From minimum wage to a normal salary
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As a Ukrainian living in the Netherlands, you often start out working for an employment agency and get the minimum wage. Many people then want to move on to better work and a higher salary. In this article, you can read about how to do that by improving your Dutch, gaining certificates and exploring new opportunities.
Start looking for work through an employment agency
Your first step into the Dutch job market is often to work through an
This is a logical first step because it allows you to start working quickly and earn money. You will learn how the Dutch workplace works and gain experience. You will also learn what employers value.
In the Netherlands, it is normal to change jobs if you are capable of earning more or want to earn more. If you keep actively working on your development, you can gradually secure better jobs.
Learning Dutch is important for getting a job
If you want to earn more and get a better job, learning Dutch is very important.
If you can speak Dutch, you will be able to communicate more effectively with your employer and colleagues. You will understand instructions better and be able to take on a wider range of tasks.
The more you practise, the faster you will improve. This means your chances of finding a better job will keep getting better.
Training courses and certificates are important
Employers in the Netherlands consider diplomas, practical skills and
You should also gather evidence of your work experience, such as
You can also take short courses that quickly prove their worth in the job market. Consider, for example, a
You can ask your municipality or the
Moving on to a better or different job
It is important to talk to your employer about your future. You could say that you would like to learn new tasks and that you would like to progress to a better role.
Employers look for reliability, a good work ethic and motivation. If you show that you work hard and are keen to learn, you will often be given more opportunities.
For example, you could start as a warehouse assistant and progress to work as a planner, coordinator or team leader. In industry, you could become a technical assistant. This way, you can gradually take on more responsibility and earn a higher salary within the same sector.
If you are unable to progress in your current job, you might want to look for other work. In the Netherlands, it is normal to change jobs if this leads to better opportunities or a higher salary. You can
Create a clear
Your own network is also important when looking for a job. Many people find work through colleagues, friends or acquaintances. So talk to the people around you and let them know you are looking for a better job.
It is easier to find a job here: in healthcare, engineering, logistics and transport
They are often looking for staff in the healthcare, engineering, logistics, transport and administrative sectors. You can often take training courses and progress within these sectors.
The healthcare sector needs a lot of people. You start there in a healthcare assistant role, for example in
If you continue your studies, you can progress to roles such as a care assistant or a nurse.
The healthcare sector offers stable employment and good career prospects. Employers in the healthcare sector often pay for training because there is a pressing need for staff.
There are also plenty of opportunities in engineering, logistics and transport. You often start out as a warehouse assistant, production worker or in a logistics role. From there, you can progress to roles such as operator, planner, driver or team leader.
Certificates are often important in these sectors. The more experience and training you have, the higher your salary can be.
How can you get a better salary?
The best opportunities for a higher salary are in sectors where you need to speak Dutch. And where employers are willing to invest in your development. These are mainly jobs in healthcare, engineering, IT and administration. There is high demand for staff in these sectors. There are often opportunities to take training courses and progress in your career.
If you gradually work on your language skills, your professional skills, your work experience and your network, you can improve your position in the job market. This will enable you to progress from minimum-wage jobs to stable, better-paid work with better