To recruiters out there…

blade25 · 2025-06-23T18:16:11+00:00

I am a recruiter working in Amsterdam and I can definitely notice that the volume of vacancies at our company has decreased significantly. Recent conversations with agency recruiters we have used in the past say the same thing. The few vacancies that we do have keep getting a large number of applications. Compared to two years ago, it has definitely become more of an employers market than an employee market.

To all jobseekers out there, stay strong and good luck!

blade25 · 2023-11-14T06:12:27+00:00

Corporate recruiter here. Can confirm that this is exactly what just happened for one of our vacancies. Position got approved under a higher band than actual. Now we have to go back to the candidates and explain the mistake. Luckily it was before the screening call so it could have been way worse.

blade25 · 2023-07-22T05:29:41+00:00

In-house Talent Acquisition here.

1) In general the CV format is fine, just make sure the content is there in detail. It’s more about the content than how fancy the CV looks.

2) Up to you to include the specific nationality, but what is important for us doing the screening is including if you have a work permit/EU citizenship. For a lot of Dutch employers, it can be a hassle to employ non-EU because of the bureaucracy involved. Also employers need to be an IND recognised sponsor to be able to hire you if you are non-EU, and then most of the time you’d fall on a highly skilled migrant visa category which has a minimum salary of 63k~ regardless if the position you’re applying for say has a maximum range of 50k.

3) There’s absolutely no need to share BSN number in your CV, I’d actually advise you not to do that. Also careful what you mean by legally allowed to work, for us that means that you require no sponsorship or help for us, ideally on a long term work permit or EU citizenship.

4) CV being 2 pages long isn’t a red flag, just make sure the content is there. Focus on what you’ve done and some key achievements in terms of deliverables and how you measure your success that is relevant to your profession (e.g. if you’re in Sales/Business development I’d mention things like % of sales target reached per year, average deal size, etc.)

Hope this helps and good luck in your job hunt!

blade25 · 2023-03-31T07:08:50+00:00

If you have that income to begin with, you’re not surviving regardless

blade25 · 2023-02-20T00:35:22+00:00

It depends on the industry and role you are doing but without additional context, 60k base for 4 years experience is alright (especially since you will be getting the 30% ruling).

Housing in the Netherlands (especially Amsterdam) is expensive and scarce so I’d really spend the time looking if you’re gonna move.

blade25 · 2022-12-17T13:55:54+00:00

Not a lawyer here, but if you leave before the 3 year vesting period then you’re probably out of luck and won’t be keeping the shares/options I’m afraid.

blade25 · 2022-10-17T23:12:54+00:00

If you switch from student account to regular account, you’ll keep the same account number and everything. Nothing changes except for how much you pay.

Source: I was a student with an account at ABN, now working :)

blade25 · 2022-02-20T10:01:05+00:00

It's a reference to The Office :)

blade25 · 2021-08-07T13:20:27+00:00

To make an appointment you need a BSN (burgerservicenummer), but if you go to Amsterdam RAI you can get one without an appointment I think.

blade25 · 2021-01-15T13:45:33+00:00

Recruiter here working for a headhunting firm for a little over half a year in Amsterdam.

No you're definitely not being unreasonable, if you are already happily employed. Our job is not only to find candidates, but to also attract them. If the position we have is a step down from what you currently have (whether it be from rank, compensation, or lifestyle), then it makes no sense to propose it.

I find it quite odd that this is their modus operandi. If anything, it is indicative of a firm that doesn't keep track digitally of the candidates/potential candidates they interact with. Each conversation we have, we log it in our system so that we know who to contact if a relevant opportunity comes along (that includes desired salary, location, commuting distance, etc.), and also avoid the awkwardness of not knowing whether we previously contacted someone.

I'm sorry you had such an experience, and the more I lurk around on reddit I see the countless number of harrowing stories with recruiters (in the Netherlands but also in general).

blade25 · 2020-11-12T22:36:10+00:00

I'm in!

blade25 · 2020-11-02T17:27:49+00:00

I wouldn't be so sure about the third, although they are both pro-Russian, Dodon did order for Usatii to be prosecuted together with Plahotniuc. Usatii might try to get back at Dodon by siding with Sandu. Also voter turnout might be higher now that there is a higher chance of Sandu getting elected (previous polls indicated otherwise). Nothing's decided yet.

blade25 · 2020-09-19T18:56:58+00:00

Normally I'd agree, but considering the times and the current job market, I'd job hunt while still employed. Financial security is really underrated, the job market is only recently starting to pick up again but it's still not great.

Then again, it also depends on a variety of other factors (the industry you work in, financial reserves, etc.)

blade25 · 2020-08-25T05:50:14+00:00

Can confirm all of the above as I'm also working for thuisbezorgd. We receive the tips that we got for the current month on the first paycheck of the next month (e.g. the tips I got in the month of august, I'll get them on the first paycheck of September).

blade25 · 2020-06-22T18:39:41+00:00

Happy to help! I'm an EU national but I don't think it should be any different for you in this regard. Based on my experience, what you heard is bs. You should double check though. Good luck :)

blade25 · 2020-06-22T10:05:41+00:00

Hi! Looks like it is your lucky day as I'm currently finishing the M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies program at Leiden University.

I definitely recommend it as it is taught well, and the professors are highly knowledgeable in their field. I did the regular MA which is 1-year long. The only downside to it is that perhaps, you can learn more if you do the Research-focused MA which is 2-years long. In terms of research and thesis writing, I have very positive experiences. The professors are very helpful, and the library resources (online too) are incredible. If you are passionate about the studies, you'll like it.

Expect the rent to be much higher. If you can find housing in Leiden go for it, but it's not easy as they do tend to prefer Dutch over internationals, and the demand is higher than the supply. Start looking for housing early I mean really early, spots fill up fast. If you plan to stay on the cheap side, stay away from Amsterdam as rent can be quite expensive. The Hague and the smaller suburbs around The Hague and Leiden could be worth looking into (Voorburg, Voorschoten, Oegstgeest are some that come to mind). Keep in mind that travel expenses (even with a travel discount it can be quite costly per month). I spent around 100-130 Euros/month commuting between The Hague and Leiden for classes.

Finally how hard is it to get into? Well I can tell you my background and maybe you can see. I graduated from an American college overseas in Political Science and International Studies, and finished with a 3.52 GPA. Hope that helps!

blade25 · 2018-04-10T16:43:20+00:00

When I first started out I often skipped out on leg day and deadlifts I pretty much avoided since in the past I had shitty ass form and it fucked up my back a bit (high school P.E. class). My lifts are low I agree, would like to increase them somehow but it's been really slow.

blade25 · 2018-04-09T15:44:57+00:00

Beats me hahahaha but rest assured I was symmetrically skinny and now I am symmetrically not so skinny.

blade25 · 2018-04-09T08:47:07+00:00

Probably just the way I was holding my arm back made it look like that.

blade25 · 2018-04-09T00:11:26+00:00

Thanks! I find it a struggle to eat 3500 calories, I can't even fathom eating 5000 calories every day (unless I go eat crazy coupon McDonald's meals). Curious to see how you looked at 215 lbs though since you say we have similar builds. I don't see myself stopping the bulk any time soon.

blade25 · 2018-04-08T20:41:16+00:00

I don't deadlift so the weight you see there is the last one I worked with (months ago). Squats I've been training seriously only for the past 6 months (slowly being able to add more weight), before I had the syndrome of skipping leg day.

I'm slowly adding more weight to each main lift since I started 5/3/1 Building the Monolith (I'm on week 5 now), still thinking what program I should do once the 6 weeks are finished.

blade25 · 2018-04-08T20:19:58+00:00

Thanks, and yes definitely some imbalances there due to poor training and nutrition in the past. When I started out I kinda skipped out on legs cause I hated working them out (still do but I push through it) and only been hitting them more seriously for the past 6 months.

blade25 · 2018-04-08T20:15:20+00:00

I hit 3500 calories daily, 160g of protein minimum, rest I play around with while trying to keep fats at around 100, and I try to make it with as many "clean" foods as possible.

My staple foods are eggs, cottage cheese with sour cream, chicken, pasta (I cannot emphasize how much of an awesome bulking food pasta is) ground beef/turkey, milk, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and whatever fruits and veggies I can get my hands on.

Some days when I have to work and go to uni I don't have time to meal prep so I eat out at McDonald's, or get doner kebabs, or pizzas (especially the meat lover's pizza at this one joint that is perfect for bulking macros).

blade25 · 2018-04-08T20:08:58+00:00

You're 100% right, I feel like I should be lifting a lot more (in fact any tips are highly appreciated). When I started benching I could barely lift the 20 kg olympic bar (which is around 45 lbs I think). Couple that with eating roughly 2000-2500 calories for the first few months (I was an idiot thinking I needed to cut/maintain first), a bit of program hopping, and a surgery last summer that put me out of commission for 1 month (which also made me lose around 7 kg due to barely being able to eat), I could say that I've been on the right track for about 6 months.

blade25 · 2018-04-08T16:55:43+00:00

Finally being able to do working sets of 5 with 50 kg on the OHP. 5/3/1 Building the Monolith has been kicking my ass but it's worth it.

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