‘It’s all about the people you meet’

For Christian Dulma (30), stability and opportunities for growth are key. And he found exactly that when he found a job as a shipping clerk through AB Werkt. ‘I was given the opportunity to prove myself even though I had no experience,’ he says. ‘For me, that worked out perfectly!’ Christian worked in Romania as a crane operator. Through AB Werkt, he started working as a shipping clerk. At VLL Vers Logistiek Limburg in Nuth. The company processes high-quality meats from specialist butchers into sliced products. This meant having to learn a lot of new skills. For example, he obtained his forklift certificate. But it did not stop there. ‘AB Werkt and VLL have given me the perfect conditions to progress in my career,’ says Christian. ‘For a young person just starting out, that’s important, because most employers ask for experience. Here I was given the time and know-how to develop myself. Now I have a lot of responsibilities within my department of the company.’

Finally found what he was looking for

When Christian came to the Netherlands in 2019, he first worked for several other companies and temporary employment agencies. That did not go as he had hoped. ‘I wanted to find stable employment,’ he says. ‘I didn’t want to work somewhere for a few weeks or months, but really be able to build something. That’s what I came to the Netherlands for. I want to build a life here, together with my wife and my mother. I didn’t get the chance to do that at these other companies.’ When he was able to join VLL through AB Werkt, he had finally found what he was looking for.

Stability

‘It fits me like a glove!’ says Christian. ‘I can keep working throughout the year. That stability is important to me. There are also companies where they start in April and there is no more work by November. Then you have to look for something else. And be trained again.’ Moreover, Christian is very happy with the contact with the company. ‘They are tremendously open people,’ he says. ‘They really care about your experience. How you find the job, what it’s like in the workplace and how you are doing. I’m not used to that. As a temporary worker, and coming from another country, I didn’t expect to find a place where I had so many opportunities to grow quickly.’

The big dream

Christian lives with his wife and mother in a home owned by AB Werkt. In the centre of Valkenburg, but at the same time close to nature. ‘I have only good things to say about the home we were given,’ he says. ‘Everything is nearby and we have our own place, with enough privacy. Only the kitchen is shared. I give it five stars!’ he says with a laugh. ‘No matter how often I visit Valkenburg, every day there is something new to see. And at the same time, it is so peaceful. Have you ever been to the woods around the city? You really should do that sometime…’ Christian’s big dream is to buy a house there. ‘AB Werkt has provided me with all the documents I need to buy a house. Now I am talking with a bank to see how we can make this dream a reality. It’s probably not going to happen anytime soon, but it’s great that it’s possible. I’ve been very lucky with the people I’ve met.’

It’s all about the people

According to Christian, the impact of your relationships with others is underestimated. ‘It’s all about the people you meet,’ he says. ‘And how you then build a relationship with them. All the experiences I’ve had in the Netherlands have taught me that 90 percent of your success has to do with the people you have around you.’