The story of Sam Lansen, job coach

Job coach Sam Lansen (38) has been working at Werkse! To do this, he had to abandon his commercial career. He doesn't regret it for a moment. "Since I started working here, I've been at my best and I work from my authenticity. In the evening, my battery is still 90 percent full."

I used to operate from the mindset that you have to build a career and climb the ranks. But I didn't think enough about what I truly wanted. In my last logistics job, I ran into this problem. I had to ensure everything ran smoothly, but that meant doing things that didn't align with my values. Saying "no" when I'd rather say "yes." That became increasingly difficult. A psychological test showed that I was more of a collaborative and empathetic individual and belonged more in the social sector.

'Just around that time I read about a speed meet of Werkse!They were looking for candidates for the position of job coach. What I found on the internet about Werkse! I liked it, and my participation in the speed meet made it clear that this was my place. Because I had no relevant education or experience, I assumed I wouldn't be selected anyway.

But things turned out differently. Based on the profile I sketched out for myself and the cases I had to develop and present, I was hired, to my surprise and delight. And so, in April 2022, I started working as a job coach. Within six months, I completed my higher professional education (HBO) job coaching qualification and took one internal course after another. At the same time, I took the plunge and built up a caseload, always being able to rely on a colleague with questions and problems. That was great!

Since I started working here, I've found my strength and I work from my authenticity. In the commercial sector, I always had to be on my toes. Here, I work with my core qualities, which has significantly improved my quality of life. It actually energizes me instead of draining me. In the evening, my battery is still 90 percent full. And people are happy with who I am and what I do. This work also forces me to reflect more on myself: what prejudices and preconceptions do I harbor, what can I still work on within myself? That's how I grow myself!

'Bee Werkse! you enjoy a high degree of freedom. A good example is that of a man who Werkse! was seconded to an external company. The company terminated his employment. Normally, such a person would then be assigned to one of our work-study companies. However, this man absolutely refused. I felt that if he were forced to call in sick, we would be even further away from home. Colleagues advised using force, but I chose to give the man the freedom to stay home. I was able to arrange this with the client, who was willing to continue paying for two months.

I had some tough conversations with the man, challenging him to express what he wanted instead of shouting out what he didn't. That way, I put him first as a client, and it worked. We eventually found him a job as a work planner in home care, and now he's happy with his work. My counterintuitive—and risky—approach has worked well, and I'm proud of that. Werkse! gave me the space for it.'

What I love about this work is that I bring movement to the lives of people who are stuck. That I can help break the patterns that hinder their quality of life. It's wonderful to be part of such a process. I'm so grateful for that!