Making a career switch, from commercial to social worker! This describes the success story of Mülayim Kartay, 58 years old from Purmerend. With the help of Career Coach Nathalie Bourne of ZW Werkt Door he made a career switch. Mülayim now works as a Senior Youth Debt Counselor at Buurtteam Amsterdam Nieuw-West.
How did you end up at ZW Werkt Door?
Mülayim: “That was back in the days of Teams, because Corona was still very much in play then. The employer where I worked at the time for ten years, Media Markt in Zaandam, unfortunately stopped. I was working here as a Business Analyst. I then asked myself several questions. What am I going to do next? Continue in commerce or do things I really like? I already knew what I wanted, because I was already doing the work voluntarily, almost eight years, namely as a Consultant and Coordinator Home Administration at Humanitas and now Head Coordinator Home Administration Purmerend Waterland. The main question was just: how can I get paid to work as a debt relief worker?”
Nathalie: “At the beginning of October 2021, I received Mülayim through a fellow pathway advisor at the FNV. At that time, ZW Werkt Door was still in its infancy and he was one of the first candidates I was allowed to accompany.”
What has ZW Werkt Door done for you?
Mülayim: “In addition to coaching sessions, I attended several workshops and a post HBO course on Debt Assistance. This was all reimbursed by ZW Werkt Door. After about seven months, I had already obtained my diploma. The great thing was that just before starting my training, I was offered a paid job at SEZO. They believed in me and offered me a place even before I finished the training.”
Nathalie: “The focus was on guiding Mulayim to a sustainable paid job in what he was already doing as a volunteer. We deployed various tools to make this happen. Besides the group workshops, I coached him 1-on-1 in fine-tuning his CV, writing a catchy cover letter, preparing for networking interviews and strengthening his (online) network in debt relief.”
Have you made a switch to another sector and if so, how did you get there?
Mülayim: “Yes partly yes, because I went from being a buyer to an aid worker. A totally different line of work. On the other hand also not, because of the function of consultant and Coordinator Home Administration at Humanitas, the voluntary work where I had a big role. Here I already helped people organize their administration and deal with their debts. At Buurtteam Amsterdam Nieuw-West, I help young people up to age 26 who have fallen into debt due to multiple problems. So an organic step!”
What did you think of the collaboration?
Nathalie: “Mülayim is incredibly driven! In his mind he was already there. He was very eager to move forward, haha. Because his last paid work experience did not directly connect to the position of debt relief worker, it required more creativity to look and think outside the box. A fun challenge! We looked at where the opportunities lay to use previous experience, such as cases from his volunteer position in home administration, to make the connection to debt assistance.
In addition, it is important for ZW Werkt Door to help someone stay in work permanently. By completing the post HBO course in Debt Relief, Mülayim has significantly increased his chances and opportunities as a debt relief worker. Nice that we both really wanted to go for it to make the most of his opportunities.”
Would you recommend ZW Werkt Door to other job seekers or employed people and why?
Mülayim: “Yes, if you are a layman in making a career switch or in terms of applying for a job. ZW Werkt Door offers several opportunities to make quicker steps. Such as a from work to work career path, workshops for creating a CV and cover letter, contacts with potential employers or training advice. However, it is important as a job seeker that you really feel like it, otherwise it won’t work. You both have to be motivated. By the way, the most I got out of the cover letter and how best to write it.”