Starting a Technical Job in the Netherlands Without a Diploma

A lot of people rule themselves out of technical work before they even apply, because they assume you need a certificate, a Dutch diploma, or years of experience to get started. For most of the technical roles we place, that’s simply not true.

The labour shortage works in your favour here. Technical employers across the Netherlands – and especially in a high-demand region like Eindhoven – are struggling to find enough staff. That means more and more companies are willing to train motivated people on the job rather than wait for someone with a finished qualification. You work, you get paid, and you pick up real, practical skills and certificates along the way instead of sitting in a classroom first.

What actually matters to most employers:

• A genuine willingness to learn and show up reliably
• Basic English (level B1 is usually enough – a Dutch diploma is not required)
• Being comfortable with hands-on, physical work
• MBO or VMBO-level technical training helps for some roles, but for many entry-level positions it isn’t required at all

Roles that are realistic to start without formal qualifications include assembly work, machine and production operating, and entry-level positions in welding or maintenance where you learn the specifics on-site. Over time, as you build experience, doors open to better-paid and more specialized roles – including a direct contract with the employer once you’ve proven yourself.

The typical path looks like this: you start in an entry-level technical role, your employer (and your EU-People job coach) helps you build skills on the job, and from there you can grow into more specialized or higher-paid work – sometimes with formal certificates along the way, sometimes just through experience.

At EU-People, we specifically look for employers who are open to training motivated newcomers, and our job coaches stay involved after you start – not just during the hiring process – so if something isn’t clicking on the job, you’re not figuring it out alone.