Career Studio · Expats in the Netherlands

Ready to build
your career in the
Netherlands?

Somewhere between landing and thriving, there's a gap. That's where I come in.

Whether you're still planning your move, just arrived in Amsterdam, or already searching the Dutch job market. I help expats and internationals understand how hiring works here, fix their CV and LinkedIn for this market, and find their direction, including career switches. Everything is async, written, and delivered to your inbox. No calls needed.

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Thryve Career Studio - async career coaching for expats in the Netherlands
CV Review Dutch Market✦ Dutch Job Market✦ LinkedIn Optimisation NL✦ Expat Career Coaching Amsterdam✦ Career Switch Netherlands✦ Recruiting Agencies NL✦ Async · No Calls Needed✦ Career Coaching for Internationals✦ Amsterdam · Netherlands✦ Affordable Career Coaching✦ CV Review Dutch Market✦ Dutch Job Market✦ LinkedIn Optimisation NL✦ Expat Career Coaching Amsterdam✦ Career Switch Netherlands✦ Recruiting Agencies NL✦ Async · No Calls Needed✦ Career Coaching for Internationals✦ Amsterdam · Netherlands✦
Services

Choose the support that fits where you are now.

01 · Guide
NL Career Orientation Handbook
The complete guide to the Dutch job market for expats.
  • How the Dutch job market works and who actually hires expats
  • What a Dutch CV looks like and how yours should be structured
  • Salary benchmarks, contract types and visa options explained
  • Curated job boards, recruiter platforms and where to apply
  • A 30-day action plan to follow from day one
One-time · PDF Download
€35
Get the Handbook →
02 · Async Review
The Deep Dive
Your CV and LinkedIn reviewed and adjusted for the Dutch market.
  • Your CV reviewed line by line for the Dutch market
  • Specific edits: what to cut, rewrite and reframe
  • Your LinkedIn profile reviewed with actionable improvements
  • Everything written up and delivered to your inbox
Delivered in 5 working days
€55
Get Started →
Most Popular
03 · Full Brief
The Kickstart
Your full Dutch market brief: CV, LinkedIn, recruiters and target companies.
  • CV reviewed line by line, with specific edits for this market
  • LinkedIn reviewed, with tips on how to be found by Dutch recruiters
  • Curated recruiting agencies matched to your sector and level
  • NL companies where your profile fits, with direct links
  • Job boards, expat communities and platforms worth your time
  • One async follow-up round after delivery
Delivered in 7 working days
€95
Get Started →
04 · Career Change
The Career Switch Map
You know something needs to change. You just don't know what's realistic here.
  • 3–5 realistic career paths mapped to your background and the NL market
  • What each path requires: qualifications, timeline and entry barriers
  • Affordable training and certification routes available in the Netherlands
  • Subsidies and financial aid you can apply for
  • Delivered as a written report, structured, personal, yours to keep
Fully Personalised
€155
Get Started →
Client Stories
“
"I thought I just needed a quick CV fix. Turned out there was more to change than I expected, but the feedback made complete sense and I could action it straight away. Really glad I did it."
Sotiria P.
★★★★★
“
With Thryve's help, my CV and LinkedIn finally reflected my real value, and I got the job I once thought was out of reach.
Peter H.
★★★★★
“
"I had just graduated and done my first internship but had no idea how to present what I had done or what I was worth. Marilena helped me reframe my experience in a way that felt confident and opened doors I didn't expect."
Joanna K.
★★★★★
Digital Downloads

Resources to help you
Thryve.

Digital downloads you can use right away. No waiting, no calls. Just clarity, beautifully packaged.

✦ Bestseller
Career Handbook
NL Career Orientation Handbook

Your essential starting point for the Dutch job market. Industry mapping, CV standards, interview guidance, working culture, contract types and networking, all in one beautifully designed PDF.

NL Career Orientation Handbook - Dutch job market guide for expats
€35
Buy Now →
Coming Soon
Branding Guide
Personal Branding for Expats

Build a coherent, confident online professional identity in the Netherlands. LinkedIn optimisation, personal brand framework, and practical steps to make yourself visible to Dutch recruiters.

Personal Branding Guide for Expats in the Netherlands
€20
Notify Me →
✦ Available
CV Template
Editable CV Template Bundle + Dutch Market Checklist

Includes 10 ATS-friendly Canva templates and a checklist to help you adjust your CV to Dutch job application standards.

Editable CV Template Bundle for Dutch job market - ATS friendly Canva templates
€10
Buy Now →
✦ Available
Template
Job Application Tracker

A beautifully designed spreadsheet to track your applications, follow-ups, contacts, and progress, so nothing slips through the cracks during your Dutch job search.

Job Application Tracker spreadsheet for expats job hunting in the Netherlands
€8
Buy Now →
Coming Soon
Coaching Workbook
Career Clarity Workbook

A guided self-coaching workbook to help you define your direction, identify your strengths, and build a clear career action plan.

Career Clarity Workbook for expats in the Netherlands
€25
Notify Me →
Coming Soon
Bundle
Complete Career Toolkit for Expats in NL

Everything in one place. Includes the Career Orientation Handbook, Career Clarity Workbook, Personal Branding Guide, CV Template Bundle and Job Application Tracker.

COMPLETE TOOLKIT ✦ THRYVE · NL
€98
€55
Notify Me →
Inside the Handbook

NL Career
Orientation Handbook.

A comprehensive, carefully researched orientation to the Dutch job market, designed for internationals at every stage of their NL journey. The foundation of everything I do.

Get the Handbook · €35 →
✦ Your Starting Point
NL Career Orientation Handbook
Get Instant Access · €35 →
PDF Download · One-time payment · Digital Product
About · Thryve Career Studio

Hi, I'm Marilena,
founder of Thryve.

"I've navigated career transitions myself, across countries, industries, and identities. That experience is the foundation of everything I do here."

With a background in the Creative Industries and a Master's in Coaching, I bring a unique mix of analytical and creative thinking to career development. I am currently deepening my practice through an EMCC Accredited Transformational Coaching programme.

I work with graduates, juniors and mid-level professionals stepping into the Dutch job market or redefining their next chapter. Through CV Reviews, LinkedIn Positioning, a tailored Job Search Strategy, and Career Switch Mapping, I help you understand how this market works, where you fit, and exactly what to do next. Everything is async, written in English, and delivered to your inbox.

Master's in Coaching EMCC Accredited Transformational Coaching L5 HRM Design Expat in NL
Marilena Kastanioti, expat career coach and founder of Thryve Career Studio Amsterdam
Strategy ✦ Empathy✦ Creativity✦ Your Next Chapter✦ Career Clarity✦ Thryve Career Studio✦ Personal Branding✦ NL Ready✦ Land with Confidence✦ Strategy ✦ Empathy✦ Creativity✦ Your Next Chapter✦ Career Clarity✦ Thryve Career Studio✦ Personal Branding✦ NL Ready✦ Land with Confidence✦
Content & Community

Follow the journey.

Weekly tips on the Dutch job market, expat stories, and career inspo — follow on Instagram, LinkedIn & Facebook

From the Blog

Career notes for expats in NL.

See all posts →
IamExpat Fair Amsterdam
Networking & Events
The IamExpat Fair: What I Saw, and What It Means for Your Job Search
Read more →
Dutch CV standards
CV & Application
What Dutch Recruiters Actually Look for in an Expat CV
Read more →
Dutch job search strategy
Job Search Strategy
The Dutch Job Search Mistake Most Expats Make
Read more →
Common Questions

Things expats
always ask me.

How do I find a job in the Netherlands as an expat? ✦
It's very doable, but it works differently from what you're used to. The approach that worked back home often won't work here, and that's the first thing we'd look at together.
Do I need to speak Dutch to work in the Netherlands? ✦
Not at all to get started. There are plenty of fully English-speaking environments here. Dutch is something many expats choose to learn over time, and there's plenty of support available when you're ready for it.
How do I write a CV for the Dutch job market? ✦
Most expat CVs I receive are too long, too generic and formatted for a market that isn't the Netherlands. It's fixable, and it's exactly what we cover in the NL Career Orientation Handbook and the Deep Dive.
What is the best way to find work in Amsterdam as a foreigner? ✦
Not the way most people are doing it. Volume doesn't work here. A focused, well-targeted approach: the right companies, the right people, the right message. That consistently outperforms mass applying.
How long does it take to find a job in the Netherlands? ✦
That depends entirely on your starting point and strategy. With the right approach, the timeline is much shorter than most expats experience on their own.
Do Dutch companies hire internationals? ✦
Absolutely, but they're looking for something specific. Knowing what that is before you apply makes all the difference between being overlooked and getting the call.
What is the Dutch job market like for expats? ✦
There's real opportunity here, especially in tech, finance, logistics and the creative sector. The learning curve is real too. Knowing the unwritten rules early saves a lot of time and frustration.
How do I use LinkedIn to find a job in the Netherlands? ✦
In the Netherlands, LinkedIn is less of a job board and more of a relationship tool. How you show up there matters more than how often you post.
I want to change careers but I don't know what is possible in the Netherlands. Can you help? ✦
Yes, and this is exactly what the Career Switch Map is designed for. It maps realistic career pivot options based on your specific background, identifies the certifications and training routes recognised in the Netherlands, highlights low-budget and financially supported options, and gives you an honest picture of what each path looks like in the Dutch job market. Coming soon.
I am an American moving to the Netherlands. Can Thryve help me? ✦
Absolutely. Americans relocating to the Netherlands face a very specific set of challenges: an unfamiliar CV format, a completely different workplace culture, no Dutch professional network, and a job market that rewards a targeted rather than volume-based approach. All Thryve services are fully async and delivered in English, so you can get started from anywhere, including before you arrive.
Are Thryve's services available online? Do I need to be in the Netherlands? ✦
Everything is fully online and async. You submit your materials, fill a short intake form, and receive your written review or report by email within the stated delivery window. No calls, no scheduling, no timezone issues. You can be anywhere in the world.