NL
ENRecruitment and selection
Sourcing, screening, matching and assessment against role requirements and experience.
Our story
Experience that predates the SkillShift name
SkillShift was built on years of hands-on experience connecting international talent with employers in the Netherlands and Belgium. The name is new; the expertise in recruitment, preparation and relocation is not.
Where it started
From international IT consultancy to lasting placements
Our roots go back to 2018, when our founder established an international IT consultancy with offices in Pasig City, Rotterdam and later Breda and Brussels. What started as a software development operation soon developed into a complete relocation and placement route for skilled professionals moving to the Benelux.
Over the following years, professionals from the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Romania, Malaysia, South Africa and more than a dozen other countries were placed with clients throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.
In several cases, entire families relocated. Support then went beyond the work permit to include housing, schooling and making sure people landed well in their new environment.
After a successful five-year run, the company was acquired at a seven-figure valuation. One lesson stood out: placements last when recruitment, preparation and support operate as one coherent process.
Hands-on international placement experience since 2018
The foundation for SkillShift
Preparation is what makes the difference
Finding the right candidate is only the beginning. People need to understand what an employer expects, be practically ready to move and be able to focus on their new role from day one. That insight became the foundation for SkillShift.
The Philippines and the Benelux
Local knowledge in Metro Manila
SkillShift was established with a sharper focus: the Philippines and the Benelux. Our founder spent several years living in Metro Manila, primarily in Makati and Ortigas — the centre of the country's BPO, finance, IT and international services economy.
That time on the ground built a deep understanding of the labour market, candidate culture and the quality of professionals who routinely work for global companies. We still travel to the Philippines frequently and remain closely connected to local networks.
Preparation before departure
The work starts before the flight
From our Makati hub, we prepare candidates for their role and for working in the Netherlands or Belgium. The programme varies by sector and employer, but may include:
- Dutch language training and professional terminology
- Cultural orientation and workplace expectations
- Technical screening and practical assessments
- Role-specific preparation
- Documentation and pre-departure requirements
This means professionals arrive knowing what is expected, while employers can build on a carefully prepared process.
From request to arrival
One coherent route
SkillShift can manage the complete route or connect to the parts an employer already has in place.
Preparation and documentation
Language, culture, role preparation and coordination of the required documents and procedures.
Relocation and onboarding
Support with departure, arrival, housing where agreed and the start with the employer.
A suitable engagement model
Direct hire, staffing, consultancy or remote staffing, depending on the situation.
We work across healthcare, IT, finance and compliance, technical trades, maritime, logistics and operations.
Carefully structured
Knowledge of both sides of the route
International recruitment takes more than a network. Our organisation is therefore structured around the relevant procedures in the Philippines, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Philippines
SkillShift's registration as a Foreign Recruitment Agency with the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers has been approved. Operational processing is linked to the first client engagement.
Netherlands
SkillShift is a recognised sponsor for highly skilled migrants and supports employers with suitable Dutch immigration routes.
Belgium
SkillShift is registered as a service provider for Single Permit applications and guides employers through the applicable route.
Quality and presence
We hold NEN 4400-1 certification and operate from Amsterdam, Antwerp and Makati City.
What drives us
Placements built to last
Our goal remains the same: connect motivated professionals with employers who genuinely need them, and create the conditions for a working relationship that lasts.