Every experience is unique

I went through a few tough years at the government organisation where I worked, which had had a major impact on me and my family. I was incapacitated for work for some time and was therefore looking for a coach for a second-line labour reintegration (Spoor 2).

Before the start of the reintegration programme, I had already done a lot of (self-) research, followed a mindfulness training and various webinars, and had conversations with professionals, friends and colleagues.

I found the counselling extremely pleasant, warm, personal and also professional. My coach understood me right away and knew how to support and encourage me in the various steps I took. Also, whenever I needed a kick up the bum, I got one. The feeling that I was understood and appreciated by my coach and that I could go to her with questions and doubts helped me a lot. The interviews gave me a clearer idea of my new job direction.

By now, my reintegration has been completed and I am temporarily seconded to another government organisation where I can contribute to a very valuable assignment: handling access requests to the war archives of the Red Cross. I am delighted to be back at work in a friendly environment where I can work with great colleagues. The fact that I feel much better in my work also has a positive influence on my family and other aspects of my life.

I can therefore warmly recommend everyone to start working with a coach with whom you feel connected. Dare to take a good look at yourself and what you find important. This will make it easier to take the first steps towards something new.

My working future is still open, as my secondment will end on 1 March 2021. I just started to look at vacancies again. I hope to be working in a more permanent job in a few months’ time.

A personal message for others? Geez… Go with the flow, enjoy the ride, everything will be fine!

During my first meeting with my coach, it appeared that I was not yet ready to start the reintegration process, but that I needed to recover more. I totally agreed with that. My coach gave this advice to my employer and I only started the trajectory at DB months later.

The coaching was very pleasant. My coach gave me all the time I needed to express the emotions that were there with regard to my work. Only after I had processed my emotions and frustrations a bit more, we started working on the content. My coach gave me some very practical tips to take better care of myself (e.g. energy management) and gave me insight into my talents and highlights in my life that I am proud of. The big eye-opener for me was the “miracle question”. She asked me to describe in detail what my situation would look like if my problems had miraculously disappeared.

Although I was already well on my way to full reintegration to my old position as HR manager, the miracle question began to sink in more and more. Since I also networked a lot, I got a clear picture of what I really wanted in my professional future. The circle was closed when I realised that this also fitted in perfectly with the results of my TMA Talent Analysis.

In the end I knew what I wanted: massaging and coaching. As of 5 October 2020, I started as an independent entrepreneur: Massage & Coaching Wassenaar. In the meantime, I have treated the first clients and so far I have received very enthusiastic reactions that strengthen me to go all the way for this.

I am very happy with the choice I have made and the contribution of Dynamisch Bureau. Although the opening of my practice is very recent and doing business is new and very exciting, massaging and coaching feels natural. This fits perfectly with my vision on health and well-being and my passion to guide people towards relaxation and vitality for body and mind. As a psychologist and with my HR background, I am used to coaching people. After a thorough massage training, I now offer a beautiful and unique accessible approach that works.

I feel happy, cheerful and full of energy again. The spiral of fatigue, tension, “being done” has been broken and this new path gives me a lot of energy. When I am now massaging, I consider myself so fortunate!

Due to the situation and psychological complaints that I was struggling with, my self-confidence was seriously affected. I did not feel that I would ever be able to work as a social worker again, I had completely lost confidence in myself and also in my environment.

The coaching was really exactly what I needed without realising it beforehand. I had made major and radical changes in my personal life and lifestyle with the help of therapy, but when it came to work, I hadn’t made any progress. My coach took care of me very well in this area. I really felt seen and heard and she motivated me without steering too much. She took all the time to get to know me. We translated my talents and work experience into concrete and practical steps in the here and now. The programme increased my confidence. I felt safe and was able to take steps that I actually found terrifying and secretly wanted to run away from.

Before starting the programme, I was afraid that I might be “pushed” towards work, but this was not the case at all. There was plenty of time to slowly take steps at my own pace. The starting point was: what do YOU need, what makes YOU happy? My coach constantly invited me to indicate my boundaries and when I did she gave me plenty of room for this.

I created a (new) vision of myself and how I want to relate to a new employer. The comment “Your employer should suit you just as well as the other way around” stimulated me to find a workplace that really suits me. The various personality and talent tests I took also offered me many new insights.

Quite spontaneously, I started applying during the process because I saw a very nice position in my old field as a housing counselor, and I was hired! With the help of my coach I was able to agree a secondment agreement between my then employer and the new employer. My coach has a lot of knowledge, including legal, and you notice how experienced she is with this.

The secondment contract has now expired and I have received an annual contract for 16 hours a week. Since I want to work 24 hours, I am applying for another job of 8 more hours. This application process is also going very well. I owe all this to the guidance from Dynamisch Bureau.

My advice to others? Take your time, it will take as long as it has to. I have been on the road for over 3 years in total to get to the place where I am now. Take yourself seriously, gather people around you who understand and support you. Accept that everything will change and try to be open to a new version of yourself. Dare to ask for support if you need it. And see if it is possible to follow a course at Dynamisch Bureau!

After being at home for over a year, my employer introduced me to Dynamisch Bureau for second track reintegration. I was very happy to get help in my situation and I immediately clicked with my coach. I had visited two other agencies, but the choice for Dynamisch Bureau was made quickly.

I found the personal guidance in the process and extras, such as the TMA Talent Analysis and taking professional photos, fantastic. I also managed to stay on the right course and make good decisions, helped by the tips and questions from the coach.

In the process, I contacted two organizations in consultation with my coach. With both I was able to gain work experience until the end of my employment: guiding students in robotics and guiding care pupils one-on-one. After my WIA application, I was also able to continue working for both as a self-employed.

It’s a good thing Dynamisch Bureau also carries out UWV programs. As a result, I was able to follow a program at Dynamisch Bureau, reimbursed by UWV, where I received guidance when working as a self-employed. It was very useful and I got a lot of confidence and support from my coach. Now I even have two companies!

As a self-employed person I supervise care students individually under the name Ledith, which stands for: “Learning with Edith”. I hereby focus on expat children. In addition, I am setting up a company in Gran Canaria for activities during the school holidays, Kids & Bricks . Besides playing with Lego, I offer all kinds of activities such as making stop motion videos, robotics and building and learning English. This can be done individually, as a group or as a summer camp. Speaking four languages ​​comes in handy here. Kids & Bricks is a great new adventure which makes me live and work in a wonderful climate, meet lots of nice new people and do what I stand for: making learning fun for children!

What else do I want to say to others in a similar situation? Know that when doors close, other doors open again. I promise. Never give up and work towards achieving your goal, step by step. Follow your heart and do work that you enjoy. Dynamisch Bureau can help you with that!

During the process I got a better view of my talents through talent cards and the extensive report of my talents and drives. The support in redesigning my resume and writing an objective has also helped me enormously. Thanks to all the insights and my personal development during the process, I took the step to start as a freelancer. After that I was also well guided in writing my business plan and creating my website.

The thing that helped me the most in the whole process is that I learned to accept myself as I am. I have adjusted my career to this. My advice to others? Find a good coach, who works on the basis of trust, openness, honesty and who stimulates and challenges you. It will make you stronger. Dynamisch Bureau has many coaches who can help you with this.

I became aware of my own role in my happiness at work and in life. I learned to feel what suits me and to choose it. In the end I resigned, even though I forfeited all my rights.

Both through networking and applying for a job, we managed to get me back to work in time. I now work part-time as a salaried office worker and as an independent website builder. I feel more free, happier and balanced. I can now enjoy the moments when I don’t have to work, although it takes time to get used to it and to learn to ‘get off the treadmill’.

My advice to others? If your work doesn’t feel right, stop as soon as possible! Don’t muddle through, wasting precious years. Live your dreams and do what feels right. Use your own unique talents as much as possible to make both the world and yourself richer.