Interested in an opportunity with Control Talent? Read about Ryan's experience with us.
Introduce yourself. Who are you, and what do you do for Control Talent?
I'm Ryan. I lived in Centurion, South Africa, and work as a mechanical design engineer in the mining and mineral processing industries. I'm married to Keilah, and through Control Talent, I work as a systems engineer.
Why did you become a mechanical engineer?
I was already working as a design engineer, which is what I always wanted to do. Since I was a child, I knew I wanted to study mechanical engineering because I was naturally interested in all things mechanical. My strength in mathematics has also been a big help in my career. This passion didn’t come from my parents or friends; it mainly came from watching television, especially shows like How Things Are Made on Discovery Channel, which excited me about engineering. I also enjoyed watching videos on YouTube about the latest mechanical advancements. Since I was young, I dreamed of working on a Formula 1 car.
Favorite dish in the Netherlands?
Fries with mayonnaise, bitterballen, stroopwafels (especially from the market), and kaas soufflé.
Strangest characteristic of the Dutch?
A lot of people think the Dutch are direct, and they are, but it’s not in an unfriendly or rude way. I think that’s a misconception people have. I like that the Dutch don’t tell you things that aren’t true—they won’t lie to your face. You usually know where you stand, which is different from South Africa. I also think The houses here are also very different and strange, like how narrow the staircases are.
What was the first Dutch word you remembered well?
"Fijne dag" ("Have a nice day") at the airport, and I still use it, along with "dankjewel" ("thank you"). I’ve also picked up all the basics. A funny word in Dutch is "knuffel" (hug); in South Africa, we say "hug" or "drukkie."
Biggest lesson learned so far?
Life is short. If you want to do something or try something, go for it. You don’t know when you’ll get another chance like that. Life is short, and I enjoy living in the moment. By experiencing things here and traveling, we’ve been to so many places, it gives you a better perspective. If you love something, go after it.
Have you been to the Netherlands before making the move?
No, we hadn’t been to the Netherlands before, and we didn’t know anything about it. Only after signing the contract with Control Talent and doing some online research did we start learning a bit about the Netherlands. It was our first time coming here, moving straight away. We hadn’t heard anything from friends about the Netherlands either, and we didn’t know anyone who lived here already. We did know people who moved to work in other countries, but no one specifically to the Netherlands. It was a blind move.
So why did you actually choose to work abroad?
It had been a goal for me and my wife, Keilah, for a long time. We considered several options like the UK, Ireland, and even briefly looked at the Netherlands, but we didn’t know how easy it would be to relocate there. Then we suddenly got the great opportunity to come to the Netherlands, and our plan to work abroad became possible thanks to the invitation from Control Talent. Aside from moving, we also wanted to explore other places in the world.
How did you obtain information about working abroad?
We didn’t know anyone working in the Netherlands to ask questions. We mainly did our own research, especially about work culture, what the country is like, and places to visit in the Netherlands. We could also ask Control Talent specific questions, and they were always helpful. One of the first things I learned about was the weather. It was overwhelming to navigate this and to figure out how best to prepare.
When you Google the Netherlands, beautiful pictures pop up, and we were also impressed that it’s located so close to other European countries like Germany, Belgium, and France, making travel easy. That’s usually not the case in South Africa. To get accurate information, it’s sometimes hard to know what questions to ask to get a clear view of the Netherlands. Having Control Talent for specific questions helped, and you also learn a lot about the Netherlands by experiencing things firsthand. It was nice to get the basics, like which travel apps to use, but it’s also rewarding to figure things out yourself, which is great for your growth.
What did you use to find jobs abroad?
I mostly used LinkedIn. I wasn’t actively looking for a new job, but I was open to working abroad. Before moving to the Netherlands with my wife, I applied to jobs outside South Africa, but none worked out. The Netherlands was the first country that contacted me about relocating for work.
How do you see the process of working abroad?
The process is faster in the Netherlands compared to other countries, which makes it pleasant. With Control Talent, the process was straightforward, especially compared to stories I’ve heard from others who came here with different companies. Control Talent made everything as easy as possible, both from a distance when we were still in South Africa and later when we arrived at our location/home in the Netherlands.
What impact did working abroad have on your life?
From a work perspective, as a highly skilled migrant, I have a workplace where I work with people of other nationalities with various skills I can learn from. I’ve grown professionally because of this diverse mix in the Netherlands. I also have a different view on South African work culture. I don’t think I could go back to the work culture in South Africa.
I don’t want to work in an overstressed or unhealthy environment; I want to enjoy what I do. Working overtime or with little time can negatively impact how you feel about both your job and yourself. I feel that my relationship with work is more relaxed, with less stress, despite deadlines. It’s beneficial to be calmer in the workplace, allowing you to work more focused rather than being overtaken by stress or anxiety. You can complete your work more efficiently this way.
What have been the biggest challenges so far in integrating into the Netherlands?
I think the biggest challenge was packing up and selling everything we owned. I can imagine Moving with lots of belongings or children is even harder. The process itself is manageable, but emotionally, it’s difficult to sell all your treasured belongings and leave everyone behind, including friends and family. Moving into a rental home you’ve only seen in photos and videos, in a completely new country and city, where they speak a different language, is daunting until you settle. Ultimately, it does get easier. Having my wife come along helped, so it wasn’t a lonely experience.
Did you encounter any surprises while working abroad?
Some engineering processes in the Netherlands are entirely different from those in South Africa. Learning the Dutch processes again was challenging. You expect it to work a certain way because that’s how it was in South Africa, but then you find it’s done differently here.
What are the pros of working in the Netherlands?
If you look back now at where you are, would you still choose to work abroad?
Yes, definitely. I’m very happy with the decision to move to the Netherlands. I have no regrets about coming here with my wife.
What is the biggest difference between the Netherlands and South Africa?
The biggest difference is the weather, which you get used to. The work style and language are somewhat similar but also different, and public transportation is significantly better. Walking around at midnight feels safe here.
What can South Africans learn from the Dutch and vice versa?
Dutch people can learn from South Africans to be a bit friendlier to strangers. For example, saying hello, greeting people, or smiling at passersby can brighten someone’s day. In the Netherlands, people are more in their own bubble. On the other hand, South Africans can learn from the Dutch work culture about finding the right balance.
In South Africa, calling in sick is harder and often requires a doctor’s note, while in the Netherlands, there’s more trust, so you usually don’t need paperwork. It’s more common to keep in touch with your employer about how you’re doing. In South Africa, the doctor decides how long you’re sick, whereas in the Netherlands, you can often decide for yourself. It does have personal consequences, as some employers pay sick days and others don’t.
What has your experience working abroad given you?
Experience in how people achieve a better work-life balance. People care more about themselves, not overworking. It’s good to have a balance between work and personal life. Also, the Dutch tend to be highly specialized in their field rather than being a jack-of-all-trades. It’s fascinating to see how the different cultures come together here and to learn from the various knowledge and skills everyone brings. More South Africans have probably come to the Netherlands for work-life balance.
In South Africa, people are used to working harder, with more hours and completing tasks faster. Here, it takes getting used to working at a slower pace. In South Africa, it’s almost expected that you work until a task is done. In the Netherlands, once your work is done, you can go home and have free time. It was strange initially to leave at 5 pm, even if a task wasn’t entirely finished. I wondered if I should stay longer or work harder. That’s not expected here. The expectation is different when leaving work here.
What would be your advice for others considering the same move?
It’s hard, not easy. The most difficult thing might be relearning and figuring things out from scratch. From getting familiar with new products at the grocery store to navigating different transport options. The language can be a bit challenging at first. Know that it’s 100 percent worth it. Working in the Netherlands is incredibly worthwhile, so persevere and go for it. There’s no regret. It especially helps if you know someone here who can help with the initial transition. My advice would be to engage with people in the Netherlands. Get to know people, ask questions, and talk to them. Most Dutch people speak English well, so ask for what you need. Many Dutch people are willing to help if you show curiosity.
How did the application process through Control Talent go for you?
From the start, Control Talent takes care of everything for you, including your visa, all the appointments you need in South Africa, and all the necessary information. If you have questions, you can reach out to Control Talent directly. When you’re in the Netherlands, they assist you with essential tasks like arranging local appointments, such as setting up a bank account. If there’s something you’re unsure about, you can always ask them.
They help relieve the stress of moving by handling the details, so you don’t need to constantly think about what needs to happen next. Control Talent ensures that everything is organized, allowing you to focus on relocating and saying goodbye to your current home without stress over appointments and paperwork.
Did you receive support from Control Talent in adjusting to the living environment in the Netherlands?
From the beginning, Control Talent helped with registering at the municipality, getting a BSN number, and opening a bank account. It was all very easy. South Africans are required to undergo tuberculosis (TB) testing in the Netherlands, and Control Talent helped arrange a contact and an appointment for that. They answered all of my questions, including ones about my wife’s visa and her ability to work right away, which was indeed possible for her, so that was reassuring. They even provided tips on where to buy certain items, like a good winter coat.
How did you connect with other Dutch colleagues or professionals in your field?
It was very easy to connect with others since the Dutch speak English well, and I work for an English-speaking company where colleagues communicate in English. So, although it’s not ideal for learning Dutch, it made connecting easy. In South Africa, it’s common to socialize with colleagues outside of work, but while I haven’t developed friendships outside of work yet, my colleagues here are very friendly and interested in my weekend activities. It’s fun because many of them know very little about South Africa, so they enjoy learning about it and its customs from me.
What positively surprised you about working in the Netherlands?
The amount of vacation days compared to South Africa is almost double in the Netherlands, depending on your contract. If you’re not too busy with a project, you can sometimes just use your vacation days freely. There’s a bit more flexibility here.
How would you rate the support from Control Talent during the transition period, and are there improvements you would suggest?
I’d rate it a 9 because Control Talent managed everything in the relocation process, so all I had to focus on was packing and saying my goodbyes. I think Control Talent could improve by increasing communication in the last few weeks before the move, as that’s the most stressful part. But overall, everything worked out well.
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