Our partner Equans recently wrote an article about Salem. Salem fled Yemen and ended up in Saudi Arabia to study. About three and a half years ago, his path led him to the Netherlands, where he has been working with Equans since July 2024. "It's great that I can really put my professional knowledge into practice here."

Learn Dutch first

 "I earned my Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in Saudi Arabia," Salem begins proudly. Once in the Netherlands, he felt it was important to learn the language first. "I did have a job back then, but as an application manager. Still, I wanted to return to my field." He contacted Refugee Talent Hub, an organization that connects refugees with employers, for a training course. "That training ultimately didn't happen, but Refugee Talent Hub subsequently shared my resume with several companies." Equans was one of them, and an initial interview soon followed.

 Good impression

 "That went well, and I was invited for a second interview, where we focused more on the technical side." After Salem successfully passed that interview, he was hired as a junior engineer. "I've been involved in a major project from day one," he says enthusiastically. "It's about Battery Energy Storage Systems. It's great to be able to use my experience there." The first few months were quite difficult, he admits. "I hadn't been familiar with the subject matter for several years, and Dutch was difficult at first, especially because the technical terminology is different from English. Fortunately, I had a lot of support from my colleagues." Salem is therefore very happy with his job. "Many people in my position find it difficult to find work in their field. When I came here, I first learned the language and immersed myself in the culture. That helps; it makes a good impression on employers."

 Dreams

 What does Salem especially appreciate about his work? "The collaboration and the fact that Equans trusts me and my work. I'm getting more and more tasks and responsibilities; that's really great." How does he see the future? "My technical knowledge and language have really improved, but I still have plenty to learn. I'd like to gain more experience in medium-voltage. And, if I can truly dream, one day become a senior engineer. I don't know how many years that will take. That's also a dream," he laughs.

This article is from Equans. Want to read the full story? Click here .

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