Find work and understand routes to income support.

Work can give you an income and contact with other people. There are different ways to prepare for work: practising Dutch, following a course, gaining experience or talking with someone about which job suits you. Which steps apply to you depends on your personal civic integration route.

The Module Labour Market and Participation (MAP) helps people in certain integration routes to get to know the Dutch labour market. For example, you look at what you can do, which work you seek, and how you contact employers. The municipality can explain if MAP is part of your route.

Even when you get guidance, you take steps yourself. You can make an appointment with a counsellor, look for job vacancies, or ask about a suitable course. Ask which help and which obligations apply to your situation.

A vacancy is a message about work that an employer offers. You can find vacancies on websites, at a temp agency and at organisations in your area. Also tell people you know which work you are looking for: sometimes they hear about a job first. At a temp agency, you can usually register online or at the desk; ask which information and documents are needed.

When you apply for a job, an employer often asks for a CV. This includes your education, experience and contact details. Sometimes you write a letter or fill in an online form. Use real information and adapt your CV to the job.

Prepare for a meeting: read the vacancy, think about your experience and consider questions about the work, the hours and the contract. You do not need to know all the answers straight away. Ask for clarification if something is unclear.

Not every job asks for the same things. For one job you need a diploma; for another, experience is more important. So first look at which tasks you can already do and which you want to learn.

Your chances also depend on practical matters and motivation. Can you work at the requested times? Can you reach the workplace? Do you want to learn the tasks? Do you understand the language needed to work safely and well? An employer looks at the whole picture.

A rejection does not mean you can never work in that profession. Ask which skill you can improve. A course, internship or another job can be a next step.

A foreign diploma can be valuable. A diploma evaluation shows with which Dutch education it can be compared. This is not a Dutch diploma and it is also not automatic permission to practise a profession. Work experience counts in an application, but it is not assessed in a diploma evaluation.

First, decide why you need the evaluation. Do you want to go to a university of applied sciences or a university? Ask the institution if they assess your diploma themselves or request an evaluation from Nuffic. Do you want to attend an ROC? Ask the ROC; it can request an evaluation through SBB. Keep your diploma and transcript and ask which translation or other documents are needed.

Are you looking for work or do you not yet know which course you want to follow? Ask the Information Centre for Diploma Evaluation (IcDW) about the right route. You can request an evaluation via IcDW. In some situations, UWV can help you with a request. First find out what an employer needs; not every profession requires an evaluation.

For a regulated profession, such as nurse or teacher, a separate recognition is often needed before you may practise the profession. Look up the rules for that specific profession. Apart from that, collect proof of your work experience, such as employer statements and descriptions of tasks. Discuss with an employer how much your experience is worth.

You can continue learning after leaving school. A short course can help you with a new task. Sometimes a longer course is needed to change profession.

Ask an employer, municipality, UWV or training provider which course suits your aim. Also check the conditions: how much time does the course take, what should you already be able to do, and who pays?

Make your goal small and clear. If, for example, you want to communicate better at work, look for a course that practises real conversations from your field. At the end, ask what you can do with the certificate of participation.

An employer may ask if you have the skills for a job. In a vacancy you often find tasks, education, experience, and qualities needed for the role. Read the difference between a requirement and a wish.

Language and communication can be important. An employee must, for example, understand safety instructions or help customers. What level of language is needed depends on the role.

If in doubt, ask what the employer means exactly. Perhaps you can learn a missing skill. A job requirement must fit the job; unequal treatment without good reason is forbidden.

If you lose your job or cannot work due to illness, contact the right organisation for your situation as soon as possible. If you have work history, UWV can provide information on registration, finding work, and possible benefits. If you do not have any work history, the municipality is usually your first point of contact.

A benefit is temporary financial support under certain conditions. Examples include WW (unemployment benefit), social assistance, and schemes for incapacity for work. Whether you are entitled to something depends on your work history, health, income, and other circumstances.

Also, ask about help to find work again. Discuss which training or guidance might suit you, but also take your own steps to find paid work, such as looking for suitable jobs and applying. Keep all letters and watch deadlines: responding late may have consequences.

When you receive benefits, you get support, but there are rules attached. In a letter or online environment, you will find what you must do. This may be looking for work, accepting suitable work, or joining support programmes.

Does your situation change? Report this on time. Think of new work, extra income, living together, or moving house. Such changes can affect your benefit amount.

If you do not understand a rule, ask the organisation for clarification. Keep a copy of what you have reported. This way you can prove later when you informed them of a change.

Suppose: you receive a letter about suitable work, but you are ill and doubt if you can start. Explain your situation to the benefits organisation immediately and ask which rules apply to you. Do not ignore the letter. Also check what amount and support you will receive according to their decision.