisely. Look beyond the aesthetics and check the basics: does everything work, what’s included in the rent, and how’s the neighbourhood? And importantly – can you register at the address? Registration is essential in the Netherlands. Without it you won’t be able to get your BSN, open a bank account, or properly settle into daily life. We cover exactly how registration works in our blog on registering at the Dutch municipality.


No apartment yet? Start temporary

If you haven’t secured a long-term place before arrival, don’t worry – this is very common. Many expats start with temporary accommodation like Airbnb or short-term rentals and continue their search once they’re in the country. It actually makes things easier, since landlords often prefer tenants who can attend viewings in person and sign quickly.


A note on 2026 rules and buying

Once you’ve settled in, buying might eventually cross your mind. In 2026, first-time buyers under 35 benefit from a higher transfer tax exemption, and mortgage limits have increased slightly – worth knowing for the future even if it’s not relevant right now.

On the rental side, housing allowance (huurtoeslag) is now available to a wider group, including younger renters and those with slightly higher rents. Rent increases are also regulated annually depending on the type of property. It’s worth checking your eligibility once you’ve found a place.


Want to read more?

For more resources and insights, visit our blog. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay informed on everything we share.

Beware of Scammers!

Scammers are impersonating as our team on social media, including Whatsapp and Messenger, targeting job seekers. Be cautious of unusual email addresses and Whatsapp messages from non +31 numbers.

If you live in the Netherlands: report to Fraud Helpdesk NL: https://www.fraudehelpdesk.nl/

If you live outside the Netherlands: Report to your local police or fraud agency.

Remember, Abroad Experience never asks for payments in your job search. Any requests for money are fraudulent and illegal under Dutch law. For any concerns, contact us directly. Stay safe!