Jennie de Vreede

What was the hardest part of starting working?

Undisputed no 1 on the chart: the iron rhythm you have to adjust to. Before, being a student, you lived from one day to the next, now I have to plan everything ahead. The weekends have become really important to me. I sometimes get jealous of my student boyfriend, who gets to sleep in and do fun things whenever he likes.

Where have you been working the past two years?

I have worked in two different municipalities, at a health care institution, and with the Chamber of Commerce. At every occasion, I have worked on management assignments, including improving the internal organisation and examining a department’s efficiency and effectiveness. Very enjoyable and challenging projects, in which I had contact with all sorts of people within the organisation!

The government: stuffy and bureaucratic?

No, the government can be fun! You work on cases, which as a citizen you deal with on a daily basis. In politics, you will have to tackle matters that suddenly pop up and need attention right away. The disadvantage is that sometimes certain procedures take a very long time. And yes, some colleagues seem to be part of the furniture, but then again, they often are the experts with great knowledge.

What was your biggest frustration or off-moment?

After studying for eight years, and with two Master’s degrees in my pocket, I started my first working day with fresh courage. During the introduction round, someone said: “Aren’t you here for a short internship?” And my star-like airs vanished on the spot! Being a starter, you will have to prove yourself first.

Do you have a golden tip-off for starters?

Try to learn as much as you can, about what your future job would entail. Very often, you have a picture in your head, but in practice this could turn out to be very different. This part is difficult to learn while you are sitting in a classroom. So set off and talk to people to discover which job will suit you best.