Recruitment Expert Shares Insight on How to Be Job-Ready with Wittenborg Students

26.10.2020

Studying Abroad Ups your Chances of Finding a Job

Students who study abroad have a better chance of finding a job. This is according to Dutch recruitment expert Olfertjan Niemeijer, who recently delivered an online seminar to bachelor's students at Wittenborg Amsterdam. Niemeijer has almost 30 years of experience in the recruitment business and is the founder of Independent Recruiters. It counts local and global brands like ING, Rabobank, ABN Amro, AON, Western Digital, Novell, Xerox, ECCO and KPN among its clients.

"If you can manage your study well in a foreign country, you can also do well in an international company," Niemeijer told students while answering their questions on how international business students can develop their careers in a totally different culture like the Netherlands or other European countries.

In a recent webinar to Wittenborg students in Apeldoorn, Niemeijer also gave students some insider information on what Dutch employers tend to look for. Most important among these is work experience, he said. More to the point, he advised students to highlight those experiences that are most relevant to the vacancy they are applying for

But what about undergraduates who may not have a lot of work experience? Niemeijer said they should write down any activities like sport, educational or voluntary work they have done before. They could also include the different project works they have completed in college or university, bringing attention to any parts which are relevant to the application.

The theme of the online seminar was "Cultural Diversity and Organisational Management". He told students how he managed diverse cultures in his own team and also in terms of assisting clients from diverse backgrounds. This includes respecting and acknowledging differences, encouraging communication within the group, adjusting own perspectives and behaviours as well as seeking common ground.