Beyond the “expat job”: 4 steps to re-establish your professional value 

When you first move, it’s tempting to grab the “first available expat job.” It’s in English, it gets you a BSN, and it pays the bills. But months later, you’re bored, under-challenged, and feeling your hard-earned career capital slip away. 

You are capable of more. This is where loopbaancoaching (career coaching) becomes crucial. It’s not about finding a job; it’s about finding your career. 

This requires a shift in focus. You must stop thinking like a “job applicant” and start thinking like a “high-value consultant.” Here is how you re-establish your value. 

• Stop Listing. Start Translating. Your CV is not a list of tasks. It’s a list of evidence. No one in the Netherlands cares what your title was. They care what you did. 
• Instead of: “Managed a team of 10.” 
• Translate to: “Led a multicultural team to 15% growth by implementing [X strategy], fostering a collaborative environment.” 
• Audit Your “Expat Superpowers.” You have skills that most local candidates don’t. You are adaptable, resilient, and culturally agile. You’ve navigated bureaucracy in a foreign language. These are not “soft skills”; they are high-demand business competencies. Frame them as such. 
• Decode the Dutch Corporate Ladder. The “ladder” here is not a ladder; it’s a web. The flat hierarchy (platte structuur) means influence, responsibility, and autonomy are often more important than a fancy title. A “Specialist” here might have more impact than a “Senior Manager” elsewhere. A coach can help you decode these titles and find the roles that match your actual seniority. 
• Target Your Search. Stop applying to everything on LinkedIn. Identify 10-15 companies that need your specific profile (e.g., they are expanding to your home market, or they are a multinational that values your experience). Then, use the koffiegesprek (coffee meeting) to get in the door. 

Your next level needs a guide. 

You have the 4 steps. You know you need to be strategic. But it’s hard to do this work alone. 

• Do you still struggle to see your “expat superpowers” as valuable? 
• Are you unsure how to find the right companies to target? 
• Does this feel overwhelming when you’re already just trying to stay afloat? 

This is where a coach becomes your co-pilot. A Gort coach acts as your mirror, helping you see the value you’ve overlooked. We provide the structure and accountability to turn these 4 steps into a real-world action plan.  

Coachable is the new confident. You don’t have to do this alone. Plan your free, no-obligation orientation call today and let’s build your new career strategy together.