Wednesday, November 18, is just around the corner: National Workplace Visit Day. As a project manager, I’m looking forward to this day. Not only because so many meetings take place throughout the Netherlands on a single day, but especially because the idea behind the day aligns so well with JObOn. We connect people who are curious about work with people who can share insights based on their own experiences—without there necessarily having to be a job application, job opening, or other expectation attached to it.
by Imre Meier, project manager and communications specialist at JobOn
After all, how often do you, as a job seeker, really get the chance to just take a look inside an organization? To ask someone what a typical workday is like, what opportunities exist within an organization or industry, and what they personally enjoy most about their job? And the same goes the other way around. How often do you, as a professional, take the time to give someone who’s exploring the job market a glimpse into your work and experiences?
It is precisely this kind of accessible interaction that takes center stage during National Workplace Visit Day.
Not a job interview, but a meeting
Anyone looking for a job will quickly find themselves dealing with job postings, resumes, cover letters, and job interviews. These are all important, but sometimes you just want to figure out what’s right for you first. Maybe you’re curious about an industry you’ve never worked in before, want to know what it’s like at a particular organization, or are simply looking to make new connections and find inspiration.
You can do just that during National Career Visit Day. On November 18, professionals and organizations throughout the Netherlands will open their doors to job seekers. This can be done literally by inviting people to visit the workplace, but also by offering a one-on-one networking session. As a job seeker, this gives you the opportunity to get to know jobs and organizations in a different way than through a job posting or application process.
And perhaps even more importantly: organizations don’t need to have any open job openings at all to participate. It’s primarily about sharing knowledge, experiences, and your network. So a conversation doesn’t have to lead to anything specific to be valuable.
Sometimes you have to step inside somewhere first
Personally, I think that’s one of the most wonderful ideas behind National Career Exploration Day. After all, when you’re looking for your next career move, you don’t always know exactly what you’re looking for. You can scroll through job listings endlessly, but a conversation with someone in the field can sometimes shed much more light on things. Maybe you’ll discover a position you didn’t even know existed, find that a certain industry suits you much better than you thought, or have someone put you back in touch with someone else.
That’s also why we at JobOn believe so strongly in the power of networking. Networking is sometimes seen as selling yourself or asking someone if they might have a job for you. But it can just as easily start with curiosity: Who are you, what do you do, and what can I learn from that?
During the Career Exploration Day, we try to make that barrier as low as possible. As a job seeker, you don’t have to walk in asking,“Do you have a job for me?”You’re encouraged to ask questions, listen, and explore. And as a professional, you don’t have to come prepared with a job opening. By setting aside an hour of your time to talk about your work, organization, or industry, you can already be of great value to someone.
More than a thousand encounters in a single day
We saw once again last year just how great the need is for these kinds of meetings. During the National Job Fair, no fewer than 1,014 meetings took place. A total of 260 employers and 414 job seekers participated.
Those are, of course, impressive numbers, but ultimately, it’s not the number 1,014 that matters to me. Behind every encounter are two or more people who likely didn’t know each other before. People who started talking to each other about work, ambitions, opportunities, and perhaps even doubts. Sometimes it ends with just that one valuable conversation; sometimes a new connection is formed; and sometimes, unexpectedly, it even leads to a concrete opportunity.
You just don't always know in advance what an encounter will bring. And maybe that's exactly what makes it so powerful.
One Day to Open Doors
As the project leader for National Work Visit Day, I naturally see, above all, just how many organizations, professionals, and partners are needed to make all these encounters possible. But ultimately, it all starts with people who are willing to open a door—literally or figuratively—for someone else.
That’s why I’d especially like to invite professionals and organizations to think about what they can do to help. Perhaps you could give someone a glimpse behind the scenes, talk about your career, or show them the different roles that exist within your organization. You don’t need to put together an elaborate program, and there doesn’t need to be a job opening available. A good conversation and genuine attention can be enough to help someone move forward.
Are you looking for a job yourself, or thinking about the next step in your career? If so, I especially hope you’ll dare to be curious on November 18. Check out an organization you’re not yet familiar with, strike up a conversation with someone from an interesting industry, or ask that question you might not normally be quick to ask.
Because sometimes the next step doesn't start with finding the perfect job opening, but simply with a good conversation.
National Work Visit Day will take place on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. Will you join us? Check out all the information atwerkbezoekdag.nl.