'The recruiter at Maandag® made me believe in myself again'

Dressed especially for the interview in our home colour green, Maureen starts smiling from ear to ear as she talks about ‘her’ Jessica (the Maandag® recruiter in question). ‘After a burnout, you go into a first interview lacking confidence,’ Maureen says, after several disappointments in her career. ‘But when someone really listens to you, and you feel like you are allowed to be yourself, a new world opens up to you.’ And does the situation change when the baton is passed? Definitely not. Now, Mike is there for Maureen every day.

Multiple disappointments

Before having that burnout, several years ago now, Maureen gained experience in various industries. She is, in her own words, ‘a person who really wants to do something with people.’ That is also reflected in her professional career.

‘I started out as a sales assistant in various shops,’ Maureen says, who stressed that she quite likes socialising. ‘I worked in the shoe department for a large retail chain. It makes me happy to hear people's stories and vice versa.’ Internally, there was an opportunity to advance to branch manager, but she didn't really come into her own there.

‘Then the nightmare began’

After a stint at a pharmacy, where her contract was not renewed due the company going bankrupt, Maureen ended up on unemployment benefits. ‘Well, that's when the nightmare began,’ she recounts visibly emotional. ‘There’s no way am I going to sit at home and hold out my hand,’ she thought.

‘Really something for me’

Once she overcame the blow, she decided to take action. Because that's how she is, Maureen believes. She registered with a temporary employment agency. Through a special work coach, she got in touch with the Municipality of Rotterdam. At the time, it was unfamiliar territory, but it appealed to her.

‘The municipality started a department where people could call if they had money problems, for example. 'Really something for me,' I thought. Working with and for people,’ she says with a smile on her face.

‘I can’t do this anymore’

As a switchboard operator in this department, Maureen began to enjoy working again. She likes going to the office, has nice contact with colleagues and enjoys being able to help people.

She worked so hard that she became too absorbed in her job and experienced a burnout. ‘I didn't dare say no to extra work. I took everything home and I couldn't find a good balance between work and personal life.’ Contact through the temporary employment agency was also difficult, which created additional uncertainty. ‘At one point, I was standing at the metro and I thought to myself, I can’t do this anymore.’ The burnout lasted a year. Her contract was not renewed, and she reapplied for unemployment benefits.

New energy found at Maandag®

Through a former colleague she knows from the municipality, she first heard about Maandag® a year later. She was initially reluctant to be seconded through Maandag®. ‘You just don't feel confident anymore. So, I put it off at first.’ That was until a recruiter suddenly approached her via LinkedIn. ‘Well, I'll tell you, it was a warm bath,’ says Maureen who suddenly starts beaming.

‘Self-confidence regained through contact with Maandag®’

The Rotterdam native speaks of an instant click between her and the ‘charming and young’ Jessica. ‘In the interview, I was allowed to be myself from the start. Jessica listened incredibly well to my situation, and she recognised that I have not always had it easy.’

Maureen found the confidence to return to work, once again for the Municipality of Rotterdam. Her official job title is now income consultant for youth credit-state pension. She works there on a project basis. And that does her good. ‘I feel very comfortable here. Most importantly, I have regained my self-confidence through contact with Maandag®,’ Maureen said.

‘Not where I want to be yet’

And with that self-confidence, the Rotterdam native dared to look further in her career. Indeed, Maandag®’s recruiter encouraged her to develop herself by doing something close to her heart. ‘I started doing an event manager course and completed it. I want to do with that in five years. But first, gain even more self-confidence through Maandag®, because I am not where I want to be yet,’ Maureen concludes.