Frequently asked questions and answers

Our office is located at Papendorpseweg 100 in Utrecht. By car you can drive from the ring of Utrecht to our office in less than ten minutes. In addition to several public transport buses that stop almost at the door, there are also regular bol buses that stop right at the entrance. These buses shuttle from Utrecht central station to the office every day. Our warehouse is in Waalwijk, where we work together with Ingram Micro.

We have chosen for one location because cooperation is so important at bol. We work together on innovation and change every day. Thanks to our location, the lines are short. We can find each other immediately and can spar with each other if necessary.

At bol the working atmosphere is informal. What we mean by that is an open working environment where everyone can speak to each other. We find it important that everyone can be 100% themselves. In addition, at bol we work in many multidisciplinary teams. Because there are several teams that work autonomously, there is a dynamic in which you also get to know people from other departments. Really going for it together is what we believe in.

The ‘typical’ bol employee does not exist. We believe in the power of colleagues with different competencies, personalities and expertise. Both strategic thinkers and doers who try things out. Yet we all have a bit of common ground as well. We like to do things together, we are connectors and team thinkers. We are driven and entrepreneurship is in our nature. We give each other the space to be ourselves, make mistakes and learn from them so that we can continue.

The informal atmosphere means that everyone is close by and accessible. We have a nice mix of driven starters and experienced specialists. Together we make the store of all of us.

To really become the store of all of us. A place where you can be 100% yourself. That is our ambition. In addition, we want to continue to innovate and combine different competencies, personalities and expertise. Together we’re focused on our vision: continuously advance our platform for a better tomorrow for us all. Everyone contributes in their own way, and works together with colleagues to achieve personal and shared goals.

As a market leader, we often break new ground. Every day we try to set a new standard. Because what’s new today is normal for us tomorrow. We all carry this mentality.

Always do! Describe in your motivation why you are the right candidate for this position. Maybe we see possibilities to look together with you at the potential to develop yourself in this area. Or maybe you are a perfect fit for bol and we would like to find a suitable position for you.

Currently, we have many interesting and challenging positions available. Perhaps there is an interesting vacancy for you that you can respond to immediately. After all, you know best what you are looking for.

New vacancies regularly appear on our job site. It is therefore best to sign up for our job alert. This will keep you informed about the latest vacancies at bol.

We want to get a good picture of you. And you of course of us. This is only possible if we ask each other all the questions we can. So don’t hesitate to ask all the questions you want. Neither do we. What are you good at? What are we good at? What kind of person are you? What kind of company is bol? Those kinds of questions are all addressed.

If you want an overview of the entire application process, look here.

Bol always follows the privacy laws. If you apply for a job at bol, bol will collect and process the data provided by you with your consent for handling your application. These personal data will be stored by bol for a period of 4 weeks after the end of the application procedure.

If you have given your permission, the data will be deleted after 1 year after the end of the application procedure.

If you subscribe to the job alert, your data (e-mail address and preferences) will be stored until you unsubscribe.

Click here for more information about our privacy policy. 

If you have applied to bol, it depends on the job posting which application process you will enter. Largely, the following applies:

1. The first contact (by phone).
2. Meeting each other in real life (or digitally).
3. The second interview with online assessment.
4. Is this a match?

If you apply for a vacancy within Tech, it is possible that another round is added. This is before or after the second interview, and besides the soft-skill test (HR assessment) it will be a Tech assessment that focuses on your knowledge of the field.

If you would like an overview of the entire application process, please look here.

On average, we aim for the process to take four weeks. But of course this depends on several factors. Think of the availability of the people you sit down with, but also of yourself. Or on when you have time to make the assessment, and how long you need for this. Close contact with the recruiter will in any case keep you constantly informed of where you are in the process. This can also be shorter than four weeks!

The offer from Validata is legitimate. There may be confusion because here you are again asked for a CV. But don’t worry, this offer is valid and we would love to have you on board!

We strive to keep a maximum of 8 working days. This way we make sure everything is in order when you receive the contract. As soon as you sign, we can start right away ;).

Relocating to the Netherlands is an exciting adventure but can be overwhelming. Therefore, bol wants to ensure that you make the best possible transition. We offer relocation assistance to the Netherlands from the moment you accept the job. Together with our relocation partner, we will handle paperwork, secure temporary accommodation, obtain visas, contact with the relevant embassy, and help you with any questions you may have.

Our aim is to support you and your family so that you can focus on packing for this incredible journey!

Read about bol employees who preceded you? Check out the blog here.

Absolutely! You can apply to bol from anywhere in the world. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds.

*Please note! In the relocation process we always take your specific situation into account. So be transparent in your conversations with your contact person/recruiter. We do that too. That way, both sides have the right expectations and the process will run smoothly.

Together with our immigration partner, we ensure that you can legally work at bol, and your partner will have unrestricted access to the Dutch job market from day one. We handle the necessary paperwork, so you can focus on getting ready for your new adventure.

You can work remotely from outside the Netherlands for a maximum of eight weeks a year, at a location which you have a work authorization (some countries have been excluded due to security risk)

Discuss with your manager and team if and how working abroad works best for you and your team. This differs per team and is different for everyone. You make agreements about this together.

You can only start working abroad after passing the probation period. You can’t start the job abroad and then move to the Netherlands.

Moving to a new country can be a costly investment, but we’re here to assist. We cover airline tickets for you and your family, provide temporary housing for up to six weeks, and offer a relocation allowance that you can use for various needs, from furnishing your new home to covering initial living expenses. We also support you in finding permanent housing through our relocation partner.

In the Netherlands, you are required to have your own health insurance. Our relocation partner will assist you in obtaining the necessary coverage. Additionally, we offer a collective health insurance at bol, which provides a discount if you choose to subscribe.

The timeline varies based on several factors, including your passport type, document readiness, embassy availability, and whether you’re relocating with your family. Our goal is to complete the process within 6 to 10 weeks.

This is not possible. To ensure a smooth onboarding process and get you off to a great start, we prefer you to be in the Netherlands for the onboarding period.

You start with a one-year contract. But if we both are very happy, we could convert that contract intro a permanent one later.

Unfortunately, we do not have any part-time or summer jobs available at the bol headquarters. Would you like to work for bol? Then you could contact our customer service. Our customer service is outsourced to Teleperformance. This also applies to our fulfillment center in Waalwijk, for which we work together with Ingram Micro.

We offer internships annually for a variety of positions, all of which you can find on the early careers page. For trainee programs, we only have the IT Young Professional Program for Engineers. As an IT Young Professional, you’ll be a full member of one of the 100+ scrum teams at bol. Most of the time, you’ll be the only Young Professional in your team, which means you’ll learn a lot from the medior and senior software engineers around you. And your buddy (a Young Professional from another team) will ensure you find your way at bol. The Young Professional (YP) program isn’t just followed by enthusiastic YP’s, but also created by them. You can add value to one of the so-called ‘building blocks’. Do you see any improvements for onboarding at bol? Or are you aiming for better communication between teams? Go for it!

We have an internal learning & development page called Studybol, where you can take both internal and external trainings. It offers a wide range of courses, trainings, and learning modules on various topics such as professional skills, software applications, leadership, and more.

At bol we work together to create a working environment that suits the needs of you, your team and bol. Which means 50% of the time working at the office and 50% at home. Whether you work at the office or at home depends on your activities. At bol we work in a flexible work culture, allowing us to meet each other regularly. In this, we find a balance between organizational and individual needs. Together with your team, you look at what does and does not work for you.

Within this way of working, we respect each other and bring the best of both worlds together. Not only does this ensure that we can retain our innovative power, but everyone also gets the freedom to arrange their week as they see fit. Multidisciplinary collaboration, efficiency, autonomy and entrepreneurship are the starting points of these working methods.

Want to know more about the working methods of bol? Read it here.

We share an enormous passion to continuously improve and develop everything we do. Because everything can and must be much better too. We want to be the undisputed number one retail tech platform for everyone who wants to buy or sell something in the Netherlands and Belgium. To make the lives of our customers easier and more fun.

Bol is at the heart of society through our millions of customers. As far as we are concerned, that is the perfect position to help that society. It’s in our DNA, because we help millions of customers every day to make the best choice from the huge assortment.

Translated into a broader, societal context, we want to make a measurable contribution to overcoming social and sustainability challenges.

How? Discover our vision and initiatives here.

Salary adjustments take place in principle once a year as a result of the assessment round. During a calibration session, the MT of a team or department determines all increases. Here, the impact made and the behavior of all team members are considered. Three elements are considered here:

– The impact you have made and the behavior you have shown.

– Your salary relative to others in a similar role and/or job scale.

– Your Relative Scale Position (RSP) is included for check.

Once a year there is a review round. Salaries are adjusted on that basis. In addition, in the event of promotion, a salary adjustment may be made in consultation with People&.

This is always possible. If you consult with your manager, and your manager agrees with the transfer to another team, this is possible. Will you stay in the same position? Then there are few steps to be taken, and you only agree on this with your managers. Would you like to move to another role? Or another department? Then the internal application process will take place.

There is always an available budget that can be used for your development. This is not a personal budget, but you agree it with your manager. In addition, we have a platform called Studybol, where you can also find various trainings and education for your personal development. This is accessible to every bol employee.

At bol we like good, healthy and above all tasty food. Our colleagues from the catering department ensure that you can enjoy a fresh lunch at a low price every day.

Do you prefer a quick bite? You can get one in our own AH to Go. bol employees work very hard on continuously advancing our platform for a better tomorrow for us all.

We also need to relax, there are several ways to do this. Stroll along one of the paths in our garden, where you will also find our soccer field and swings. Would you rather work up a sweat? There is also a possibility to do so at our Energy@bol.com. Are you crazy about boxing, field hockey, running, cycling, yoga, other sports or are you more into an evening of playing board games? Several colleagues organize all kinds of activities that you can sign up for.

We also find relaxation and health important and organize for example workshops mindfulness.

As a bol employee you receive a discount on certain items up to a maximum of €500,- discount per year. This varies per product group, but there is a discount on every group.

We like to get to know each other well. That’s why we have two after work drinks every week at our own bol bar. Because we work partly from home and partly in the office, we do two, so that everyone has the opportunity to attend the drinks if they feel like it.

But we also go out twice a year with the whole company. Furthermore, all departments organize their own outings and colleagues organize their own (sports) activities. Of course, you are completely free to participate. Are you the new Beyoncé, Candy Dulfer or Douwe Bob? Then grab that microphone or sax and sing or play the stars from the sky in our Blue Band. If you are the sporty type, you can join one of our sports teams. For example, there are bollers who play field hockey, soccer and go on bol ski trips together.

More into board games? No problem, we have those evenings too! So there is something for everyone.