Go Netherlands! Beware of the back-pedal brakes on Dutch bicycles!

  • Career Center
  • Le 4 novembre 2022

Audencia's Career Center and Alumni teams are delighted to to bring you “Go Netherlands!”, the guide to working in the Netherlands.

Following the success of the guide to working in France for internationals, this new edition focuses on a country that is a destination of choice for Audencians. Members of its thriving community of students and alumni say they choose the Netherlands for its economic stability, work-hard-play-hard lifestyle, multiculturalism and for being a country where English is often the working language.

“Go Netherlands!” is a valuable resource for students considering a career in the Netherlands after their studies. Starting with HR professionals’ top tips and debunking the myths and realities of the workplace, Go Netherlands! also showcases the experiences of more than 20 alumni who have aced the challenge of finding a job and settling in the Netherlands.


This week, discover what Adeyemi Oni​ from Nigeria has to say.

About Adeyemi:

  • Studied on the MSc SCPM programme
  • Internship as a Supply Chain Planner at Akzonobel Nederland BV in Sassenheim
  • Native language: Yoruba
  • Other languages spoken English & French
  • Level of Dutch: beginner
  • Lived in the Netherlands for 6 months in 2020


Adeyemi's key message: “Beware of the back-pedal brakes on Dutch bicycles!"


My biggest challenge
Understanding the paperwork and registration processes! My internship had to be aligned with the pedagogical objectives of my course and signed off by my supervisor at the company and the programme manager at Audencia. This took 60 days! The second challenge was the reverse culture shock when I returned to France at the end of my internship, and I had to speak French...everywhere!

My advice & top tips
The Dutch are very straight talkers and adopt a different form of professional diplomacy that you need to get used to. Studying in France and working in the Netherlands gives you a European exposure and can then lead to opportunities inside and outside the EU. If possible, go for an internship! It really helps you get your foot on the ladder. The application process is hard work, so you need to channel your energy into it. I found my internship on glassdoor.com. Creating a job alert on Indeed, LinkedIn, etc., reduces the stress of searching for openings. Lastly, ensure that your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are well optimised and aligned with your desired career aspirations.

Quirky & cultural
I love cycling which is great because it is one of the Dutch national pastimes. Like almost everyone else, I cycled to work, from Leiden to Sassenheim, about 40 minutes each way. It’s pedal power not electric!

And finally
Food reveals so much about a country’s culture. The Dutch cuisine was a bit disappointing although they have healthy appetites and eat such a lot. Now I’m back in France, I have the impression that the French are always on a diet!




 
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