{"id":1169,"date":"2025-07-23T17:05:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwaeu.com\/?p=1169"},"modified":"2025-07-23T17:47:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:47:32","slug":"my-experience-of-trying-to-find-a-job-in-the-netherlands-as-an-international-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwaeu.com\/?p=1169","title":{"rendered":"My experience of trying to find a job in the Netherlands as an International Student"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Ekram, with research by Nahid<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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When I first moved to the Netherlands as an international student, I didn\u2019t think too much about what would happen after graduation. I figured if I worked hard, gained relevant experience, and built the right skills, eventually I\u2019d find a job.

But the reality? It was a lot more complicated than I expected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Struggle is Real.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Job hunting in the Netherlands as a non-EU graduate with limited Dutch skills (baby Dutch speaker here, I\u2019m learning, I promise!) has been one of the most emotionally exhausting and character-building experiences of my life.

I\u2019ve stared at my inbox after sending application after application. I\u2019ve prepped for interviews that never happened. I\u2019ve questioned whether I was doing something wrong.

And yes, sometimes that awful thought crept in: \u201cMaybe I\u2019m just not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, the feedback, when I got any, was often vague or contradictory:
– \u201cYou\u2019re too experienced.\u201d
– \u201cYou don\u2019t have enough experience.\u201d
– \u201cWe don\u2019t sponsor visas.\u201d

It felt like there was a secret formula I hadn\u2019t been told.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What Actually Helped Me<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There was no magic fix. But here\u2019s what made a difference:
– Talking to others in the same boat.
– Saying yes to small opportunities.
– Attending events and meetups.
– Applying only to IND-recognised sponsors.
– Learning that rejection isn\u2019t always personal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Job Hunting Tips and Research<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n