SalaryHow much do you earn? We ask a Dutch person that every week. Today: Julia (27) works 38 hours a week as an account manager at a wholesaler.
What do you earn?
3700 gross. Net that is 2500 euros.”
Happy with?
,,Yes, I first earned 3500 euros gross. My goal is to earn 4000 euros by the time I am thirty. Before this I worked for beverage manufacturers for four years. There is more money involved. I went from one store to another. When I made the switch to this wholesaler, I bluffed myself a bit through the negotiation.”
How did you do that?
“I started in the hospitality industry. From there I switched to a drinks importer. Then when I started working for a brand, I googled the salaries. They were 1000 euros higher than my salary at the time. In the end I got 800 euros extra. I was happy with that.
At the wholesaler I would get 25 vacation days instead of the 40 I had before. I said that if they wanted to hire me for this job, I wanted to be financially compensated for the loss of days off and therefore earn 3500 euros gross. They said they were consulting. I wasn’t in the kicker at my job at the importer, so I told them it was like it or not. I was called back to say that I had been given the job.”
It seems that you don’t find negotiating difficult…
,,Correct. Everyone always says there is no negotiation, but my experience is different. Even if you can only arrange 50 euros more, you have still got something out of it. Besides, I’ve always had a lease car with it. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere without a lease car. Especially with the petrol prices now.”
Did you ever not get what you asked for?
“No, never actually. I’m quite one too workaholic† I have a contract for 38 hours, but I can also be reached in the evenings. I often say yes, because I want to show that I put my shoulders to the wheel. You have work horses and show horses and I am target oriented. That is appreciated. Sometimes I take my wife for a walk through the city in the evening and then we visit a catering company that is a customer of ours. This is how I combine work and private life.
I am not allowed to declare those working visits. The company has 80 account managers on the road and if everyone declares 100 euros every month, I understand that that would be a huge expense. But I don’t mind. I like to support starting entrepreneurs and you will also be offered a lot for free.”
What are your secondary employment conditions?
,,I get 8 percent holiday pay. If I and the company have achieved the targets, I will receive a gross profit bonus of EUR 4400. If only I have reached my target I will receive 3300 euros. I have been working here for a year now and have already received this bonus once. And I’m back in the green now, so if I don’t do anything for the rest of the year, I’ll get it again.”
Do you know what your colleagues earn?
,,I know there are a few below me, they have less work experience. But there is also a colleague who has been working here for more than 10 years. He earns 1000 euros more. With two colleagues we often talk about money and salary. We then bump into each other a bit. It’s nice to be able to share with each other. That way you have a frame of reference.”
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There is also a colleague who has been working here for over 10 years. He earns 1000 euros more
How do you see your future?
,,As I said, I would like to earn 4000 euros gross when I am thirty. I think that’s a nice amount. At some point I will get a management position. Or I would go back to work for a brand, where I would now earn around 4800 euros. The margins in this industry are just low. It’s a different game.
I also take into account that my wife and I want to have children in two years. Then my salary will stagnate. That’s fine. I would prefer to continue working for this company. I therefore want to study for a management position. But I’m not going to bring that up with my employer just yet. I just got a raise, now I don’t think there are more questions.”
Does Julia make enough?
Age: 27
Number of years of work experience: 5
Number of working hours per week: 38
Education: secondary vocational education
Function: sales/account management
Industry: catering/wholesale
Number of employees: more than 5000
Country of residence of the head office: The Netherlands
According to the Salary Guide the average salary for her position is EUR 2218 gross. “You don’t earn much in this industry. The margins are low. So this amount is correct. I negotiated well. But I tell you very honestly: for this amount I would not get out of bed.”
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What is the Salary Guide? 7 Questions & Answers
1. Based on how many hours of work per week is the salary based?
Salary is based on a 40 hour work week.
2. Is the calculated salary including or excluding holiday pay?
The monthly salary shown does not include holiday pay.
3. Does the calculated gross salary include or exclude commissions and/or bonuses?
The forecasted gross salary excludes variable components such as commissions, bonuses and so on.
4. Does the calculated gross salary include a 13th month?
No, the predicted gross salary is a ‘normal’ monthly salary without settlement of a 13th or 14th month.
5. I work for a multinational with 10,000 employees worldwide. However, the Dutch team consists of 50 employees. What do I choose for company size?
The size of the organization is limited to the number of colleagues in the Netherlands.
6. What does budget authority mean?
This is the maximum amount that you can spend for professional purposes and for which you do not need permission from a manager.
7. How often is the information that serves as the basis for the National Vacature Bank Salary Guide updated?
Salaries and fringe benefits are not static data, but are constantly evolving.
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