A farewell message by Adelina Potrymay 

After 4 amazing years at JobOn, it is time for Adelina to say goodbye. During her time at the organization, she experienced personal and professional growth, met inspiring people, and learned valuable lessons along the way. In this blog, she shares the four biggest takeaways from her journey — insights she hopes will inspire and support you in taking the next steps in your own career.

1. You are capable of more than you think

And you will never know what you can do until you TRY.

If someone had told me 4 years ago that I:

• would speak Dutch on the phone without having a panic attack,
• would be filmed for a piece for Hart van Nederland,
• would give trainings myself,
• would lead webinars in a professional studio,
• and would mentor hundreds of talented people who had already achieved more in their careers than me,

…I would probably never have believed it.

When you try new things, maybe the first time will not be perfect. But the more you do it, the better it gets. This is also why I loved the Talent Program so much, my most favourite project at JobOn, because it gives you the space to take those steps and discover something about yourself: that you are capable of more than you thought. And then this knowledge about yourself starts spreading into other areas of life as well!

2. Learn the “Dutch way.”

If you have ever worked in a Dutch team, you know it is a whole experience on its own. You learn to express your opinion, to be direct, to ask questions, to take initiative, and still work as a team. Learning that it is okay not to work evenings and weekends (aka work-life balance).

I really had to adjust myself to the Dutch way of working. Was it tough? Absolutely. And honestly, I cannot even say I am fully there yet. However, these are incredibly valuable skills to learn and I am forever grateful for this experience.

3. Stay open and say yes to opportunities

How many times have you not done something because you were scared or felt uncomfortable? Me - quite often. But the more you do things that scare you, the more opportunities open up. Over the last years, I developed a new rule for myself: follow the fear. I tried to do it as much as possible. Just saying ”yes”, like Jim Carrey.

At the same time, fully accepting the possibility that I might fail. But at least I would learn something, so it would still be worth it! Sometimes it helps to see life as a game. A new job as the next level in the game, where your character goes through a personal growth journey. Trust me, it all becomes much more fun and easier.

4. Remember that you have your own unique skills, and there is a place out there that needs you

After observing thousands of job seekers over the last years, I learned that eventually you will find a place that is right for you. It all starts with recognising your talents and value. The rest is just the mechanics of it (adjusting your CV, networking etc). And guess what, JobOn is a great place to guide you through all those steps.

If you are currently stuck in a place that does not fit you, it is not forever! You have something the world needs! Maybe your experience needs to be adjusted to the local market, maybe it is about finding the right people, but you’ve got this!

Thank you!

I wish you lots of success at your career and life journey! And thank you everyone who I met at JobOn - you made my own journey unforgettable.

From all of us at JobOn: thank you, Adelina. Your energy, courage, warmth and dedication have made a lasting impact on our team, our community, and the many job seekers you supported over the years. We wish you all the happiness and success in the world!