The Undutchables philosophy
At the heart of Undutchables‘ philosophy lies the belief that diversity and multiculturalism are assets to both individuals and businesses. The company recognises that the Netherlands is an attractive destination for a wide range of professionals, whether they hail from within Europe or beyond. Their mission is two-fold: to assist Dutch companies in their international ventures and to welcome and support candidates who are making the Netherlands their new home.
‘With my own experience as an expat across multiple continents, we pretty much sell what I am.’
‘We’ve done this for 27 years now’, Van Houdenhoven-Collard says in an interview. ‘We work with a team of international recruiters. With my own experience as an expat across multiple continents, we pretty much sell what I am. It Is all about ensuring a bridge exists between organisations entering foreign markets, by ensuring they can communicate effectively. Not only in terms of language, but also cultural understanding.’
GlobetrottersÂ
Emmanuele van Houdenhoven-Collard’s journey to Undutchables is a testament to the agency’s own diverse and inclusive nature. Born in the region of Dordogne, France, her educational background includes studies in law, Political Sciences at the University of Bordeaux. Her career, however, has been a globetrotting adventure, with stops in The United Kingdom, Mexico and the United States.Â
Van Houdenhoven-Collard returned to the Netherlands in 2015. ‘The agency increasingly encountered multilingual candidates who, while proficient in English, often had it as their second or third language. My own experiences as an expatriate in the United States ended up providing me with invaluable insights into the challenges faced by many of Undutchables’ candidates. These professionals were no strangers to the global stage, having traversed the world in their careers.’
Life in a strange country
But Van Houdenhoven-Collard’s Undutchables career started by accident. ‘When I came back to the Netherlands, it was tough for me to find a good job. That was strange to me. I had a great profile, spoke four languages — but couldn’t find a job that suited me. So I approached Undutchables to discuss the difficulties I was facing in finding a job and try to better understand the current Dutch recruitment market. I got to speak to Nick van der Dussen, the company’s General Manager, and we had a lovely conversation about a variety of topics. The next day, I was offered an intake and got to start the recruitment process with Undutchables.’
‘As an expat, it constantly feels as though you need to sell yourself.’
It turns out Van Houdenhoven-Collard and Undutchables were a fit in more ways than one. ‘As an expat, it constantly feels as though you need to sell yourself. That can be quite a haunting task when you’re in a strange country. So I saw the real need for a company to step in and help them. To go the extra mile for them, to find them the right opportunity to further their career.’
Understanding the market
Van Houdenhoven-Collard’s background uniquely positions her to understand the needs of businesses seeking to establish themselves internationally. ‘I work closely with companies all around the world, notably in Germany, France, and even in China, helping them recruit talent that not only speaks the language but also comprehends the local culture. That in itself is an invaluable asset when doing business in foreign markets.’
Understanding the intricacies of the Dutch labour market is a critical aspect of Undutchables’ work. ‘There’s plenty of markets out there, like in France, where you generally don’t give out multiple contracts before it becomes a permanent deal. Companies in The Netherlands have a tendency to give out two or three temporary contracts before it becomes a permanent contract. That’s important for everyone, both job seekers and employers, to be fully aware of. Such nuances can be bewildering for those unfamiliar with Dutch employment practices.’
Finding a middle ground
Embracing cultural diversity is a central pillar of Undutchables’ philosophy. ‘It recognises that differing backgrounds and experiences enrich the workplace and foster open-mindedness in problem-solving. If everything is done in a transparent way, then no negative surprises occur. One notable trend, for example, is the preference among junior professionals for flexible work arrangements.’
‘Adapting to changes is crucial for international candidates and companies looking to integrate into the Dutch job market.’
‘The desire for a four-day workweek and the option to work from home 2-3 days a week is becoming increasingly important for this particular target group. Adapting to these changes is crucial for international candidates and companies looking to integrate into the Dutch job market. However, it can be challenging for candidates when companies have policies that lean towards a 100% in-office presence. Finding a middle ground becomes essential.’
Knowing the candidate’s core values
One of Undutchables’ strengths lies in its long-standing relationships with client companies. ‘We have clients who have used our services since the very beginnings of Undutchables in 1996, because we really know what they’re all about. We know their core values. That in itself is such a stark contrast compared to just sourcing for a candidate.’
‘Having that insight allows us to provide valuable information to both candidates and companies, facilitating mutual understanding and successful integration.’
Being realistic and acknowledging that candidates come from diverse backgrounds — and thus may have varying long-term plans — is part of the recruiting formula. ‘Some might view it as a stopgap solution for a few years, while others are looking to settle long-term. Having that insight allows us to provide valuable information to both candidates and companies, facilitating mutual understanding and successful integration.’
Collaborations with experts
In general, the Dutch labour market hasn’t been particularly easy to navigate. Van Houdenhoven-Collard notes the growing demand for talent in the Netherlands, with increasing numbers of candidates seeking opportunities in the country. ‘We pretty much experience a non-stop flow of new candidates and vacancies. But we need to ensure they’re all aware of what makes for a successful integration within the Dutch workforce.’
‘That’s why we constantly look for collaborations with experts in their fields, in order to share knowledge to our clients and network at large through regular webinars that are open to everyone.’ The next one, for example, will be the closing session for our 2023 series on November 17 in Amsterdam. The topic is creating a company culture that everyone feels connected to.’
‘We’re ready and ambitious’
Looking further ahead, Van Houdenhoven-Collard envisions continued growth for Undutchables. Since her arrival, she has seen the company expanding its team from 38 to around 44 employees in four years. ‘We’ve done this for 27 years — and it feels like we will keep growing for many years to come. With the continued influx of multilingual talent from all over the world who continue to find their way to the Netherlands, there’s plenty of challenges ahead. But we’re ready. We’re ambitious. We want to continue to play a pivotal role in connecting talent with opportunity. That’s what it’s all about.’
