English or Dutch Interview? How to Choose the Right Language
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
It's one of the first questions every international candidate asks. And the honest answer is: it depends. Getting it wrong — confidently, in the wrong language — can cost you the role before you've said anything worth hearing. English or Dutch Interview
Here's how to make the right call.
When English is the right choice
The clearest signal is the job post itself. If it was written in English, respond and prepare in English. If the company is international — tech, finance, consulting, an NGO —
English is likely the working language. If the interviewer opens in English, follow their lead without trying to switch languages to impress them.
Other signals: if you received the interview invitation, assessment materials, or onboarding docs in English, that's the culture you're entering. Match it.
One mindset shift that matters here: English fluency is expected at Dutch international companies. It's not a differentiator. What stands out is precision — choosing words that say exactly what you mean, without filler, without performance.
Swap "I'm super passionate about this opportunity" for "I'm genuinely interested in the work this team does." The first reads as American enthusiasm. The second reads as
professional.
When Dutch is expected — and tested
If the job post was written in Dutch, that's your answer. A Dutch post signals a Dutch-speaking workplace. This is not ambiguous.
Client-facing roles, healthcare, education, and public sector positions almost always require Dutch — often at B2 level or above. Smaller Dutch cities tend to be less internationally oriented than Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
If you're applying in Breda,
Zwolle, or Eindhoven, assume Dutch unless told otherwise.
And if you're invited to interview and genuinely unsure, ask in advance: "Wordt het gesprek in het Nederlands of Engels?" This takes ten seconds to write and immediately signals cultural competence.
Handling a language switch mid-interview
It happens. The interviewer asks if you'd like to continue in Dutch. The correct answer is yes — and then do your best.
Don't apologise repeatedly for your Dutch level. Prepare one honest, confident sentence in advance: "Ik spreek Nederlands op B1-niveau, maar ik leer snel." (I speak Dutch at B1 level, but I learn fast.) Delivered calmly, that response signals self-awareness and composure — both things Dutch employers are specifically looking for.
3 language mistakes that cost candidates the job
Constantly apologising for your Dutch level draws attention to insecurity rather than skill. Over-translating American enthusiasm — "I'm so excited to be here!" — reads as performative in a culture that values understatement. And switching languages mid-conversation without acknowledging it creates friction. If you switch, note it briefly and keep moving.
What they're actually evaluating
Language is the surface. What Dutch interviewers are reading underneath is whether you're direct, self-aware, composed under pressure, and precise with your words. Those qualities show up in any language.
Prepare the interview language they need. Then prepare the other one anyway. That readiness signals a professional before you've opened your mouth.
Ready to find out where you stand? Take the free WRAC Interview Diagnostic at wrightsresumes.com/interview-diagnostic.
✦ WRAC FREE RESOURCE ✦ Wondering how employers really see you in interviews? Take Wright's Resumes & Connections FREE Interview Diagnostic — a personalized assessment that reveals exactly how you come across to hiring managers and what to fix before your next interview. Free. No obligation. Results in minutes. |