Forums » Netherlands » Employment in the Netherlands

• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 13, 2011 11:24:52 PM CEST

  Hi all, I am in Amsterdam and working for an employer who unfortunately is not really holding his end of the deal, I wont go into details.

   

  What I would like to know is if there are any jobs that require no particular skills other than strong will, dedication and effort from an employee? What I mean by this is jobs like delivery person, mc donalds, barkeep, internet caffe worker (done that for 2 years) or something similar.

   

  I am 2 exams away from marketing bachelor in my home contry with some experience in the field, but I can't really see I can get a job like that.

   

  I would appreciate any advice, thank you in advance :)

   

  PS. I can work here legally as I have an EU passport (not Bulgarian or Romanian).

  
  This post was edited by markos at October 13, 2011 11:25:32 PM CEST
• osita

  

  • 2061 posts
   

  October 14, 2011 7:54:31 AM CEST

  Perhaps try the uitzendbureaus (Randstad, Creyfs, etc). I'm seeing lots of ads in bus-stops for seasonal (extra) Postmen which might be worth a try?
  
  Or call round the multi-lingual agencies like Undutchables, Unique, Blue Lynx, etc, if you have more languages to offer than English, as they usually have call centre work around. Or perhaps try the usuals like Booking.com and TomTom to see if they have something?
• pepec

  

  • 2277 posts
   

  October 14, 2011 10:30:49 AM CEST

  Picking tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc in greenhouses is always in demand.
• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 14, 2011 11:15:47 PM CEST

  Thanks for the suggestions guys, I will start with the agencies. As for picking vegetables, where do l find work in a greenhouse?
  
  
• Beowulf

  

  • 16 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 7:05:28 AM CEST

  Ah ah, there are no jobs even for English speaking people with skills (and I don't even know what *skills* means anymore).
  
  I'd show you my sample data and historical record of past application results, but it would only make you skip several meals and fall asleep crying and hugging yourself like a small kid who just got home running away from the daily bully-spanking.
  
  So I won't.
  
  You can forget about Undutchables, Blue Lynx, and all the other popular myths as they WILL reject you even if you have a degree+post graduate in an area with reasonable demand, only because you cannot speak and write good Dutch (I assume you don't).
  
  Seems the market crisis has left the ball on the employers court. They have a wider pool to pick from and now demand more skills for the same peanuts, in particular, they seem to be trying to get more Dutch nationals by demanding fluent Dutch (when 1 or 2 years ago any English-speaking worker with the required skills would do).
  
  That's the way the market works, I guess. It might eventually correct when the demand rises as consumers get more positive. But right now I don't think it will be easy.
  
  (background: I've been applying for jobs in the .nl for 6 months. Mostly jobs in high demand and very aligned with my cv but 70-80% get rejected for "Fluent written and spoken Dutch is mandatory". The rest get rejected out of random luck, because of my photo or cv or just because I'm unlucky or suck in some way. But the core idea is the ~75% dutch-only thing)
  
  Flippin' burgers mate, flippin' burgers... and even for that they might want you to write good Dutch.... just, well.... because they can now.
  
  When you feel sad and broken, like an inferior speck on the EU food chain, just remember that you still have something going for you - Your native cuisine is way, way way better, it's actually great and not crap you wouldn't feed that quarrelsome stray cat you found on the back yard - "food" you'd describe as meeting "the dutch standard".
  
  Ok, so this won't always be true, but it applies to 94,4% of the nations in the world as those have better food that the Dutch, so I thought I'd risk it as a cheap resentful but well-justified argument.
  
  But go ahead, do pick those peppers. Just make sure you can speak fluent Dutch to them, and just in case, better be able to read it too, as they might write you a postcard or two during the coming 2011/12 winter.
  
  Cheers all,
  
  \Beowulf, the Portuguese bitter, quite resentful Dutch-wanna-be-immigrant (but otherwise, meh...fairly pleasant)
  This post was edited by Beowulf at October 15, 2011 8:14:33 AM CEST
• Beowulf

  

  • 16 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 7:26:19 AM CEST

  smilika said:
  Thanks for the suggestions guys, I will start with the agencies. As for picking vegetables, where do l find work in a greenhouse?

  
  PS: ffs... I'm clueless but you can write average english, attach a photo and find a forum. I've even noticed you can master the use of the shift key for caps and have a good notion of punctuation.
  I'm sure you can do something sharper than pick up cucumbers at the nearest greenhouse. Just swallow that nasty role and bend to the current employer, take it like a man, no lube applied, pretend you love it, thank them for the experience and wait patiently to find something that matches your skills - which will probably be easy, as improving the greenhouse goal means just something better than "kneel and pick vegetables from the ground" Now dont get me wrong! Not that I dislike cucumbers, I do like 'em, I do; They sacrifice to great salads. And yes, it is true that you can also manage peppers. I'd value that. But if you want to go low-end at least find a role that deals with something higher on the food chain, say, messing with chicken or pigs, or any creatures that at least had an identifiable mother and father. What I dislike is to see wasted potential, brilliant minds being put off, pushed away from great jobs only because they don't fit the common model - but enough about me - what matters here is you, and, especially, you not bending to pick sh#t from the Dutch farm soil. Or, in other words, good luck. /Beowulf, the bitter IT Dutch-wanna-be-immigrant with no Dutch skills and 70%+ rejections. PPS: If you do hate your job and boss, I have to admit that my advice does not apply, Even an astronaut would prefer to clean latrines in the dark with his tongue, given enough hate and resentment towards his employer - if that is the case, just take the first offer that someone makes. That should be very, very easy as if you have no standards, anything will match them. PPPS: After editing my text, it lost all breaks and now appears as a big solid, messy stain. I refuse to accept such lousy break-less formatting as my own responsibility and point my judging finger at whomever is coding this site. Other than that, I'm happy. Just read the hole nasty solid boring block and stop b1tching about it. Meh.
  This post was edited by Beowulf at October 15, 2011 8:10:46 AM CEST
• ouloveit3

  

  • 516 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 8:33:55 AM CEST

  Dude, after all that I have to ask if you are off your meds again? Because that's how that rambling text reads.

   

  Geesh, how are you going to move to another country .. but not even have enough sense to learn the language? Then you have to nerve to get indignant and upset .. because you can't get a job .. because you cannot speak said language.

   

  People move to my home counry (America) from South America all the time and can only speak Spanish and they are upset and bitter because they can't find work either. Again .. they can't speak the language but they want everything to fall into their laps. DUH!

   

  If falls on you to adapt to this culture .. rather than insisting that everyone here .. adapt to you.

  It gets old.  Then after all that rambling, you want people to believe you are really happy? Hee hee! Fat chance of that happening.

   

  I say 'man up' .. and learn the language or go back home but stop blaming the people here for a situation you put yourself into.

   

  Finally, Dude ... these Dutch  people don't OWE you anything. Hee hee! Noone put a gun to your head and forced you to move here.

   

  Why should they give a darn if you can't find work?

  
  This post was edited by ouloveit3 at October 15, 2011 9:01:46 AM CEST
• peony

  

  • 779 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 9:35:37 AM CEST

  what happened to your original name outloveit?
• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 10:22:50 AM CEST

  I don't hate my employer. Plus I still work a low end job. It is just that t e pay will be much lower tban agreed, and the atmosphere in the company is not pleasant. The true thing is that this puts me in a possition where almost anything is better.
• ouloveit3

  

  • 516 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 10:27:35 AM CEST

  peony said:
  what happened to your original name outloveit?

  It got .. sick.

   

  Actually, I was ouloveit seven years ago .. then they changed servers and something got screwy so I started using ouloveit1 and now that password/email combination is no longer recognized.

   

  I tried creating ouloveit2 .. but that was already taken so surely I created that one at some time in the past as well. Who knows.

   

  (shrugs) So now I am on ouloveit3.

   

  Oh well.

  
  This post was edited by ouloveit3 at October 15, 2011 10:35:26 AM CEST
• ouloveit3

  

  • 516 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 10:29:15 AM CEST

  smilika said:
  I don't hate my employer. Plus I still work a low end job. It is just that t e pay will be much lower tban agreed, and the atmosphere in the company is not pleasant. The true thing is that this puts me in a possition where almost anything is better.

  I say .. take the picking job. It's honest work (sound intriging to me in a 'Grapes of Wrath' sort of way) , and you are still young enough to move on to something better later on.

   

  Don't stay at a job with a bad atmosphere though ... that will kill you on inside.

  
  This post was edited by ouloveit3 at October 15, 2011 10:32:57 AM CEST
• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 15, 2011 6:46:53 PM CEST

  The atmosphere is the main reason really, I know it will kill me in the long run. How can I find that picking job, any help? Thanks for all the participation in this topic so far!
• Robert2012

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 19, 2011 7:29:21 PM CEST

  smilika said:
  

  Hi all, I am in Amsterdam and working for an employer who unfortunately is not really holding his end of the deal, I wont go into details.

   

  What I would like to know is if there are any jobs that require no particular skills other than strong will, dedication and effort from an employee? What I mean by this is jobs like delivery person, mc donalds, barkeep, internet caffe worker (done that for 2 years) or something similar.

   

  I am 2 exams away from marketing bachelor in my home contry with some experience in the field, but I can't really see I can get a job like that.

   

  I would appreciate any advice, thank you in advance :)

   

  PS. I can work here legally as I have an EU passport (not Bulgarian or Romanian).

   

  Hi smilika ,

   

  how do you do ?

   

  i am a recruiter for foreign language natives for desktop support & customer service positions.

   

  Would it be possible receive an overview of your professional & educational background ? Based on English as the sole variable, its possible to introduce you to a client of ours in Rotterdam.

   

  Best regards,

   

   

  Robert Wong

  robert.wong2012@yahoo.nl

  06 4310 5938

• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 12:08:05 AM CEST

  Hello Robert, thanks for your reply. I sent you an email with details.
  
  Regards, smilika
• Deleted Member

  

  • 7374 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 9:44:44 AM CEST

  smilika said:
  Hello Robert, thanks for your reply. I sent you an email with details. Regards, smilika

  
  Your job can't be THAT bad that you'd resort to contact a spamming call centre?  

   

  Don't mess up your CV like that. You'll make yourself even MORE unemployable afterwards because some recruiters tend to only judge you by the job at the top of your CV. The competition for some English-language jobs is so stiff, they will often only consider candidates who are already working in the field they are seeking people for. And with all the CVs they have to troll through, they don't WANT to read beyond the first job on the page. Speaking from experience...don't squeeze yourself into a box you may not be able to escape from...

• Robert2012

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 2:14:34 PM CEST

  canuckywoman said:
  

  smilika said:
  Hello Robert, thanks for your reply. I sent you an email with details. Regards, smilika

  
  Your job can't be THAT bad that you'd resort to contact a spamming call centre?  

   

  Don't mess up your CV like that. You'll make yourself even MORE unemployable afterwards because some recruiters tend to only judge you by the job at the top of your CV. The competition for some English-language jobs is so stiff, they will often only consider candidates who are already working in the field they are seeking people for. And with all the CVs they have to troll through, they don't WANT to read beyond the first job on the page. Speaking from experience...don't squeeze yourself into a box you may not be able to escape from...

   

   

  Yes dear readers,

   

  Follow the advice of canuckywoman and she will make sure your future is bright, carefree and guaranteed of a nice BMW company car 

  
  

  My god canuckywoman, you sure are feisty

  
  

  
  

  Best regards,

  
  

  
  

  Robert Wong
  

• Deleted Member

  

  • 7374 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 3:04:11 PM CEST

  And a call centre job guarantees what, Meneer Wong?
  
  
• Robert2012

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 3:19:18 PM CEST

  canuckywoman said:
  And a call centre job guarantees what, Meneer Wong?

   

   

  Dear ms canuckywoman,

   

  in life nothing is a guarantee, even if you feel it should be one.

   

  The moment one accepts this fact, life is much more pleasant to deal with.

   

  Basically, one can start out (careerwise, workwise) from a large variety of angles, even a simple callcenter job.

  A job is not a cage. You are not bound to stick to it no matter what; also, the company hiring for that position is not obligated to guaranteeing eternal employment.

   

  All comes down to 1 basic question: what do you want from life ? what do you wish for yourself to be in the near future ?

   

  My personal motto: talk is cheap.

  Show the world the action you are taking in reaching for your personal set of goals.

  Thats what counts.

   

  At the end of the day, as you have aged, and you look back, can you say you have reached out for any possibility life could offer you to make it happen for yourself ?

   

  If yes, then congrats. Even in faillure, there is no one and nothing to blame for, as you have done all possible within your reach.

   

  If no, you have to life with that, for the remainder of your life. Happy with that or not.

   

  So which region of Canada are you from ? 

   

   

  Regards,

   

   

  Robert

   

   

   

• Deleted Member

  

  • 7374 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 5:26:07 PM CEST

  So, there you go. Besides that job postings are not allowed in the forum, there is also just the inconvenience that goes along with posting anything in a public forum...that people will express their opinion about it.
  
  At least in a proper job posting there's no risk of pesky posters telling you what they think of it, is there? ;)
  
  And, if you think that call centre work is going to evoke posts of rhapsodic praise, well, you've been at the wrong end of that industry for a bit too long I would think!
• Robert2012

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 5:44:31 PM CEST

  canuckywoman said:
  So, there you go. Besides that job postings are not allowed in the forum, there is also just the inconvenience that goes along with posting anything in a public forum...that people will express their opinion about it. At least in a proper job posting there's no risk of pesky posters telling you what they think of it, is there? ;) And, if you think that call centre work is going to evoke posts of rhapsodic praise, well, you've been at the wrong end of that industry for a bit too long I would think!

   

  canuckywoman,

  
  

  you are not digesting what i am stating.

  (read my previous reply more carefully if you will)
  

  
  

  Also, i have no issues with people stating their views as a reaction. Every person on this planet is entitled to a voice; making sure your points hold ground can be a challenge however, for all sides involved.

  
  

  Funny, i figured you would be much more of a cheerful person and suddenly i have a lecture coming my way ..

  
  

  (you're not a mom are you ?)
  

  
  

• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  October 20, 2011 10:41:34 PM CEST

  1

  
  This post was edited by markos at April 25, 2012 4:31:57 PM CEST
• fortuner

  

  • 10337 posts
   

  October 25, 2011 12:22:56 PM CEST

  smilika said:
  On my current job my employer lies to employees about money, in a very sleazy way too. Couple that with very low wage, and any job is better than this one. They lied to me when, and fooled me into taking the job. Call center is one nice possibility compared to that, and if anyone knows of any other please contact me. Thanks!

  It might be a good idea if you let us all know how far you get on with that job offering from Robert Wong, if only to prove a point, one way or another...

  
  This post was edited by Admin at May 2, 2012 1:24:45 PM CEST
• Yodo

  

  • 2 posts
   

  February 6, 2012 11:39:41 PM CET

  Hello Robert,
  
  Are you still offering any positions? Please contact me g.m.z at hotmail dot fr
• markos

  

  • 12 posts
   

  February 6, 2012 11:56:22 PM CET

  Uh, totally forgot about this topic. And yeah - Robert is a spammer offering "jobs" he finds in listings.