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Next to making a good first impression with your CV it is integral that you include a letter of motivation with your application, also known as a cover letter. A motivation letter is usually written in response to a vacancy but you could also submit an open motivation letter to...

Making a good first impression is crucial when applying for a new job. Regardless of which industry you work in, you could find yourself competing with many suitable applicants and most recruiters spend no more than a few seconds scanning each CV. If you submit a clear, organised and neat...

When you arrive in the Netherlands as an expat, you’ll probably run into a few cultural differences. It takes some time to adjust to your new situation of working and living in a new environment, but we’re here to help! Together with our trainers and consultants we’ve created this whitepaper...

Whether you are coming to the Netherlands for a short time, e.g. to work or to study, or planning to stay for longer, you’re definitely going to be meeting lots of new people. At work, university, the gym or in the bar. It’s handy to know the Dutch way of...

What’s a formal email? Formal emails are typically sent to people you don’t know very well, business contacts or authority figures. This might be an HR recruiter, a prospective client or a public official. If you’re not sure whether to send a formal or an informal email, it’s probably best...

If I could count the number of times I have wished for more hours in a day to do the things I always procrastinate, I would be a millionaire in quarantine with a list of chores. We are amid a radical change in how we work, study and manage our...

The entire Netherlands is now dealing with the effects of the corona virus. It is a far-reaching situation which is having a huge impact on people and organisations. The country-wide measures being taken also have consequences for any language training courses you have planned or wished to plan. Training sessions...

“Today we’re going to talk about everyone’s favourite word.” If I start my lesson with these words, most students know what’s coming. “Does anyone happen to know what that word is?” The response to this question is usually nervous shuffling, eye-rolling and deep sighs, but eventually someone always says “er…”....

What does mastering a language actually involve? Chances are that on reading that question you’re thinking about correct use of grammar and an extensive vocabulary. That’s certainly true, words and grammar rules are the building blocks of language, but to master a language you also need to be able to...

We are all negotiators, whether we know it or not. Asking for a raise, selecting a restaurant for lunch or bargaining with your child are several examples of negotiation we engage in regularly. However, while negotiations are daily practice, the appropriate language used for effective bargaining doesn’t come easily for...