I use this space to take a load out of my chest. I live in Holland since 2006, and I am really experiencing very bad forms of racism. I am from Italy, I am into IT security, and moved to your country as I found a very good job opportunity. It lasted for nearly 2 years, till when I moved to a better position. In April this year I was "catched" by a small company with a good contract which turned out to be the worst choice I took in my life. I was fired after 4 months as the company went nearly bankrupt, and had to pay a lawyer to get my salary.
Now, I am covering an ad interim position (3 months role), and up to now I've sent something like 2000 CVs in order to find a permanent position, but each time - even if the role is advertised in plain English - I am left out with the excuse I don't speak any Dutch. Now, I am not a linguist, I have a conversational grasp of your language, I worked for nearly 3 years in an international environment where everyone just spoke English, and surely didn't help me to improve Dutch skills!!
If I stick to the declaration of human rights, the Article n.2 states that: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, **LANGUAGE**, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."
Working at managerial level means that everyone is educated enough to use English as vehicular language, at least here in Holland. I took a Dutch course when I first arrived here, then I went into my routine and lost motivation to go further, particularly because everyone just switched to English as soon as I tried to speak Dutch. Now, I could accept to be rejected in another country where none speaks nothing but the national language, but here is not the case. Furthremore, nearly all roles I apply for, imply the use of English (to write reports, to communicate, etc).
What can I do to escape from this quibble? Could I have a chance if I "promise" to a potential employer to improve my language skills in a short time? Or do you know how I could find the job I know how to do, without being considered rubbish if compared to a Dutch speaker, in a working place where, at the end of the day, none will never speak any Dutch? I went in touch with headhunters, recruiters, HRs but none seemed to be very helpful...I don't want to go back to my home country,at least not now, but if I don't find a new position ASAP that's what I am forced to do. I find it really discriminating...
I hope you can do something to draw the attention on this problem, as it is really widespread here in Holland.
Blog 