“From Dreams to Action”
National Job Fair Day, spearheaded by JobOn, is an accessible initiative that connects employers with people looking for a (new) job. One such company is the Utrecht-based consulting firm Improven, which held a networking session with seven job seekers in late November. “We shared moving stories, valuable insights, inspiring dreams, relatable challenges, and seemingly achievable ambitions.”
by Thomas Braun
In 2022, JobOn approached Improven to discuss a partnership, and one of the topics was theNational Workplace Visit Day. Consultant Merlijn Tak: “Since the partnership got off to such a positive start back then, we immediately said yes again last year. We’re happy to devote our time to great initiatives like the Workplace Visit Day.”
Added Value for Newcomers
Improven is a consulting firm that guides organizations through transitions, Merlijn explains. “We do this at the intersection of Finance, Risk, and IT, with a special focus on project and program management.” In 2022, when Improven first became involved with JobOn, the Career Visit Day was already “a success,” according to Merlijn. “We took up the challenge again this year and expanded our collaboration with JobOn.” Colleague Bram Sinderdinck adds: “Not only did we participate in networking sessions with our consultants during the Job Visit Day, but we alsoorganizedthe020Job Visit Dayand brought people together in person during a job interview training session. We’ve been actively working in the Amsterdam region and have specifically focused on the target group of newcomers—people who have recently settled in the Netherlands.” Merlijn: “Our idea is that Improven has many consultants who all work in different industries, and they can really add value for this target group. After all, newcomers have questions about our work culture and about applying for jobs in the Netherlands. And that’s what we wanted to help with.”
True Networkers
This decision was also well-received by JobOn, since JobOn, too, will be focusing on thistarget group starting in 2023. Bram: “We were immediately excited by the idea of making a difference for this target group, and there was also a really great connection between our organizations.” That connection existed—and still exists—between Improven and JobOn as well, the pair says. Bram: “The people at JobOn think along with us and share their opinions; they aren’t just yes-men—they genuinely seek what’s best for the target group. We brainstorm together and look for ways to move forward. And they’re also great networkers, which is very constructive.” Merlijn: “They’ve supported us in every way, and they’ve also given us the freedom to explore things on our own.”
And there really is a goal on the horizon: next year, we want to take the Work Visit Day even further in Amsterdam. Working with JobOn means short lines of communication and quick decision-making, and that works very well. We really tackled this project together and, with the help of many enthusiastic colleagues, made it a success.”
What are the benefits of the 020 Job Fair for job seekers?
“Our project had two parts,” Merlijn explains. “On the one hand, we tried to get as many colleagues as possible at Improven excited about participating in the one-on-one conversations, and there was a lot of enthusiasm for that. In addition, we visited Hiwork, an organization that helps refugees find jobs that suit them. We spoke with seven newcomers, and the conversations flowed very naturally. We asked about their dreams and how we could help make them a reality. We then shared all of that with our network to see if we could find opportunities that would help them take the next step in their careers.” Bram: “One of the men had been a diplomat in his home country. Here, he’s doing a completely different kind of job. He had resigned himself to the fact that, for now, he’d be doing work other than what made him happy. Although he seemed fairly reserved at the start of the morning, as the conversation progressed, you could see him really come alive and become enthusiastic. That was wonderful to see.”
Listen and Inspire
Merlijn: “It can be difficult for these people at times, because there’s time pressure to find a job when you’re new to the Netherlands. But it’s also important that they do what they enjoy and what they’re good at. At times like that, it helps to look within your network, consider their dreams, and help them reclaim their ambitions.” Bram: “I really felt it added value the way we sat together, listened to one another, and inspired each other. You could also tell that they started helping each other. For example, there was a man who had been self-employed for two years; another woman was still a status holder and also wanted to become an independent entrepreneur, but she had no idea how to get started. A great connection formed between the two of them right away.”
The Power of the Workplace Visit Day
According to Merlijn, the strength of the Workplace Visit Day lies primarily in its accessibility. “It’s nice when you can ask someone anything openly—that’s not always possible. We were happy to be able to help them, but they helped us just as much. It’s truly special that you can build such a wonderful connection through this kind of approachable interaction. We’ve agreed to stay in touch so we can take new steps together.” The National Work Visit Day promotes employment, and we’re very proud to be a collaborating partner of the JobOn Foundation.
Save the Date: November 20, 2024
With over 1,000 networking conversations in a single day, the 2023National Workplace Visit Daywas a huge success. Hundreds of employers opened their doors to give curious job seekers a behind-the-scenes look. Be sure to mark the National Workplace Visit Day on November 20, 2024, in your calendar now!
Photo credits: Hossein Ramzi