A new country, a new start. But finding your place isn't easy. Huzeyfe Alptekin, a researcher of Turkish descent, explains how he took a roundabout route to find an organization and team where he can contribute and where he truly feels at home.
At 18, Huzeyfe left Turkey for Brazil, where he learned the language, studied social sciences, and gained experience in public policy research. After six years, political unrest forced him to rebuild his life, which ultimately led him to the Netherlands.
Upon arrival, Huzeyfe immediately wanted to contribute, but that didn't come easy. He worked hard on his language skills, expanded his network, and discovered the Refugee Talent Hub. Through the mentoring program at TwynstraGudde, he met his mentor, Hanne, who provided valuable insights and challenged him to broaden his perspective on his job search.
Dream job versus temporary job
Many newcomers have a clear vision of their dream job, says Huzeyfe: "When I arrived, I only thought about my dream job. That was the path; there was no other option in my mind." For him, that meant a position at a government department, where he believed he could make the greatest impact.
That all-or-nothing mentality initially held him back. His mentor, Hanne, encouraged him to consider temporary jobs. Initially skeptical—he envisioned practical roles that didn't align with his ambitions—Huzeyfe quickly saw the upside: he landed a temporary position as an analyst at ABN AMRO. This job offered him the chance to experience the Dutch workplace, build his confidence, improve his language skills, and maintain a flexible search for a long-term position.
Image: Huzeyfe shares his experience during the closing event of the mentoring program with TwynstraGudde.
Competencies versus 'checking boxes'
The temporary position gave him the peace and space to seriously approach his search. Ultimately, Huzeyfe submitted over 100 applications and had over 40 interviews. He noticed that they didn't always consider his true contribution: "Sometimes I felt like the diverse candidate they wanted to tick off, instead of truly considering my knowledge and experience."
He finally found the perfect fit at Labyrinth, a research and consultancy firm in Utrecht. There, he now has a job where he's making a difference: "Here, I'm truly valued for what I can do and the bridge I build between vulnerable groups and policy."
Based on his experiences, Huzeyfe shares tips for employers to better utilize the talent of newcomers:
- Look beyond the perfect picture : the experiences and skills of newcomers are often incredibly strong, even if they don't yet fully understand Dutch work culture. Take a candidate seriously. How can you make something that might not be an immediate fit, a good fit?
- Invest in the 'landing' : offer support and development opportunities so that candidates with a refugee background feel valued and integrate more quickly.
- Be substantive : ask questions about a candidate's competencies, not just their background.
The 101st job application
After more than 100 applications, Huzeyfe continued to learn, reflect, and persevere. His advice: build a network of supportive people—your own "cheerleaders." As he puts it: "This is my 101st application, celebrate. I'm going to keep going. And I'm not giving up."
Want to know more?
- Check out 5 tips from newcomers for work
- Read more experience stories