Personal branding

Your experience as an international professional is a stand-out moment. Moving countries shows adaptability and problem solving, while working across cultures highlights communication skills. It also brings fresh perspectives to Dutch organisations.  

For example, a cyber security specialist in The Hague can highlight experience working with global teams on digital safety, while a researcher in Leiden Bio Science Park might showcase collaboration across international research networks. Rather than just listing skills, focus on concrete examples of challenges you solved or projects you contributed to.

Personal branding in the Netherlands is about balance: confident, but not overly self-promotional. Dutch workplaces are typically direct and transparent, with flat hierarchies and a focus on substance rather than status. This means being clear and specific about what you do and what you bring, avoiding exaggeration and showing how you collaborate and contribute to shared results.  

For example, instead of saying ‘Experienced engineer with global expertise’, you could say ‘Mechanical engineer specialising in sustainable maritime systems, working closely with international teams to develop and implement offshore solutions.’ 

Read more: Dutch language and culture

A strong online profile helps build visibility and credibility before you even meet someone. Stand out on LinkedIn by using a clear headline that shows your expertise and impact, telling your story in a concise and human way, and highlighting results and contributions rather than just tasks, supported by a professional, approachable profile photo. 

To go a step further, share insights about your field (see below) and engage with others by liking and commenting on their posts. If relevant, you can also create a simple website or portfolio to showcase your work.

Opportunities often come through connections, and these are best built by showing up in person. Approach networking with curiosity rather than a sales mindset, focusing on meaningful conversations and building rapport, instead of immediately asking for a job.  

A good place to start is industry events and meetups, as well as international and expat communities, or professional hubs and innovation clusters. In South Holland, each city has its own strong ecosystem, from peace and justice in The Hague to high tech in Delft, maritime and port industries in Rotterdam, and life sciences in Leiden. But keep in mind these networks may overlap, so it’s often worth looking beyond your own sector.

Personal branding becomes stronger when others can see how you think and that you are passionate about you do. You can build visibility and thought leadership by sharing brief posts on LinkedIn about your field, reflecting on industry developments such as digital innovation or the energy transition, contributing to meet-ups by giving a talk or joining a panel, or writing a longer article or blog for platforms like Medium.  

Your international perspective is especially valuable in South Holland, where many organisations work on global challenges and benefit from diverse perspectives. 

Your personal brand evolves as your career grows, so it’s important to keep refining it over time. A quick self-check can help: search your name to see what others find, make sure your LinkedIn reflects your current focus and goals, and check that your profiles are consistent across platforms. This consistency makes it easier for others to recognise you and builds trust.