Looking for work, another job or a new challenge? Then you could go to the Euroborg on Thursday, at the work and development event StartFest. An impression.
It smells like bratwurst at the entrance to the stadium. There is a line of people waiting for coffee, a sausage sandwich or a vegan burger in front of the double-decker Food Truck Buster. Looking for education or work makes you hungry. Lisette Verhoog (31) and Lotte van der Laan (21) from Groningen are sitting behind their coffee cups talking about the event they have just attended: StartFest, the largest work and development festival in the Northern Netherlands.
Mirror, mirror
They are waved in by three cheerleader ladies dressed in green. The message is clear: whoever enters here is a hero, ready for a bright new horizon, encouraged by a tasteful slogan on a large sign: ‘mirror, mirror here on the street, which talents are worth developing?’
Lisette and Lotte wanted to know what would be for sale for them at the job market. Lotte has not yet found it, and is somewhat more limited in her choice due to physical discomfort. But Lisette is certainly not disappointed: “I did a higher professional education in communications, but I find the work too commercial. Nothing for me. I’m thinking of a job in healthcare, through a work-study program.”
That is beautiful. Because there is a serious shortage of staff there. “But yes,” she says thoughtfully. “I also wonder: why is there such a lack of staff? Why don’t people want to work there? I also see that there is a lot of stress in that work area. That’s what could still hold me back. I’ll make the decision in a few weeks.”
Lazer shooting
At the entrance door, percussionist Kaan Taprak starts a passionate roll, as a prelude to an exciting act. There is live music inside, there are workshops, you can shoot lasers at the Defense Department, and down on the football field the FC offers an overview of what ‘social activation’ can do on the sidelines and a chance to surreptitiously stroke the turf. Looking for employment has never been so festive.
At StartFest everything revolves around the development of people who are longing for work, education or change. The joint municipalities, united in Werk in Zicht, the UWV and social development companies in the labor market region of Groningen and North Drenthe signed up for the organization of this free event. More Starftests are planned this year, in Scheemda for example, in Assen and Appingedam.
‘We definitely need people’
The great diversity is remarkable. There are young people who would rather register for the Defense ‘year of service’ today rather than tomorrow. “We absolutely need people,” says recruiter Brenda Verboekend (39), first class guard at the Royal Military Police. “We received quite a few registrations via the website today. But we won’t be able to honor everything. People must be fit, for example, and have Dutch nationality.”
But there are also older festival goers. Further on, a 49-year-old Stadjer hesitantly picks up a brochure of the abbreviated training course to become a teacher, which can be followed at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. He works as a technical teaching assistant and teaches young people how to use 3D printers, but he finds the job ‘too boring.’ He would like to become a furniture maker, but cannot find a suitable education in the North. “And I don’t think I have enough patience for healthcare. ”He has just taken a career choice test, but he still wants to do it again. “What came out? Technical teaching assistant. But I already am.”
Create enthusiasm for the Action
At the Action stand, district leader Lennard Hovingh (51) from Zuidlaarderveen gives a goodie bag to a candidate. “Thank you,” says the boy. “The worst of the staff shortage is over,” says Hovingh. “But the nice thing about a fair like this is that you can make people enthusiastic. We also want to show how nice the Action is, store and staff. We do receive registrations from newcomers who see this as an opportunity to develop their language. ”’
Outside, the green ladies wave goodbye to the visitors again. Nice work, they shout, waving. But a bit cold, occasionally. Just wave hard.
Lisette and Lotte were certainly inspired. “I would have liked to join the army,” says Lisette. “If I were younger? Well.” Lotte, dreamily: ‘I would like to become a plasterer. But yeah.”