Job Fair Atlanta

How easy is it for an American to get a job in the Netherlands? Legitimate or under the table?

My boyfriend (an EU citizen) is moving to the Netherlands for grad school in Utrecht. I would like to join him there after I graduate at the end of this fall semester, so the beginning of next year. He will be there for a year and a half so I need a job that I could potentially do for that long. I have heard there is such thing as English speaking bike tour guide, but imagine that will be difficult to obtain. I am also willing and interested in teaching English (highly unlikely I'm sure to find a job doing this) or even be a nanny. Just wondering how likely it is I would be able to make this work out.... Thanks My education at that point in time will consist of a bachelor's of science in biology

Public Comments

1. Getting a job under the table is nigh impossible and even then you would be in violation of your visa-free stay as a tourist which the visa waiver program allows you to do, and even then it is for a max of 90 days If you want to stay longer than 3 months and work then there are only a couple of options available (apart from via a family member/partner already in the Netherlands which is a different process and you & your bf would both need to be 21 and him earning sufficient to sponsor you which is unlikely if he is a student): (a) Highly Skilled Migrant - someone who already has a gross annual income of at least €47,565, or €34,881 if he/she is under thirty- but there are specific clauses as well (b) Study visa - but this is a temporary visa for the duration of the course only although it is possible to seek work after graduation for up to 6 months (c) Self employed - your business activities will be scored and must serve a "material Dutch purpose" (d) Au pair visa So realistically the student visa is the only option for most people depending on their skillset, but then you need the funds to be able to cover living costs & tuition fees Reaching English, well you can pretty much forget about this without a teaching degree from a university because the level of English is high and you will need this qualification as a bare minimum (plus usually work experience already) and even still your employer would have to prove that you have unique skills ahead of any other EU/EEA citizen to fill the job - and remember the UK & Ireland (native English speakers) are part of the EU/EEA so it is going to be exceptionally difficult. Assuming you are young (from the grad school part) then you would not be eligible for the highly skilled migrant option. If you do not have the funds for a study visa then I would suggest you look at the au pair option Read page 22 of this document http://www.ind.nl/en/Images/1001_VIN_ENG_4012_tcm6-595.pdf produced by the Dutch immigration dept and see if you fit the bill for this. This is the most likely option in your circumstances. Good luck
2. Don't bother trying to get a job under the table in the Netherlands, not a good idea. If you knew anything about the Netherlands, you would be aware that Dutch people are excellent linguists and that they have their own trained English-speaking tour guides, you would be superfluous to requirements. Your best bet is to go and get yourself an internationally recognised certificate as a teacher of English as a foreign language, and start looking for jobs in the Netherlands. You might have some luck in The Hague and Amsterdam also, as they are easily reached by train. However, I don't fancy your chances. You are up against severe location competition, as there are plenty of native speakers of English from Ireland and the UK who are both highly qualified and experienced in teaching it to non-native speakers. Alternatively, you could enroll as a student in the Netherlands yourself, this is the only thing I can think of for you to stay that long. You don't say if you yourself have any educational qualifications, and this really matters in the Netherlands.
3. no, not with that degree
4. In general you'll need a degree and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate to get a visa and work. You'll also need to be a native speaker. The degree can be in almost any subject as it is usually required for the visa only so you will find teachers with a degree in Engineering or Sociology. Having said this, to help get the job it's obviously better to be English or language related, for example a degree in English literature. The TEFL certificate can be taken either in-house or online at your own pace which is a much cheaper option (see http://icalweb.com). Then there's the question of the visa. Since the Netherlands is very cosmopolitan you'll find teachers from all over the world. You'll need a visa to work there. Non-EU citizens will need to hold a work visa to teach legally and this can be obtained by submitting a written letter of employment to the relevant authorities. In the case of non-EU nationals an employer must have a valid work permit before the employee enters the country; however you may be able to come in on a tourist visa, visit every single school in the area till you find one which needs a teacher, and then work with them to get the visa. If you are in the right place at the right time then you might well find work and since (presumably) you'll have a place to stay in the meantime it shouldn't be too stressful on your finances! :)