Experiences

After a few conversations he could already point out those strong qualities and helped me see that I now had real tools to move forward. That gave me my confidence back and the courage to dream again. For years I had convinced myself I could not do a technical job or training: I only had a secondary diploma in economics and society.

Bas turned that into something positive and showed me that my social side is actually a strength if I want to work in a technical field, because that quality is often missing there. And you can always start a new program, regardless of your age.

From that perspective I was able to take a beautiful new step - first to a job I would never have dared to apply for (working as a furniture maker building wooden playgrounds) and for the future the intention to earn my pre-university diploma and study meteorology, something I dreamed of as a boy and now, as a grown man, I am truly pursuing thanks to Bas's guidance.

What helped me most in this process is that nothing gets pre-chewed. Everything you need is already inside you. What Bas did, by asking the right questions and probing when I got stuck, was make those qualities and skills visible to me in a way I could actually trust.

It was really nice to have someone think along with me. From the start there was room for feeling, but also for the practical side. That made me feel truly heard by Bas, and I still left each meeting with things to work on. I did not just learn more about what I am looking for in my work, but also more about myself. Conversations with room for feeling, but also very much for: which direction do I want to go?

The trajectory gave me more awareness. What gives me energy? What drains my energy? It gave me more clarity about where I am in my life now, what I find important in a job, and which direction I would like to go.

At the intake, I mainly wanted to see whether there was a click. There definitely was. Like me, Bas has a technical background, and he has already made a change in direction in his own career. On top of that, he’s in the same stage of life as I am. That means he can draw on his own experience and really sense what I’m struggling with. I wonder whether a younger coach could do that as well.

Because of COVID, the entire trajectory was online. But that works just fine — also because Bas doesn’t sit right up against his screen, but a bit further back, so you can see his body language too. Leaning back when the conversation is relaxed, leaning forward when he asks a more searching question. I liked that a lot. It feels like a normal conversation, just from your own home.

Bas made me think about what I actually want. It became clear that I no longer wanted to work at a large company — I wanted to be able to act more freely. Knowing what you want immediately gives you energy, I noticed after a few sessions.

In the last session we would have talked about applying for jobs, but that session never happened. A huge opportunity came along: it was announced that my business unit would be taken over by an SME, and I was offered a position on the management team. Exactly what I wanted.

I look back on the trajectory with satisfaction. One thing I really appreciated about Bas’s approach is that at the start of a session, he summarises what has been done so far. I noticed he prepared that very well, and it shows genuine interest. Above all, I felt truly understood.

I’m wary of coaches who focus only on self-reflection. Bas has been through a lot himself and learned from it, and perhaps because of that he has a pragmatic approach: not just talking, but also methods that actually help you move forward.

My question for Bas had two parts. One: how do I get started in my dream job at a specific organisation I’d always wanted to work for — an organisation focused on transitions and transition science? And two: if that doesn’t work out, what else might be interesting for me?

We decided to do four sessions. I noticed Bas takes a very structured approach. For the first session I had to write out five success stories on half a page. That was fun; it gave me confidence and a clearer sense of what I wanted.

Meanwhile, I had started working my network. Together with Bas I improved my CV. I felt I was gaining more grip on what I wanted, and the networking conversations also gave me a better picture of what kinds of jobs are out there.

In one of those networking conversations I heard that someone was going to leave the organisation I wanted to work for. I quickly wrote a motivation letter, but it was far too long. Bas made time that very same day to look at it. He was critical and a lot had to go, but the letter became much better.

The day I sent my application, I immediately got an invitation for a Zoom conversation that same afternoon. There was no time left to practise the interview with Bas. But thanks to writing down the success stories, I knew what I could refer to and I felt confident. The interview went very well, and two days later I had my dream job.

Above all, Bas’s openness and willingness to help worked very well for me. It meant I committed to the trajectory. He knew exactly what he was doing, and that meant I was well prepared on the day that mattered.

I had very pleasant conversations with Bas. The first sessions were at his office, but after the COVID pandemic started, we switched to online sessions. For me it was important that the first session was in person, because I wanted to know whether there was a click. There was: I quickly felt trust and noticed that Bas understands me.

With Bas I went through a “course research” process. I was very caught up in the conflict with my colleague. But in our conversations, Bas kept the focus mainly on my career. That gave perspective, which made the conflict feel less important. What do I want from a job? What suits me?

I got assignments to name things that had been important to me in different periods of my life. Finding out what kind of job you actually want is really like collecting puzzle pieces. As more pieces fall into place, the picture of your ideal job becomes clearer.

While the trajectory was still ongoing, I was offered a job. But after talking with Bas, I turned it down. That was difficult, but it was the right thing. Because not long after, I saw a vacancy and immediately knew: this is the job I’ve always wanted!

Bas helped me prepare for the job interview. He emphasised that I shouldn’t be afraid to show myself, and that worked. I now have a job in plant breeding — an old dream. It’s wonderful to do something for society and to really mean something for farmers. I’m incredibly happy with the job.

For me, what mattered is that I could trust Bas: it’s truly about me, and he truly wants to help me. He didn’t steer me — I really did it myself.