My inburgeren process has been spread out over many many months because of how agonising it’s been trying to squeeze in preparation time for my exams in an already chaotic life with a toddler and a pre-schooler.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5…

There are five inburgeringsexamen. The reading (lezen), writing (schrijven), listening (luisteren), Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM) and for the unemployed or non-employed, we get the cherry on top, the Knowledge of Dutch Labour Market (ONA). If you’ve been working full-time for at least six months you get an exemption.

The first three exams were easy enough and I completed them all within a week because I’d already completed a higher level Dutch language course than is required for inburgeren which is A2. The KNM exam took me a bit longer because there were some things that I embarrassingly still didn’t know about the Netherlands. I hope I’m not the only one who didn’t know what ‘passief kiesrecht’ was. Other questions were pretty easy such as ‘what does a makelaar do?’ Some were quietly amusing such as ‘what do you do when your classmate proclaims that women cannot be leaders?’ Anyway, I eventually got done with that one too in a reasonable amount of time.

Then there was the ONA. It’s not so bad if you’ve worked in the recent past but for someone like me who has been out of the job market for five years and has barely any work experience (yes, life took me in a different direction when I got pregnant in college) it can take an awfully long amount of time. Or maybe it’s just me. But I realised what was taking me so long was flexing those long deadened muscles that required quite some time to be reactivated.

Knowledge of Dutch Labour Market or ONA

The ONA entails completing a ‘portfolio’ which checks your knowledge about navigating the Dutch labour market. This includes forms covering your job experience, your qualities as an employee, your ability to build a network, your ability to look for a job or a course/degree in the Netherlands and so on. I was stuck from the get go. The first question had me questioning all my life choices: ‘choose one desired profession out of three favoured professions’. I haven’t had any profession besides being a mother and the endless odd jobs that come with that title. And I had to come up with honest answers because there is an interview once you’ve cleared the portfolio where they check to see if you’ve really filled in the information by yourself, so I couldn’t just wing it.

Even as I was reeling with the drudgery of having to fill this document with information that I had to keep going back and forth to make sure was suitable, it dawned on me that this was a chance to get back into the mindset that I would desperately need if I was ever going to go back to work. It forced me to deal with the inevitable future where my kids would not need me so much anymore. It gave me the push to make a plan for entering the labour market again, when I really didn’t want to have to think about it. And for that I’m grateful. I didn’t expect that it would be the inburgeren process that would get me there.

The post Inburgeren Might Be Exactly What You Need appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

‘Stay home, save lives’ is now our daily mantra. According to public health experts, social distancing and isolation are necessary measures to minimise the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The aim of these actions is ‘to flatten the curve’.  By spreading out the infection rate, the medical services won’t be overwhelmed and lives will be saved. The Netherlands extended these measures until the 28th of April, which will be revised again on the 22nd of April. As we look at how the infection rate and daily deaths are still growing in the Netherlands and around the world, many would probably agree that these emergency measures are crucial.  Only with hindsight would it be clear whether this was the best approach. Unfortunately, these lockdown measures have a dire impact on the economy which directly affects your business, especially as an entrepreneur, a small business owner or a self-employed professional (ZZp’er). Some people have lost their jobs; others are losing clients and income and are struggling to keep their businesses afloat.

The Dutch government announced an emergency financial package of billions of euros to protect jobs and incomes and to support businesses, SME entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals (ZZP’ers) who are suffering as a direct result of COVID-19.

The Financial Aid Measures

1. Temporary Emergency Bridging Measure for Sustained Employment

As of 17 March, the unemployment benefit for werktijdverkorting, WTV (short-time working), has been cancelled.  This is due to an unprecedented amount of applications received.  The Tijdelike Maatregel Overbrugging voor Werkbehoud, NOW (emergency bridging fund for sustained employment) replaced the WTV and currently provides employers with financial help to cover wages for three months.  Applications for this compensation are open from Monday 6 April till 31 May 2020. If you are eligible, your business will receive an advance payment within two to four weeks.

Requirements

• Expect a loss of 20% turnover or more, as from 1 March 2020
• Cannot dismiss employees on economic grounds during this time
• Can retract a dismissal
• Pay employees in full
• This compensation can only be used for wages
• Be transparent and inform both employees and the work council about the grant received
• Keep correct records for five years
• Inform Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) of any changes in your business status or circumstances
• Notify the municipality, if your business already receives a wage subsidy
• If, after three months, you ask for another three months extension, the conditions may be adapted
• Submit a statement from an accountant for claims exceeding a specified amount (not yet determined)

How much can you claim?

• Turnover loss of 100%, pay 90% of wages
• Turnover loss of 50%, pay 45% of wages
• Turnover loss of 25%, pay 22.5% of wages

The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) will advance 80% of the expected payout within two to four weeks if your application is successful.  A correction can be made if there is a discrepancy between the estimated and the actual compensation. 

How to apply?

• For March, April and May 2020, you can apply from 6 April 2020 at 09:00 to 31 May 2020
• Have the following details handy:
  • Company name, contact person, address, phone number, email address (this has to be a Dutch one)
  • WTV case number if you previously applied for short-time working unemployment benefit
  • Payroll tax number
  • Indicate which three months you expect a minimum of 20% turnover loss
  • Indicate the percentage of turnover loss
  • Dutch bank account details, which is used by the Belastingdienst (tax administration)
• Go to the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) website.
• Click on the application page (all in Dutch).
• Once completed, sign the declaration of intent, which asks whether
• you have entered all the details correctly and truthfully
• you understand and agree to the Algemene wet bestuursrecht, Awb (General Administrative Law Act)
• you can legally represent the company
• bankruptcy has not been filed
• you agree to your data being stored and processed per GDPR

2. Financial Aid for Self-Employed Professionals

Under the Besluit bijstandsverleninging zelfstandige, Bbz (Decree on Assistance to the Self-employed), a temporary financial aid scheme Tozo has been made available to self-employed professionals. These include eenmanzaak (sole proprietors), vennootschap onder firma, VOF( general partnership) and Besloten Vennootschap, BV (private limited companies).

This temporary aid scheme (Tozo) takes two forms: income support and a loan for business capital. Depending on your family situation, for three months, you can apply for an amount of up to €1500 per month, without a partner or capital test to compensate for a loss of income. This subsidy is not a loan and does not need to be paid back.   

You can also apply for a business capital loan of up to € 10 157, which has to be repaid. The interest rates are lower than a standard business loan, and you can apply for an extension of repayment. 

This scheme can be backdated to 1 March 2020 and is in place till the 1 June 2020. Apply online.

Requirements

• Self-employed (zzp, vof, bv, etc.)

• Older than 18 and not receiving state pension (AOW)

• Registered company with Kamer van Koophandel, KvK (Chamber of Commerce) before 17 March 2020 at 18:45

• Legally live and work in the Netherlands

• Work more than 23.5 hours in your business

• You would need to prove that you are experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19

• Live in the municipality area where you apply

How to apply? ( in Dutch)

• Have your and your partner’s DigiD and passwords, KvK number, copy of latest bank statement and turnover handy

• Go to your municipality’s website

• Log in with your DigiD

• Fill in your income

• Fill in your KvK number

• Check the details of you and your partner

• Attach a copy of your bank statements

• Complete a declaration

  • I need financial aid

  • I belong to the target group

  • I know I have to repay the loan and that I will be fined if I give false information.

  • I will inform the municipality if my income status changes

• Sign and send (with your partner’s signature)

If you are successful, you will receive payments within two to four weeks.

3. Deferral of payment of tax and reduction of fines

Payments of income tax, corporate income tax, turnover tax and payroll tax can be extended for three months. You need to submit a written request to the Belastingdienst (tax administration), explaining how the COVID-19 outbreak and measures have caused your business financial hardship.  If you expect lower profits due to the corona crisis, you can ask the Dutch Belastingdienst to reduce your provisional assessment.

You can apply for an extension with an online form on the Belastingdienst website.

This form is called  ‘Verzoek bijzonder uitstel van betaling voor 3 maanden’ in Dutch.

How to apply?

• Have your DigiD, RSIN and your BSN number handy
• Go to the Belastingdienst website page
• Click on  ‘verzoek bijzonder uitstel van betaling voor 3 maande.’
• This will take you to a DigiD login page
• You will be asked for your RSIN number and your citizen service number (BSN).

Fines for late payments have wavered.  The collection interest rate for paying after the payment term ended is low;  almost 0% and the tax interest rate is temporarily set at the lowest possible.

Further payment extensions have been given on excise duty, landlord levy, environmental taxes, insurance premium tax and betting and lottery tax. 

The obligation for employers to report permanent employees’ contracts has been extended to 1 July 2020.

Under certain circumstances, your G-account can be unblocked. The form is in the Belastingsdienst website under ‘Deblokkering g-rekening.’

If you are unsure, as all the information on the Belastingdienst website is in Dutch, you can also contact the 

Tax Information Line on 0800 0543 

4. Extension of the Business GO Scheme

Medium to large businesses can temporarily take out bigger loans of up to €150 million under the Garantie Ondernemingsfinanciering, GO (business loan guarantee scheme). 

5. SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (BMKB)

The BMKB scheme has been extended from 16 March 2020 to 1 April 2021 to help SME entrepreneurs secure bank guarantees and bridge financing.  Only those SME’s financially struggling due to the COVID-19 outbreak can apply for the  BMKB-C scheme.  

6. Extension of Loans to Agricultural and Horticultural Businesses

Similar extensions have been granted to businesses in the agriculture sector. They can apply under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Agriculture (BL-C) for a bridge loan of up to €1.2 million.  

7. Deferment of payments and reduction of interest by Qredits

Entrepreneurs are given a suspension of loan repayments for six months by microcredit provider, Qredits. During these six months, the interest will also be reduced to 2%. The government is putting six million euros to Qredits.

8. Compensation for Entrepreneurs in Affected Sectors (TOGS)

A once-off compensation of €4000 is granted to entrepreneurs in specific sectors, affected by COVID-19. This compensation is called Tegemoetkoming Ondernemers Getroffen Sectoren COVID-19, TOGS in Dutch. 

Eligible Sectors

• Food and beverage

• Hair, nail and beauty care

• Travel agents and tour operators

• Swimming Pools, sports clubs, fitness centres, saunas, and sport events

• Private cultural organisations such as musea, circuses, theatres and music schools

• Event locations and organisers

• Casinos

As of 30 March, this compensation has been extended to retail. You can simply enter your business KvK number into the SBI-code search tool of the RVO website to establish if your business is eligible.

Requirements

• Company must have a physical address in the Netherlands and registered with KvK before 16 March 2020

• No more than 250 employees

• Not a public company

• No bankruptcy or suspension of payment filed.

• Loss of turnover of at least €4000 from 15 March to 15 June 2020 expected

• Expect the cost of at least €4000 from 15 March to 15 June 2020

• Company has not received more than €200 000 in government support across the last three fiscal years (includes the current year)

• Non-hospitality type businesses must have at least one branch, with an address other than the owner’s home address. Transactions in the hospitality sector with SBI codes 56.10.1, 56.10.2 and 56.30 are exempt. These companies must lease, rent or own at least one location. 

How to apply?

• You can only apply from Friday 27 March 16:30 until Friday 26 June 17:00

• Apply online with your Digid or eHerkenning with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)

9. The Incentive Scheme eHealth at Home (SET)

SET has been extended to support healthcare organisations to invest in apps, software and hardware to be able to offer their clients online health solutions.  At the time of writing, due to an overwhelming amount of applications, this subsidy is temporarily suspended.

10. Further Extensions

The export credit insurance facility will be extended to make it possible for businesses to apply for a short-term guarantee with a shorter run time than two years.  The Dutch Trade and Investment Fund (DTIF) will also be extended to include pre-delivery advances. 

Other Considerations

Domestic Workers

Many  Amsterdam Mamas families may often pay domestic workers, such as cleaners, gardeners and babysitters, in cash.   Many of these employees are vulnerable to this economic crisis and rely on regular work and pay to support their families or pay rent or buy food.  Please consider how to strike a fair balance between reducing unnecessary contact and supporting their employment and security.

Technically all home services employees – whether you have a written contract or not –  are entitled to sick pay, holiday pay and a reasonable notice period.

Supporting Hospitality Industry

Restaurants, bars and cafes have been shut since 15 March. You can still support your local or favourite eatery by ordering online.  

Thuisbezorgd and other delivery companies have contactless options to pay and will leave deliveries at the door to reduce close contact. Remember to tape a tip to your door.  

Small Businesses Targeted to Families

If you have a small business, struggling due to COVID-19, think of how you can offer your services online.  Feel free to advertise your online classes and services in our Corona Crisis Advertising post so we can help keep this community going. And don’t forget to join Amsterdam Business Mamas to work together, network and get more ideas for how to keep your business going.

Quick Reference Links:

Infographic – Government COVID-19 Aid 

An overview of the government aid and tax measures

The coronavirus and your company: government measures to help businesses

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/veelgestelde-vragen-per-onderwerp/financiele-regelingen

https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/home/content/coronavirus

Photocredit: Canva

The post Financial Aid for Your Business Under COVID-19 Lockdown appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

As parents, freelancing often feels like the answer to all our woes. The flexible hours mean you might spend more time with your children, feel more relaxed, and best of all, be the boss. While anything in life is hardly that easy, it just might be worth exploring.

The scary place over the edge of your comfort zone is where the magic happens, but before you take that plunge, make sure you’ve asked yourself these questions, among others:

• Have I thought of a name for my company? You might want to check out the KvK guide for choosing one.
• What about work-space? The Amsterdam Mamas’ guide to cafes with workspaces will surely get you in the mood.
• What will I charge for my services?
• Do I have a marketing strategy in mind to attract clients?
• Do I have an organisational strategy in mind to keep abreast of finances?
• Have I registered with the KvK?

Step 1: Registration 

The first step is to register online at the Kamer van Koophandel/KvK (Dutch Chamber of Commerce), as a freelancer, commonly known, here, as a ZZP’er (zelfstandige zonder personeel). You have a  choice between several legal structures for your business. In most circumstances, freelancers opt for an eenmanzaak (sole proprietorship), but it is wise to evaluate other options as well. Once you’ve made your choice, the website will ask you to fill out some details after which you can make an appointment to finalise the process. You will receive a BTW nummer (VAT number) from the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Office) once you completed your registration. Registration costs €50.

Step 2 – Filing Taxes

Quarterly Tax

You will be required to add tax (usually 9% or 21% depending on the service or product you are selling) to your chargeable fee. Ensure your invoices comply with the official requirements.

Exemption from BTW (VAT) is possible in some cases.  

Quarterly, you will have to calculate a BTW aangifte (VAT declaration) and transfer the amount to the Belastingdienst. Remember to file the tax return, even if you haven’t earned anything. If you don’t complete this process before the deadline, you will have to pay a fine (cue, ominous music!)

The quarterly tax is easy enough to file on your own, once you get the hang of it. However, taking a few seminars, or consultations with a tax advisor may help keep stress levels down. Your local library may even offer free tax workshops and talks.

Annual Income Tax

The annual income tax need not be as dreadful as you anticipate. Of course, it is much trickier for freelancers. For those who would like to file their taxes themselves, the good news is that the Belastingdienst website is comprehensive, (‘google translate,’ to the rescue). Here is a list of criteria which make you eligible for annual income tax.

Book-keeping software is crucial to your survival when you’re taking on this arduous task. There are many options available; some mamas swear by Moneybird, while Wave seems to be a huge hit with others. Quickbooks is another popular accounting software choice. 

To be regarded as a self-employed freelancer you must have a minimum of three clients, and should not be spending more than 70% of your working hours on any one of them.

The Good News

Tax Breaks

There are many ondernemersaftrek (tax breaks) available to entrepreneurs, especially when they start (yay!). Note that to qualify for any of these you must work for a minimum number of hours on your business, in a financial year. These hours can include unpaid work. So, make sure you keep track of your working hours. Most people keep a spreadsheet detailing the time spent on different activities, such as business development, study/research, travel, etc.

Another tax facility available for newbie freelancers is the kleine ondernemersregeling (small-sized entrepreneurs regulation). A freelancer who pays less than €1,883 VAT a year can qualify for this facility.  

Claiming Expenses 

Business expenses such as work-related travel, marketing, communication, legal, accountancy, equipment costs, and services from a third party can be deducted.

Keep in Mind

Another tax facility available for newbie freelancers is the kleine ondernemersregeling (small-sized entrepreneurs regulation). A freelancer who pays less than €1,883 VAT a year can qualify for this facility. 

To be regarded as a self-employed freelancer you must have a minimum of three clients, and should not be spending more than 70% of your working hours on any one of them. Model contracts are available to prove to the tax authorities that your status is not that of an employee. They are not mandatory to use since you and your client can draw one up yourselves and have it verified by the tax authorities.

With freelancing, comes great responsibility, and you should think about insurance and your pension. While you can opt for a national pension scheme, it is advisable to diversify your portfolio, so that you do not rely solely on one source, which can be risky.

There, you’re all caught up, but know that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Be prepared to be confused a lot of the time, but also take comfort in the fact that there is a vast community of business Ma-Pas out there, who’ve been there and can provide you with the support you might need. Don’t be afraid to reach out. You’ve got this!

The post Setting Up a Freelance Business in the Netherlands appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

One of my goals for 2017 was to pass the Staatsexamen Nederlands als tweede taal, or NT2 exam. This is an exam for non-Dutch speakers to evidence their language proficiency. I did the higher of two levels offered, corresponding to B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This is equivalent to ‘A’ level standard in the UK.

I took the exams in June. It has four parts – speaking, reading, writing and listening – spread over two days, though you can do them separately. I went to Amsterdam, but there are other exam centres across the country. Six weeks later I got the results – I had passed three of them, but fallen just short in the speaking part (by two marks!). Fortunately, I could retake just that one, so after a few more lessons I did. And the second time round I passed it. I found out just in time for Christmas, so I could celebrate that I had managed to achieve my New Year resolution! Four years ago I didn’t know any Dutch – in fact we’d only just decided that we would be moving here – and now I have professional level language skills.

The exams:

The exam was unlike my school language exams as it was all on computer. Everybody had a desk with privacy boards round three sides, so we couldn’t see the work of the people sitting around us. And each computer had headphones with a microphone attached.

During the exam all electronic equipment is forbidden, as are all watches and your own pens and paper (these are provided should you want to write anything down during the exam). You can take your own food and water in though, and there are usually plenty of clocks on the walls of the room to keep an eye on the time. Lockers are provided outside for valuables.

For the reading and writing exams we could take up to 3 dictionaries – I had a Dutch-English, an English-Dutch and a Dutch dictionary. I would definitely recommend taking a Dutch dictionary with you, as well as one(s) for translating to your own language, as it has a lot of useful information in it. For example: irregular verb conjugations, whether a noun is de or het, irregular plurals, etc. While you don’t have time to look everything up, I definitely made use of it to double-check my writing.

The writing exam was done in two halves, and in each half we had four sentences to complete, and then two longer pieces to write. The longer pieces both asked for a word count of about 150 words. Two of them required us to make up lots of the information we needed to include, which was quite tricky. The other involved pulling data from the text and giving our opinion about it.

The reading and listening exams were multiple choice, and both included a number of texts with comprehension questions.

For the listening exam we all listened to the text at the same time, and while we could navigate through the questions on the screen we couldn’t pause or repeat any of the audio. So if you missed something, you couldn’t go back and hear it again. But we were given plenty of time to read the questions before the audio was played.

The speaking exam was pre-recorded and our responses were recorded also. We had a series of situations to put ourselves in and then respond to. The first few questions were shorter, building up to two longer ones at the end. These were all timed and we had between twenty seconds and two minutes in which to answer. The longer responses also had some thinking time for us to plan our answer. The tricky thing with this exam was that there wasn’t anyone to interact with. The recording beeped when we needed to start talking and then beeped when our time was up. Anything that we said after the second beep wasn’t recorded and wouldn’t count towards our answer. If you hadn’t finished, you just had to forget about it and go on to the next question. I got a bit thrown by this in the exam the first time round. Also by the timer itself, as it counted down to the end of the exam rather than to the end of each question.

The second time around I knew what to expect in the speaking exam and I made better use of my time. I made sure to use the thinking time for the longer questions to write down, word for word, what I wanted to say (as much as I could in the time). This meant that when I was speaking it flowed better and I could double-check as I went along that the verbs matched.

My Tips for the NT2 exams:

• Look through the Staatsexamen website – it has all sorts of tips and explains the marking criteria, as well as providing example exams.
• Practise the speaking part with audio and headphones.
• Learn where things are in your dictionaries before the exam, so you’re comfortable using them.
• Read the questions carefully and make sure you include all the things they ask for in your answer.
• Use the thinking time to write down some of what you want to say.
• Relax!

Useful Links:

About the NT2 Dutch exams

Duo – to register and get results

Example papers

This article was adapted from Clarissa’s blog https://clarileia.wordpress.com/ and has been reproduced on Amsterdam Mamas with full permission from the author.

The post I Did the NT2 Exam and Here are My Tips appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

My First Day at Work

I am often asked (okay, my mum asked once) how the working environment in the Netherlands differs to that in the UK. Well, at least for me, it’s different, that’s for sure.

I remember the initial encounter that I had with my boss on my first day of working in the Netherlands. He came over to me, shook my hand firmly and said: “Now, the only piece of advice that I can give to you is … try not to be too British.”

I smiled nervously, knowing that I had already failed whatever weird test he was giving me because I was British.

He might as well have said: “Don’t be too white or too ridiculous” – again, two things that were inherent to me. I was white, ridiculous, and British. He continued: “You see, us Dutch, we say what we think and if we don’t agree with something that you say, we will say it. It doesn’t mean that we don’t like you.” He paused. There was more to come. “Unless,” he winked, “we actually don’t like you. Just try not be too sensitive.”

Oh great.

I took the following from that interaction:

1.    My boss hated me.

2.    He already hated all my ideas (despite not having heard any yet).

A Flat Hierarchy

The working environment I’ve experienced over here is more of a flat hierarchy, meaning that it seems like everyone gets the platform to share their opinion. It’s a much more open forum than I was used to in the UK. It has its pros and cons. 

It seems to take an awfully long time to reach a decision about anything, from the major, right through to the very minor. Every man and his dog is consulted on whether they think that Joke’s open tin of tuna has been in the fridge too long or if we should go ahead and sign the sponsorship deal worth €3 million. I am undecided as to whether this all-inclusive approach is really the best.

The other thing that I discovered when I moved to the Netherlands is the propensity for openness and directness. In my previous job in the UK, if there was a meeting and some poor chump was presenting an idea, when they finished, everyone would clap and say, “Excellent idea!” and then we would wait until he left the room before ripping him apart. “What a terrible idea!” or “That guy is an idiot!” or “His flies were undone.” You get the picture.

At my Dutch office, people tell it straight and shoot from the hip – they don’t wait for someone to leave the room. They’re all: “Mate, your flies are undone and it’s a dreadful idea. Biertje?”

You learn to grow a skin thicker than your average African elephant, but at least you know where you stand. I think this is a good thing.

This flat hierarchy becomes more interesting the more nationalities that there are within a company. For instance, I have found that my German colleagues tend to favour a more hierarchical structure, rarely speaking out. Often, the battle between the modest Germans and the sharp Dutch leaves me somewhere in the middle, sitting on a large fence, not wanting to rock any boats – I couldn’t be more British! 

Adapting Takes Time

In fact, the longer I am here, the more quintessentially English I become. I find myself saying things like “Cheerio!” and “Bob’s your uncle!” and just generally things that I never really said when I actually lived in the UK. It’s as though I’ve developed an allergic reaction to this new system of honesty. I might as well be humming Mary Poppins and carrying a cane.

I have to say, one year on, I am still convinced that my boss hates me, but at least I have learnt to be more open in the work place. If I don’t agree with something, you might even find that I say “no”.

I do scurry off to cry alone in a toilet cubicle immediately afterwards, but it’s a start.

The post When Cultures Collide: One Mama’s Experience of the Dutch Workplace appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

So maybe you had dreams of a specific career, studied hard, and had fulfilling roles only to have your career path paused by pregnancy? Or maybe you had your kids young, and followed your partner as his career blossomed and now you feel it’s time to make plans for your working life? But here you are, in a new country, a different culture, and with no extended family around to pick up the childcare duties as you begin your search for work. We know it’s difficult; we know it’s easier to stay in your comfort zone than step into the unknown – but here are some steps which may help you on your way.     

Qualifications

The Netherlands is a bureaucratic country, and they love to see proof of your expertise, so if you qualified outside of the Netherlands you can have your diploma officially recognised. If you are in a regulated profession this is essential in order to develop your career in the Netherlands. Even if this is not the case, it’s a useful step to be able to explain what your qualifications mean in Dutch terms. The organisation which does this is NUFFIC and part of their website is in English.

Childcare 

Next, think about childcare, because if you feel your kids are safe you can spread your wings. No matter how young – or old – your kids are, there is a form of childcare which is appropriate. Paying for childcare is not the same as having family take care of them for you, but on the other hand, you have control over how your children are cared for. It is expensive, but there is a childcare allowance (kinderopvang toeslag) that can be applied for. Many organisations are used to international families, and can provide carers who speak your home language. Check out the Amsterdam Mamas website for articles of what is available and what is the norm in Netherlands. This article is a good place to start.

Career Gaps

Let’s seize the bull by the horns and address your “career gap”. To be honest, this is less of an issue in the Netherlands than in other countries, but sadly, for what feminists may feel are negative reasons. According to government statistics, almost 50% of women in the Netherlands either don’t work or work part time, and 70% of women in the Netherlands are not financially independent. The government is stimulating the return of women to the workforce with several initiatives which could benefit you as a job seeker.

But let’s concentrate on your own career gap. Think about what you have you been doing for the past months or years. Relocating to a new country? Assimilating a new language and culture? Managing a household? Volunteering at school/childcare? These are all new experiences which have brought with them new skills. Think flexibility, adaptability, eager to take on new challenges, project management, leadership, team building. Girl, you are amazing!

Updating your Skills

If you still feel you need to upskill or retrain, then there are opportunities to do so either online or in a classic learning situation. There are online platforms with courses designed by top educational institutions, many of the courses are open access, although you’ll need to pay for the examination and certification. Coursera and Future Learn are both worth checking out. Dutch universities are some of the best in the world and offer many degree programmes in English. For more in-depth studies, begin your research here. 

Update your CV 

When you are ready to start applying for roles, it’s time to update your CV and LinkedIn profile. These are your calling cards to recruiters – the first impression a potential employer gets of you and the value you can add to their organisation. If you need tips on how to create an effective CV and LinkedIn profile, there are some great articles on the topic by LinkedIn influencer Liz Ryan, or get in touch with experts on a local level.

You Don’t Have to Be Superwoman

If the thought of going back into your old profession feels as if you will not be able to perform as well as you did before you had children, try to remember why that job was so demanding. Was it because of the burden of work? Was your boss a slave driver? Or was it because the situation did not allow you to set boundaries? If it was the last reason, then maybe taking coaching sessions will help you to see how you can approach a new job with a new, strong, mind-set.

Let’s get one thing clear, going back to work after you have had your children is not compulsory; being a full-time mom is difficult but immensely rewarding. However, if you enjoyed the work you did in the past, and you feel ready to pick that career up again, we hope these steps will help you begin that journey back to a fulfilling career and personal financial independence.

photo credit: Shutterstock

The post Getting Your Career Back on Track after Having a Baby – Getting Started appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Learning the Job

I’ve had my new job for a couple of months now and everything is going relatively well. I know that the first few months of any new role are always tough and every time I get confused or exhausted, I try to remind myself that I’m still adjusting. The truth is that I’m right in the middle of a very steep learning-curve and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m putting in a lot of time and energy to get past this phase and settle in.

Some days I put in too much time and energy. I see that now, but I didn’t at the beginning.

Dutchie was the first to point it out. About a month in, he casually mentioned that I “seem obsessed” with my new job and naturally, I immediately disagreed. I acknowledged that I was working hard, but I would not concede to being obsessed.

The Wrong Super Powers

A few days after that conversation, I was talking to my Little Man (who is now six years old!) and Lady Bug (my four-year-old!) about super powers. It’s no surprise that the subject came up – we’re big into super heroes of all sorts these days. Even Baby Boy can identify Spiderman, Superman, Batman and Captain America by name.

We were discussing which super power belongs to which hero. So we went through the list, and then I asked them, “What are your super powers?” Little Man confidentially stated that his super powers are “running really fast” and “being strong.” They also include “playing football”, “doing math” and “being a good swimmer”. Then Lady Bug chimed in that her super powers are also being “really strong”, being “a good dancer”, “playing really well” and “singing”. All in all, it was an excellent and diverse list of super powers for my kids to have. It made me feel really good to hear them talk about the activities and skills they are proud of.

Unfortunately, those positive feelings only lasted for a couple of minutes, because then it was my turn to list my super powers. I hesitated and then bounced the question back to them. But before I had finished asking them what my super powers were, Little Man said: “That you are a really good worker.”

WHAM! ZAP!

Out of all the things that I could be and all the super powers I could have, the first that he associated with me was working. Never mind all the energy and dedication that goes into being a mom. You know what I’m talking about – that never-ending list of tasks that I have been doing day in, day out since they were born – with (mostly) no complaining and zero recognition. If they had even picked just ONE thing on that list, I would have been satisfied. Instead, they focused on something I had been doing for just a few months and has nothing to do with my parenting skills.

Family First

I got the message, loud and clear.  

If I’m completely honest, this wasn’t the first time that my kids sent me that message since I started this new job, but I hadn’t added it all up until that moment. Looking back, I realized that there was another instance when Lady Bug and I were arguing and she said to me: “Mama, if I don’t listen to you, will you leave and go to work?” That broke my heart. And sometimes, Baby Boy says goodbye to me with such ease in the mornings that I wonder if he even cares that I’m leaving.

By now, every single person in my family has sent me the same message and I’m upset and embarrassed that it’s taken me so long to hear it. I don’t know why I didn’t pay attention, but if I had to guess, I’d say that I was probably too busy working.

POW!

The thing is, my family is most important to me and no matter how ambitious I am, I would quit all this in an instance if they needed me to. No doubt, I like working and having a career, but it will always be less important than my family. So when I think about my kids (and husband), I want them to remember that I was a good mother first and foremost and only then a good worker. NOT the other way around.

In all fairness, as long as I am employed, I will work hard. That’s part of my personality for better or for worse. But when I don’t need to be working, I shouldn’t. I really do need to be available for my family. And I need to work hard to make sure that becomes my new super power.

The post Career Moves: Super Powers appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Five years ago, I started looking for work in the Netherlands and writing Career.Move. for Amsterdam Mamas. I had been in the Netherlands and a SAHM for three years, and I was ready to branch out and find my way back into the working world. I thought it would be fun to share my experiences with others and what a journey it’s been!

I started school and tried networking, transitioned to a new job far away and with no flexibility, searched for balance, struggled and failed and then quit. Then, I had another kid (making my crew a total of three!), ended up right back where I started, searched for myself some more, decided to go with the flow, struggled for balance again, and then found a new job.

Which brings me to where I am today – still relatively new but somewhat settled into a job that FINALLY seems like a good fit. By now I think it’s safe to say that I’ve been around the block quite a few times since moving to the Netherlands, and let me tell you, it hasn’t been easy. But it has been worth it.

If you’ve read any of my stories, you might also have come across the one where I described myself like a Kermit the Frog surrounded by a sea of Big Birds. I wrote it when I was new to my first office job in the Netherlands and the only foreigner, celebrating Christmas in Antwerp, feeling totally awkward and out of place. It was a rough weekend but an enlightening experience, where I realized that I still had a lot of growing to do to fit in.

So ironically, I’m writing my last Career.Move. having just come back from yet another company Christmas party in Antwerp. For the second time, I was there celebrating with a new colleagues, having just started yet another job. On the face of things, it might sound like I’m in the same situation all over again, but this time, things are totally different.

Try as I might, unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll ever much taller or blonder than I am now. So I’m still a Kermit the Frog in a sea of Big Birds. Also – I’m definitely a newbie to this job and still getting to know my surroundings and colleagues. So that is similar.

It seems basic, actually, just find a good job and settle in.

But this time, I’m working in an international environment, instead of a solely Dutch one and I am much more fluent in the language, so I can keep up with all of the conversations around me, not just the English ones. So when it was time to go, I took my (duffle) bag with me, socialized with strangers and left feeling happy that my new colleagues were a little less foreign than they had been when I arrived. I was able to just relax into this recent Antwerp Christmas party and enjoy myself without feeling totally displaced.

It seems basic, actually, just find a good job and settle in. But I believe that the source of my feelings go much deeper:

But I’m no longer as green as I was. I’ve been in the Netherlands for over six years now. I’ve finished that degree, the language comes out fluently now, and I found a manager who is flexible and enables me to be both an employee and a mother at the same time. And most importantly, I’ve got three amazing Dutch kids: Little Man, Lady Bug and Baby Boy, all of whom are bigger than I can believe and teach me something new about my Dutch life every day.

I’ve come a long way.

If I’m totally honest, I’m still not 100% integrated into this country and I don’t know if I’ll ever be. Somedays I still can’t believe how surreal my life is. Other days, I’m so frustrated that I just want to run away. But I think that’s just life, certainly life as an expat. What matters is that I didn’t quit. I stuck around and got through the really rough patches.

I no longer spend a lot of time struggling to get through the day, feeling isolated in an office, or questioning my life decisions.

I no longer spend a lot of time struggling to get through the day, feeling isolated in an office, or questioning my life decisions. I am where I am, I am who I am and I am finally happy in my own space. And that’s that. I’m a Kermit, but not as green anymore. Or as he once put it: “Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.”

So this is where my Career.Move. story ends, or at least this chapter.

For sure, my career will have many more evolutions before I’m ready to retire. And who knows how long I’ll live in the Netherlands before deciding that it’s time to move on to new adventures. My life, like everyone’s, is still a novel full of undiscovered stories and anecdotes. And perhaps I’ll tell those as well when the times comes.

But in the meantime, thank you for reading these and sharing in my Career.Move. journey as it unfolded. I hope that I was able to entertain and inspire you, as you try to work out your own working/parenting/expat/adventure.

photo credit: Pixabay

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Nursing and Job Hunting Are Kind of the Same

I knew it was coming. I knew it was part of the process. I knew it would hurt. And I knew I would get through it: The Let-Down.

You see, I’m a breastfeeding mother who is also looking for a new job. This means that I spend a good chunk of time nursing my baby and a good chunk of time looking for jobs. And one thing that both of these activities have in common is the Let-Down that comes with it.

Nursing, especially at the beginning, is really hard and can often be painful. Putting aside all the latching challenges and nipple pain that can arise, just the feeling of having a lot of milk building up and then being released can really, really hurt.

That’s the Let-Down. And it sucks. Thankfully, it only lasts a minute or two during the initial rush and as the baby gets older, the Let-Down gradually lessens until you no longer feel it. So the best thing you can do as a breastfeeding mother is deal with it: expect it, understand that it’s a part of the process, and hold on until it passes. At least that’s what I do.

Job hunting is quite similar. It’s long and painful. You get a lot of disappointment and rejection. There is nothing much you can do except expect it, understand that it’s a part of the process, and hold on until you find the job that you are looking for. So that’s what I’m doing too.

You get a lot of disappointment and rejection. There is nothing much you can do except expect it, understand that it’s a part of the process, and hold on until you find the job that you are looking for. 

Preparing for Success

Still, nothing prepared me for the Let-Down that happened a few months ago. I found a great job vacancy through a contact, who was also nice enough to put my CV in front of the hiring manager. It didn’t take long before I had an initial phone interview, which went well. Ten days later, I got an invitation for two face-to-face interviews, one with the hiring manager and one with the corporate recruiter. The first interview with the hiring manager went great and I felt like I nailed it. It even lasted longer than originally planned. The corporate recruiter was tougher, but still I felt like I did ok. All in all, I walked out of the building feeling satisfied. Then I got a call back for a second round of interviews, this time with the Department Head.

I was pumped! It was a great position and getting a call-back was a great sign. I thought I had a real shot!

So I prepped. I prepared for this interview more than I had for any previous interviews. I went over my experience and skills backwards and forwards, making sure that I could clearly tell my whole story. I carefully went over all my strengths and weaknesses and even read long lists of possible interview questions to be ready for whatever they asked.

Rejection Hurts

The morning of the interview, just as I was starting to go into professional mode, I got a call from the recruiter. She bluntly informed me that there had been a mistake. They had confused my name with someone else, and they had never intended to invite me back for a second interview. My interview was cancelled.

So there it was. After all my excitement and preparations, I had been brutally rejected and I felt like I had been punched in the gut. It was worse than any other rejection or job hunting disaster I had experienced. This was the ultimate Let-Down.

I was done. I forgot my Let-Down mantra: “This sucks, I can get through it” and instead, I replaced it with: “I quit.” I cried hysterically and informed Dutchie that he needed to start looking for work in my home country because that’s where we were going. I clearly wasn’t going to find my professional life living as an expat in the Netherlands.

So there it was. After all my excitement and preparations, I had been brutally rejected and I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

Here We Go Again…

As my life goes though, soon enough I had to pull myself somewhat back together to take care of my kids. Life distracted me enough to carry on during the really rough patch. I still needed to lick my wounds, but gradually, I got some distance and started to heal.

About a month later, a different contact reached out to me about a job vacancy. Naturally, my mind took me back to the previous month and I found myself scared to go through that ordeal again. But by then I had gotten enough perspective and breastfeeding hours to remember the truth – the Let-Down is inevitable but not permanent. I know it’s part of the process. I know it will suck. And if I can survive the last rejection, I can certainly give this vacancy a shot.

So I reached out and started the application process again…and this time – I got the job!

What I’ve Learned

I guess the moral of my story is that Let-Downs happen. Breastfeeding can hurt and job hunting is an emotional rollercoaster and sometimes just plain horrible. But as mothers, we have a lot more to lose by quitting. If I had stopped breastfeeding at the initial sign of pain, then I wouldn’t be able to cuddle and feed my child now, almost a year later. And if I had quit job hunting then, I wouldn’t have found the job I have now.

Getting through both those processes sucked. But in the end, the pain of both Let-Downs, was worth it.

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A few weeks ago I had a job interview. It was really intense.

We covered all the basics first – tell me about yourself, tell me about your past job experience, yada yada yada. It was hardly my first job interview and I came prepared. I gladly explained who I was and how I had gotten to this point.

The interview seemed like it was going well, until all of a sudden it wasn’t.

His questions got more and more probing and at a certain point, I felt that instead of telling them about my life and experience, I was actually justifying it. The question that threw me off the most was: “You seem like the kind of person who just ‘goes with the flow’ of your life. What drives you?”

Now I realize that, as a stand-alone question, it might seem fairly innocent, but in the context of his other questions, I understood that he was asking me to justify the decisions I’ve made, which have led to a less-than-linear career path. He wanted me to show him that I am consistent and he wanted me to prove to him that I wasn’t a flake.

I tried to answer as best as I could, but in truth, I totally fumbled. I was surprised by his accusation and I found it to be an offensive question. I left the interview thinking: What’s wrong with ‘going with the flow’ of my life? Why is this something that I needed to justify?

It’s true that 10 or 15 years ago, I never expected to marry a Dutchie or move to the Netherlands. Life surprised me with that one and I did have to adapt my path accordingly. We lived together in the US for a while and then made a joint decision, when the time was right, to move to the Netherlands for a variety of reasons that most expats probably understand and most Dutchies probably take for granted.

It’s true that 10 or 15 years ago, I never expected to marry a Dutchie or move to the Netherlands. Life surprised me with that one and I did have to adapt my path accordingly.

As a result of this carefully-thought-out decision, I had to make a career switch. It was something that I did knowingly and there was a very logical explanation for why I did it (which I had already explained to my interviewer): my previous career simply doesn’t exist in this country, so I chose something else that built on my existing skills and experience and took my career in a new direction. Again, I wasn’t rash about this decision and I sought out additional education that would help boost my skills and enable the transition.

But let’s say that I hadn’t made any of these decisions carefully and that I really was just ‘going with the flow.’ I still don’t understand what’s wrong with that, or why I needed to justify it during a job interview.

Everyone gets thrown curveballs. That’s part of life. Sometimes they are hard and pose a real challenge, for example sickness or getting fired. And sometimes the curveballs are really great, like when doors open up that take you to new worlds. Being able to adapt accordingly and make the best out of any situation, is a strength that I believe doesn’t require justification.

Most expats know that going with the flow of life, even with the flow of the good things, isn’t always easy. I made a conscious decision to leave everything in my former life behind and to move to a country that would allow me to raise my (then future) children in a better and healthier environment. But it was hard and I haven’t loved every minute of it.

Most expats know that going with the flow of life, even with the flow of the good things, isn’t always easy.

It took me a long time to build the confidence to do simple things like go to the grocery store or call a dentist. I struggled for months and years to build enough language skills to understand what was going on around me – and even longer to find people that I could relate to and truly call friends. Some days totally, TOTALLY sucked. But I stuck with it because I knew that, in the long run, things would work out for the best and that I would be glad that I did it.

And my stories aren’t unique. Having been in this community for a while now, I can say that we have all been there in one way or another. We are all just trying to get by and make the best out of the challenges that come with life’s curveball.

So, interviewer, now that I’ve had some extra time to reflect, I’d like to answer your question again:

Yes, I AM the kind of person who goes with the flow of her life, even when it’s not easy. I do it because I know that I am making good decisions for myself and my family and THAT’S what drives me to keep going, even when it’s really really hard. I’m a stronger person because I’ve followed the path life set out before me and faced my challenges, which in turn, makes me a better employee.

I don’t deserve to be judged as an inconsistent flake for having ‘gone with the flow.’ Rather, I – and all of my fellow expats – deserve a round of applause, for having the courage to follow our paths, instead of fighting the current.

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