Human Resources
From client adviser to HR consultant
“I studied communication and information science in Nijmegen, but I always thought the financial world was much more interesting, so when I came across a vacancy for a finance traineeship through an employment agency I applied immediately. That traineeship included an assignment at ABN AMRO, which I enjoyed so much I ended up applying for a permanent position in 2017. My first two years were spent working as a client adviser, which involved providing advice on savings products, loans, insurance and so on. I learned a lot about ABN AMRO, our products and our relationship with clients, in that role. And for a while I combined my regular role as a client adviser with the roles of project coordinator and coach.”
Taster internship
“ABN AMRO gives you plenty of room to grow, but sometimes the sheer size of the organisation makes that daunting. That is why Smartjobs exist. They are a kind of taster internship that lasts for three to five months. An accessible way to gain experience at another department and form a clear picture of its activities. I had a Smartjob at HR, and afterwards I started working in that department as a content officer. I wrote the internal newsletters that contained important updates on HR matters, such as changes in policy.”
“In that role I missed being able to contribute to discussions about that policy, but that has changed completely since I became I a reward consultant. My colleagues and I are responsible for setting up the processes for the policy on employment benefits, salaries and wellbeing. We also contribute our ideas for new policies, which one of my colleagues defends during the collective labour agreement negotiations. We work closely with the payroll administration team and Contact HR. They receive and reply to most of the questions submitted by colleagues, but we step in when more expert knowledge is required, for example if a question relates to the rules governing allowances.”
Investing in personal development
“In my new role I suddenly had a lot more responsibility, and that took some getting used to. I had to learn how to deal with stakeholders and get everyone on board, so I followed the Personal Influence Programme, which I paid for out of my Personal Development Budget. During that programme I learned different techniques for bridging differences, among other things. What is more, I receive plenty of support from the product owner and the people manager in my team. I can also spar with them about my opportunities for development. I really appreciate that, because it is important to me that I continue to grow.”
Inside and outside the bank
“I gain a great deal of satisfaction from my work because it allows me to make a real impact. Around 23,500 internal employees are covered by the collective labour agreement and all of them rely on us to do a good job. At the same time, I want to be socially engaged as part of my work. That is why I always make use of the Banking for Better days, which you can spend doing voluntary work. I helped children with their reading for a while, and more recently I went with a group of children to a musical as part of an activity organised through Jeugdeducatiefonds (Youth Education Fund).”
Heading off to the sun
“ABN AMRO offers flexibility, and that is really important to me. I work 36 hours over four days but I can set my own schedule. I will be heading off soon to Valencia for a month, to work remotely from there. Now that hybrid working has become the norm, it is more important than ever that you continue to see your colleagues. My team, which consists of 11 people, has one fixed day in the office, on which we have stand-up meetings and always have lunch together. Of course, there is also plenty of time for socialising outside work. Within our team, but also at Young ABN AMRO. There is a Young ABN AMRO ski trip every year, and we recently had a golf clinic, which was a great way to get to know people from other departments.”