1 minute read

The Brainport community is here for you

On September 15, the fifth edition of the Women for Women program started. Launched by Expat Spouses Initiative and the municipality of Eindhoven, the program aims to help women who came to Brainport with their partners to explore opportunities on the job market. Each woman is matched with an ‘ambassador’, a woman working in the region who shares her network and experiences. This is my second year as an ambassador and once more I am impressed with the simple and effective set up of the program. It is a true illustration of our collaborative spirit and the fact that this region understands that people with talent are always welcome – but they do need our active support.

The program also makes me aware of some typical Dutch characteristics of our job market and the way we search for jobs. LinkedIn, for instance, is an essential part of networking. You just do not exist if you are not on LinkedIn. It is the best way to make connections online, engage in conversations and present yourself. Tip: if you reach out to someone on LinkedIn you don’t know, include a little text as an intro. In these times of social engineering and cybercrime, not everyone will trust every invite that appears in their mailbox. I know it is hard to ask for help but the interesting thing is that most people will provide help happily when asked. Sharing or liking a message of someone who is looking for a job is not a great effort but it can increase someone’s visibility significantly. Next level is a network conversation. Find people on LinkedIn who work in a field you are interested in and ask them if they are willing to talk to you about their experiences. Don’t expect anyone to just give you a job. By making connections you will find out what you are really looking for, learn about potential employers and effective ways to apply. And the extra bonus is you will expand your network and meet people who can become more than a contact on LinkedIn.

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Monique Mols Corporate Communications, ASML

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