Frequently Asked Questions

Dual Career Support (DCS) provides support and advice to partners of newly recruited international employees at the University of Groningen, during the first two years after their relocation to Groningen.

DCS offers a wide range of services, including intake- and follow-up meetings, free career workshops, information about job fairs and career events, individual support with job applications, referrals to reliable Dutch language course providers and information about building your social network in the Groningen area.

No, all DCS services are free for the active registration period of two years. certain discounts are valid for the first year of DCS membership.

• Enhancing your chances of finding employment
• Learning important facts about the Dutch working culture
• Admission to free career workshops and events
• Assistance when applying for a job
• Staying updated on relevant information for internationals
• Referrals to Dutch language course providers
• Assistance in building your professional and social network

DCS Partners can register by filling out the application form on the DCS website. You can become a DCS member if;

• Your partner was recruited from abroad for a function within the UG within the recent two years.
• You have moved or are going to move with your partner from abroad for their job at the UG.
• You have not been living in the Netherlands for longer than two years.

Partners who do not fall into the framework of DCS, can contact our partners Make it in the North or the International Welcome Center North for support.

Your DCS membership will automatically end after two years. Partners will be notified via mail about the end of their registration period. After active registration ends, partners that can no longer make use of the DCS service package. You can contact our partners Make it in the North or the International Welcome Center North for support.

Please click on the drop down menu under Dual Career Support Workshops. You will find an overview of the upcoming workshops, read information about the content of the workshop and register directly via the blue registration button.

DCS does not offer language courses, but we can refer you to various reliable Dutch language course providers. Please click on Learn Dutch in the menu.

DCS can provide you with all the necessary tools and training to find your way on the Dutch job market. We can help you to fine-tune your CV and motivation letter according to Dutch standards and refer you to career events. By following our free DCS workshops, you can learn how to present yourself on the Dutch job market. Learning Dutch is a part of this.

Ultimately, your own motivation and persistence will play an important role in successfully finding a suitable job.

All internal vacancies for support staff are first posted on the UG intranet for five working days before being published externally. All interested staff and the partners of academic staff should first be given the opportunity to apply before the vacancies are published externally.

Alle interne vacatures voor ondersteunend personeel worden eerst gedurende vijf werkdagen op het UG-intranet geplaatst, voordat ze extern worden gepubliceerd. Dit betekent dat je als DCS-partner dezelfde kans hebt als UG-medewerkers om te solliciteren voordat externe kandidaten kunnen solliciteren (vermeld in je CV of motivatiebrief dat je als interne kandidaat wordt beschouwd).

LET OP: solliciteren als interne kandidaat betekent niet dat je de baan eerder krijgt dan een externe partij! Alleen als er twee kandidaten zijn met dezelfde kwalificaties en geschiktheid voor een functie, krijgt de interne kandidaat de voorkeur boven een externe kandidaat.

Dutch working culture is non-nonsense, informal and you will notice that the Dutch are not afraid to speak their mind on the job floor. This might be a bit daunting for internationals who first enter the Dutch workforce. A few examples:

• It is okay to call the vacancy holder about a vacancy
• We like to see a portrait picture on your CV
• You can send open applications to companies that you're interested in, even if there is no vacancy at that moment
• 70% of all Dutch vacancies are filled via networking
• You should have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile
• You will probably be on a first name basis with your colleagues and supervisors.
• Dutch people can be very direct, also during work meetings