Kickstart to work - Municipality of Deventer
Better prospects in the labor market
Kickstart to work
The project started in Deventer in September 2018 with students from diverse educational backgrounds. The focus was on preparing to approach the labor market.
The kickstart to work course aims to prepare participants for the labor market. As a reintegration advisor and career coach with an educational background, Nelie van der Velde has always been interested in the target group of status holders and non-native speakers. In 2017, she worked as a language coach on a project with status holders in a catering business. "That's where I also became personally involved with this group." When the request came from TopTaal in February 2018 to set up a project in the municipality of Deventer, she didn't hesitate for a moment. This marked the start of the 'Kickstart to work' project.
The combination of language and work increases the chance of success
Nelie discovered that within TopTaal, there are many motivated students who put a lot of effort into learning the Dutch language. However, taking steps toward work is a major hurdle for many non-native speakers in practice. Language education alone proves to be insufficient. "Together, we started working on creating a link between language education and support in approaching the Dutch labor market."
The project started in September 2018 with six students from very diverse educational backgrounds. The focus was on preparing to approach the labor market. "For example, the students identified their qualities, skills, and career values; a CV, a cover letter, and a LinkedIn profile were created; and people presented themselves through a pitch," Nelie says.
After this first, more preparatory part, there was plenty of attention for the practical side, such as expanding the social network and practicing job and networking interviews. There was an active search for work experience placements, volunteer work, and paid employment.
Success
During the course, it became clear that many non-native speakers feel hindered by the idea that they do not master the language sufficiently and that this must be improved first before the step toward the labor market can be taken. "Whereas," Nelie believes, "it is precisely the combination of language and work that increases the chance of success." Nelie proudly shares that, besides the fact that three students found a job during the process, the awareness that DOING and taking control is the most important result of the course.
"TopTaal is a wonderful organization that consistently seeks the combination between language and the labor market. A great approach to give non-native speakers more opportunities to participate in our society. I have contributed to this with great pleasure."