The Complete Guide to Working for an NGO in the Netherlands

The Complete Guide to Working for an NGO in the Netherlands

Have you always desired to work for a Dutch NGO but needed guidance on how to get started? Since there are so many NGOs working on so many different projects, it could be difficult to get employment with any of them. Below is a list of some advice and the top NGOs in the Netherlands.

Dutch NGO Employment Requirements in Terms of Education and Experience
The sort of job you’re looking for will fully influence this. The skills needed to be an NGO’s communications officer vs their accountant are very different. However, a few criteria apply to almost all job openings.

Educational background
Almost all NGOs prefer to recruit candidates with a higher education level due to the rivalry for these positions, and those with a master’s degree would normally perform better. Depending on the role, your credentials may not necessarily immediately relate to the work you will be doing at the NGO; rather, it is more crucial that you have a good degree of analytical ability and are used to working independently. Understanding the topic you’ll be concentrating on is also helpful while working for a Dutch NGO.

You have to possess a variety of skills.
Most NGOs are operated by a small, dedicated staff. Thus, it is unlikely that you will focus only on one project all day, every day. Most people are drawn to that level of variety.

It also indicates that you’ll have an edge in your application if you have a few different skill sets. Let’s take the example of someone seeking for a position as a communications officer who also has experience in video editing, fundraising, or research. NGOs in the Netherlands often put a high value on multitasking abilities.

You need to have some prior experience.
NGOs value your commitment to the cause they’re pursuing, so let them know whether you’ve ever worked on a comparable project or have just volunteered for one. Even if you may think it is less useful than your former corporate work, your prospective employer is likely to view the fact that you gave your time for a cause positively. It shows that you are knowledgeable about the field in which you’ll work.

knowledge of Dutch

Even though NGOs have a broader emphasis than other sectors, understanding Dutch might be quite helpful if you work for one in the Netherlands. It exhibits your potential to communicate effectively with locals and authorities as well as with their present staff.

How is it like in the Netherlands to work for an NGO?

If you’ve never held employment with an NGO, you may be interested in learning more about it. When working for an NGO in the Netherlands, you may expect the following.

The pay isn’t the best.

Sort of the concept is that there aren’t enough financial resources for NGOs in the Netherlands. If they do, they often aren’t using the space to its fullest extent. As a consequence, it’s probable that you won’t be earning much money. However, you aren’t looking to earn a lot of money if you’re considering working for an NGO.

The task is really important.

However, you probably give more thought to how your employment affects you personally. Working for an NGO in the Netherlands is a fantastic way to feel like you’re making a difference in the world and to have a sense of purpose. You could be able to work directly with individuals who truly need you or you might be able to see how your efforts have an impact on society in other ways. This is not always the case, of course. You should be prepared for some of your initiatives to completely or partly fail, if not the bulk of them. That is precisely how trying to alter the world works.

You may need to work long hours.

Because NGOs often only employ individuals who are really enthusiastic about the topic they’re working on, you could be expected to work long hours. This might happen seldom, as when the NGO is working on a project with a deadline, or regularly. You should kind of come to terms with the idea that you probably won’t have a standard 9 to 5 job.