April 29th 2026
My work revolves around people.
Colleague Sabine de Frémery's work revolves around people. Talented people. From a CEO with Dutch roots to a lawyer from Turkey. And from recruiter to candidate. In her blog, Sabine offers a glimpse into her work and conversations. And she talks about her 'next level'.
As a Senior Partnership Manager, I connect our corporate partners with professionals with a refugee background. Suitable jobs for people with talent, ambition, and an unparalleled drive. Employers who value a diverse workforce – to facilitate better decision-making and to align with society. Organizations that value employees feeling at home and are willing to truly explore what is needed for that. This leads to wonderful conversations, encounters, and inspiring examples.
I think of that recruiter who takes just a little more time to ask probing questions and thus uncovers the underlying drive of a lawyer from Turkey – who is choosing a future in IT in the Netherlands. Looking beyond the CV, in other words.
Or take the manager who, during her search for a junior analyst, comes into contact with a compliance professional over 50. She is so impressed by his knowledge and experience that she starts looking for a suitable position within her organization; simply because she feels in every fiber of her being that this knowledge and experience will be of so much added value to the organization.
In short: my work revolves around people. And around looking at talent differently.
Mentors who thank their own organization for the opportunity to serve as a mentor to a professional with a refugee background. Because the mentorship not only helps their mentees find their way in the Dutch labor market, but because it also enriches them personally. As people and as professionals.
A CEO introducing themselves at a mentoring program, thereby showing candidates what we mean by 'hierarchy works differently in the Netherlands'.
And yet, there is also reluctance at many companies in the Netherlands; people see obstacles where there are none. They find it daunting to work with newcomers. They are willing, but don't know how.
How?
Of course, there are many roads that lead to Rome. At Refugee Talent Hub, we always engage in a dialogue with an organization and the question behind the question… and then look together for the appropriate answer to 'How?'.
On our knowledge base – available to everyone – we share a wealth of insights and knowledge gained over the past ten years. So that you can do it all yourself. Whether you are a corporate company or an SME, whether you have been around for a century or are a start-up.
In addition, we acquired the job board RefugeeWork in 2024. We are convinced that this is a good tool for quick, direct, and accessible contact between employers and newcomers. For when you simply want to fill vacancies and already know how to smoothly onboard new colleagues.
And with our partners, we organize, for example, mentoring programs, knowledge sessions, speed dating, training classes, and more. It works slightly differently at every organization. So, it's all about customization.
With that combination – of knowledge sharing, a job board, and customization – we at Refugee Talent Hub hope to make the step smaller for all employers in the Netherlands. The step towards the labor market of tomorrow. That is *our* next level. After all, working with talent should be accessible and feasible for all employers, shouldn't it?
My dream: the power of one
Recently, I heard about 'the power of one' in a different context. The impact you can make by changing a number of things in your organization by just one percent. In my mind, this translated into: 'what if all employers in the Netherlands hired one newcomer?' Wouldn't we then very easily take a huge step together? Wouldn't we instantly make working with newcomers a topic for all of us? Something we actually just *do*? To me, that is 'next level'. A step small enough to truly take ownership without feeling overwhelmed… and at the same time big enough to make a real impact together.
A movement of employers who see and recognize the talent of professionals with a refugee background and know how to utilize it in their organizations.
I would like to be a part of this. Would you?