need advice from people living in the Netherlands

[southflorida]

Hello everyone,

Had a question for the fine folks living in the Netherlands

...I had an idea for a long time to move to the Netherlands, find a job that I liked, learn the language, and
integrate into the Dutch way of life

...I fell in love with the Netherlands, and especially the city of Haarlem, after my many visits during the last
two years

...I have a European citizenship, so at least this part is not a problem, and
I can work in any job, since I have done a million different things during
my life, but I do not have a specialized education with a degree

...anyway my question is this...what is the best way to find a decent paying job, around 2000 EUR per month,
if I only know two languages...English (100%), and Russian (90%)

...where is the best place to look for jobs, online, or newspapers, or some other places you know off?

...of course I would love to work in a job that has to do with cannabis, but
I realize these types of jobs are not that easy to get unless the people
hiring know who you are

...where is the best place in your opinion to find employers advertsing to
find employees for jobs that a person that doesn't know the Dutch language
yet, but is willing to learn while working?

...plus where is the cheapest place to live, that is close to Amsterdam, but the rents are low?

...I do not mind working in any kind off job in the beginning, as long as it pays good money, since
my goal is to learn the language as fast as possible, and then find better positions, with better pay

...any ideas and comments will be appreciated

later,

Southflorida

 

[Puffin13]

HERE is a good place to start for many things about living and working in The Netherlands.

Best ways to find a job is through networking and through friends when you move here. Dutch newspapers are a good source; there are a couple of free papers in English too,
The Amsterdam Times and Amsterdam Weekly.

Online of course; Monster Board, etc.
Job employment agencies called uitzendbureau (pronounced OUT-send-bureau).

If you want to work here, it is very important that you learn Dutch. Speaking Russian might be good for some jobs.

Happy job hunting and good luck. Peace.

 

[mr.haze420]

there are alot of english and irish here who speak no dutch, want to be a dealer in a coffeeshop, no prob if you have the papers. pay is not what you are looking for, but it will be an experience for sure.

 

[southflorida]

Puffin 13

thanks for that information, will read all the info on the links you
provided

in the beginning, do you know what kind of jobs are realistic, if
I know only English? I think I will learn to speak the Dutch language
quite fast, since I have plenty of desire, and I really love being in
the Netherlands

is Amsterdam the best place to look for a job, or are there some other
cities where I can find a job to start with, taking into account that
the only language I can speak is English?

The Russian language might only be important for jobs where you are selling
something to the Russian Federation

later and thanks in advance

SouthFlorida

 

[southflorida]

Mr. Haze,

to be a dealer in a coffeeshop? That does sound interesting,
how would I go about finding this job, do I just go to these
coffeshops and ask if they are looking for dealers?

or is there a place where they advertise, somewhere?

I am a European citizen, with a passport, is this the papers
you are talking about?

later, and thanks for your reply

SouthFlorida

 

[Puffin13]

in the beginning, do you know what kind of jobs are realistic, if I know only English?

Telemarketing jobs or help desks. There are some major companies here, some of them American, that may not require the use of Dutch. Without knowing what types of jobs you are qualified for or where your skills are at, it is impossible to say.

is Amsterdam the best place to look for a job, or are there some other cities where I can find a job to start with, taking into account that the only language I can speak is English?

Amsterdam is the largest city but definately NOT the only city to look for work. There is Utrecht, Den Hague, Rotterdam to name just a few. Haarlem is a great little village, close to the dam but dont know how much work you would find there.

The Russian language might only be important for jobs where you are selling something to the Russian Federation.

People that have some foreign language skills are in demand by various companies that do business with The Russian Federation. Don't discount your knowledge of the Russian language.

Peace n Pot.

 

[southflorida]

Thanks for another reply Puffin 13

I am planning to be in Amsterdam by the 15th of April to get settled in Amsterdam and
start looking for work right away

I started the thread *is anyone getting ready for icmag cup 2009* because I wanted
to meet some of the people from icmag in person, and of course to party a little

the global crisis really hit my small country and had a very negative effect on my real
estate development business

I have been self employed for almost 18 years, since I was 20, and I have run businesses
in the office supply wholesale, real estate brokering (agency), and real estate
development.

the real estate development is where the crisis caught me...big time, in fact our
government passed a law within a month, about two years ago, where it made it
impossible for the average person in my country to get a bank loan to buy residential
real estate

you can imagine what this did to anyone in this type of business, it was like a Tsunami,
one day we are making a killing and everything looks great, and the next day, it is all
over, and everyone has to save the capital frozen in projects that are impossible to sell

...I like to look at life using objective reality, and this is why I decided to leave my country, our government with the stupidest decisions has totally bankrupted our little
country, and I can't live anymore in a place, where in one day everything that I worked
my whole life to create has been wiped out

...because of greedy bastards (politicians) who were only saving the banks, by first passing the law, and now everything they are getting from the European Union in financial aid is also going to keep these same banks afloat

anyway, I am willing to start at the beginning, since this is what I have to do anyway, and
work my way up. Learning the language and meeting new people in the Netherlands will provide me with new opportunities, and put me on the right path

but most important is that I love being in the Netherlands, and a strong desire can go a long way in life. At least this has worked for me my whole life.

There are always unforseen circumstances, and when they happen you have to act fast to get back on the path, because just sitting there feeling sorry for yourself will do you no good, eventhough this is what is comfortable, but in the long term, this is similar to
dying, and giving up.

I believe in moving toward creating results, every minute of my life, and this is only a step toward another major goal that I have set for myself

thanks for your reply once more, and talk to you later

SouthFlorida

 

[Puffin13]

Yes, this economic crisis has hit many people, in a lot of different countries, very hard. I can relate to what you are saying. Hopefully, you can make a better life for yourself, and be happier, by starting over in a different place, a different job, etc.

In addition to the links I already posted, another source for some good practical information for living and working in Holland can be some of the expatriate sites. Here are a few of them:

http://www.iamsterdam.com/
http://www.access-nl.org/
http://www.expatica.com/nl/main.html
http://www.expatexchange.com/index.cfm
http://www.juliaferguson.com/
http://www.justlanded.com/english/Netherlands
http://www.thewhitedoor.com/

Good luck to you!

 

[southflorida]

Puffin 13,

thanks I bookmarked all those links and will study the information, and hopefully
I will learn some important things before arriving in the Netherlands

I am planning on arriving before icmag cup 2009, so hopefully I will meet everyone
from Icmag, who will be in Amsterdam for those activities

later, and thanks once more

SouthFlorida

 

[Share_The_Pain]

Hello all, nice thread Mr. SouthFlorida

Have a look on these thread too: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=94506


Im looking for the samething... but in my case i only know English and Portuguese, and well i have a university degree in environmental managment... hope im not writting it wrong lol


Best wishes Mr SouthFlorida, maybe some day we will chill on some dutch coffe shop

Peace

 

[southflorida]

share the pain,

I saw your posts there and bookmarked a few links

by the way I was the one who started that thread, didn't know then that I will need it

and yes it is possible we will meet in a coffeeshop, I will be there already by april 15, 2009
if everything goes as I am planning now

later

SouthFlorida

 

[Share_The_Pain]

00ops my bad... l0l

well yeah i hope my links helped you out... i think im gonna be there sooner... maybe in the next month...

Cya later

 

[Payaso]

There is a site called expatica.com which has lots of information, and of course there is the Hip Guide to Amsterdam, at www.hiptravelguides.com.

Learning DUTCH is NOT EASY!

I tried for ten years and all my Dutch friends told me "please stop trying to mangle our language." It is still impossible for me to pronounce the name GERARD the way they do in Holland...

But it's a great place and I love it, hope to be there for the 420 Cup!

 

[oldpink]

Payaso, being scottish helps you get buy in dutch and easier to learn
they slur a lot of there letters the same way us Scottish people do

Amsterdam is a great city but Expensive to live in
better looking just outside the city if possible this link may help you find a place to live
xpatrentals

 

[JamieShoes]

nice observation, OldPink - there's more.. :smile: to "throw a stone" in Dutch is to "hoi a steen" sound familiar?

theres a bunch of others too (apparently thanks to sailors), but I'm a bit stoned and can't remember them... I'll add them if I remember :smile:

 

[oldpink]

yeah words like kirk for church etc

 

[Share_The_Pain]

Hey people ^^

Thanks for the comments, and yeah Dutch seems ...***... but life is worst.

So... i hope to find a work where i only use my english and also if needed my portuguese... and who knows maybe i can slang in dutch some day, l0l

Peace people

 

[Payaso]

Share the Pain, ask someone the joke about old cows in the canal if you want to learn Dutch humor!

Hey OP, now that I think about it my grandparents would have been able to speak it - they was from Glasgow. Sounded like you do! Ha!

But yes the Dam is pricey, but out of town is cheaper...but then you must be able to meet and greet and understand a bit of the tongue.

I still have friends there in the Watergrafsmeer, by the Amstel Station, I rented there for years... but you need a bicycle to get around from there.

Here It costs real money to get around 'cause you must have a car for the long distances...26 miles on dirt, then 75 on pavement to get to the grocery, then go back the same way...
What a trip... it was easier to go to the Albert Heijn.

And in Holland my doctor lived on the corner by my house about 150 feet away... I could see him any day of the week without appointment for 10 euros. Try finding a doctor here!!!

Life sure was nice there...afternoons at the Greenhouse...bicycling up the Amstel and visiting Mila, then going by the Cannabis College to catch up on all the gossip...

I highly recommend a visit to Amsterdam for everyone...

 

[southflorida]

Hello,

Old Pink, thanks for that link, and to everyone for their comments

I fell in love with Amsterdam the first time I was there in the summer of 2007,
and last year I also fell in love with Haarlem, and it is not only the coffeeshops,
but more than anything it is the people living there, and the whole atmosphere
and how I feel when I am there

from the first time I arrived in Amsterdam, I knew one day I will live there, and
I guess my desire to move there now, has something to do with the financial
element, but the biggest motivation is that this is where I *want to live*

and my plan is when I get there around the 15th of april, 2009...to give my
resumes to all the big coffeeshop chains, and find work in the canna-trade,
I belive it is called

I love cannabis and want to work in a job that has something to do with it,
so again the finances I ca use, but *wanting* to be around cannabis is the
bigger motivator for me

if anyone who will be in Amsterdam for the icmag cup 2009, could help with
information about which of the bigger shops, Greenhouse, Daampkring,
Barneys, etc, are hiring, I would appreciate it

...or for that matter any job that has to do with cannabis would interest me,
growshop, etc.

thanks for your advice, comments, ideas in advance

SouthFlorida
when

 

[Puffin13]

yeah words like kirk for church etc

I believe that is kerk for church.