4 minute read
How Can ‘Significant Others’ Land Successfully?
About ACCESS Training Network For more than 30 years, ACCESS has been serving the international community in many ways. One of them: sharing a network of professionals offering a variety of skills and talents in areas we feel are relevant to the international community. To find out more about these professionals, do take a moment to explore access-nl.org/what-we-do/meet-the-trainers. The Trainers involved in this programme at the TU Delft are: Caitríona Rush, Teresa Moynihan, Marie Dewulf and Ute Limacher-Riebold. Their profiles can be seen online.
Indeed. A crucial question for anyone who accompanies, or joins, someone on a relocation anywhere. We, at ACCESS in the Netherlands, want to draw attention to the efforts of our Patron, TU Delft’s Dual Career Services. We have known for quite some time that they were on the right path – and the feedback from those who have been on that ‘path’ is confirmation of this belief.
Advertisement
By Deborah Valentine
“It has been four months since I came here. At the workshops, I realised I didn’t know anything about Netherlands. The trainer was nice. I think I learned a lot of things about Dutch people. Also it was good to see (other) participants. I am looking forward to the next workshops.”course participant
Ask – And Ye Shall Receive When ACCESS was approached for suggestions – recommendations for what TU Delft could do to develop and take their intentions further – we had a lot to share. We knew that, within our Trainers Network, we had an abundance of skills and talents that could help. So we shared. The TU were clear on what they needed for their employees’ partners, spouses and significant others; they wanted to build upon previous work that had already been done in this area. They knew that, if they did not offer something concrete, relevant and real, it would not ‘land’ with the candidates they were attracting. They also knew that, in order to reach the candidates, something concrete had to be on the table for their significant other. Following critical interviews, a plan was made, resulting in a comprehensive programme that started three years ago, and that to this day continues to attract and retain the engagement of those who participate:
“These kinds of workshops are very useful (in my opinion) because, here there are people (from all) around the world, where things like curriculums, interviewing styles, etc... are very different.” course participant
knowledge-sharing initiative have contributed to its success. These are: cultural and linguistic awareness when preparing and strengthening your CV; the job application process; knowing what to do and say in network situations and when faced with introductions; and sharing tips and experiences with others in the same situation. In the hands of professionals, this programme enables participants to feel confident when dealing with their new life and career goals in the Netherlands. Having a series of comprehensive workshops – with sufficient time in between to network and practice their new skills – gives the participants the best possible start in the Netherlands. Peer exercises, role plays and testing their knowledge within the group constitute important elements of the programme. Not only that, many friendships are formed within these groups. This ensures that as an employer, TU Delft is taking excellent steps towards becoming even more attractive to the talent it needs in order to continue to excel in its field of expertise.
Listen – And Ye Shall Learn The fact that many of the members of the ACCESS Training Network have had expatriate experience – here or elsewhere – gives added value to their professional skills. After all, these professionals can share what they have experienced in the Dutch business culture and how they successfully navigated their own career paths in a new country. This adds even more value to the programme. Participants rated our trainers with overwhelming figures of recommendation – and it gives us tremendous pleasure to take a moment to thank our friends and colleagues at the TU Delft’s Coming to Delft Service & Partner Career Advice services. You are truly offering your staff members, as well as their partners, a huge advantage.
“It was a very pleasant intro to the Netherlands. While not a lot that I heard came as a surprise, it’s very good to have received some material with links to useful information all in the same document. I shall certainly go back to that when in doubt.”course participant
Closing Notes We have learnt that this programme’s workshops are now also available to the ‘significant others’ of employees of Erasmus (in Rotterdam) as well as Leiden University. Further enhancing the networking element is an excellent way forward.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deborah Valentine is the Executive Director of ACCESS, a not-for-profit volunteer-based organisation which has been helping internationals arrive and settle in the Netherlands since 1986. To find out more about how ACCESS can help you, visit www.access-nl.org
