Looking for a great place to work in the Netherlands? Originating from London, I have travelled abroad quite extensively and worked for various companies in International settings before settling down in the Netherlands. Having worked for a time at an Israeli company in India, I appreciate the power of difference. I would love to see more international colleagues at Solvinity, as based on my experience I am convinced that they will add great value by bringing a different approach and way of thinking, due to an alternative mix of individual skills, experience, education and culture.
The power of difference
I have brought my own particular expertise and qualifications to my position as Security and Compliance Officer at Solvinity, but it is more than a sum of experience and certifications. Different cultures, different points of view, different ideas, all help to shake up the status quo. New ways and approaches disrupt – in a good way – how Solvinity is working. They complement and improve the overall skillset.
Our engineers are very good at their jobs, but at the same time, they are very similar in terms of age and background. This was especially true for Security & Compliance – a new team member with different background and ways of looking at things helped us to work around some negative habits and preconceptions that otherwise would have continued.
Fortunately, at Solvinity, a critical mindset is appreciated. Everyone who has been working in the Netherlands for a while is probably familiar with the apparent flat hierarchy, the ‘polder model’, where everyone is given an opportunity to have their say. The casual attitude of the Dutch could easily fool you into thinking they do not take their work very seriously – but that would be a mistake. I love the casual attitude – I certainly would not want to go back to having to wear a suit and a tie every day – but underneath all that lies a serious work ethic.
At Solvinity, there is an implied personal responsibility, which translates on the one hand into a lot of freedom to plan your work, with freedom on when you work depending on your team’s responsibilities. But on the other hand it comes with the expectation that you will return that favour by putting in the extra hours with the team in case your customer needs you. You will have a lot of autonomy, with an emphasis first on delivery instead of hours, and you will be expected to give your opinion on the work that you are involved in. Even though you can and will be overruled sometimes, your input is appreciated, because it shows creativity and commitment.
People at Solvinity care about your work and what you can deliver, and much less about what you look like or where you come from. This also translates in attention for your personal wellbeing, for instance by providing a ‘vitality budget’ for you to spend on any sports activity or equipment that relates directly to improving your health. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Dutch tutor for some international employees visiting the office on a regular schedule. Although I have become proficient in Dutch, my accent lets me down. As I have worked for Solvinity for almost 2 years, I will be using my Personal Development Budget I am now entitled to, for a personal Dutch tutor to raise my proficiency to a level where I can speak with confidence in business meetings.
There are many reasons to work at Solvinity. You will be exposed to an environment that is changing and embracing new technology. We have great projects running with large and challenging customers, as well as internal projects to standardise and streamline processes so engineers can focus on adding value to customers and not performing routine tasks. If you are looking for a great opportunity to use and expand your skills in a place where its value is needed and appreciated, whatever your background may be, please look no further. Just check out the vacancies and give us a call. We are looking forward to hear from you!
Paul Cattermole is Security and Compliance Officer at Solvinity
