Job satisfaction iIs about the pPeople around you

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"Because it’s such a large organisation with expertise across many different fields, there is a lot to learn and plenty of opportunities for career growt"

A meaningful conversation with a customer. Having lunch with colleagues. Brainstorming a complex challenge or meeting new people through a network for young professionals. Job satisfaction is often found in the little things. That's certainly the experience of Tieme Stoffels (28), an Everyday Banking Employee in Gouda, and Iris Folpmers (26), a Junior Data Scientist and AI Specialist. Although they work in very different parts of Rabobank, they share the same experience: the atmosphere, the accessibility of colleagues, and the opportunities for personal growth are what truly make the difference.

A place where you quickly feel at home

For Tieme, the search for a job began without a clear plan. He was looking for work and eventually found his way to Rabobank. What immediately stood out to him was the warm welcome he received. "I was given a big bouquet of flowers and a genuinely warm welcome." That feeling has stayed with him ever since. "We’re a pretty close-knit team. I felt that almost immediately when I started here." Iris also looks back positively on her start at Rabobank. She joined the bank in October 2025, straight after graduating. "I think Rabobank is a great organization to start your career with. During my onboarding, I was assigned a buddy from my team who helped me find my way around, introduced me to colleagues, and was always available to answer questions. I was also warmly welcomed through many introductory meetings and a bouquet of flowers from my manager." She believes Rabobank's size and breadth of expertise create valuable opportunities for young professionals. "Because it's such a large organization with knowledge and expertise across many different fields, there is so much to learn and plenty of opportunities for growth and development." For starters, that combination is important: an organization where you can learn a great deal while also feeling at home from day one.

Young and experienced colleagues learn from each other

One thing both Tieme and Iris value is the mix of people they work with. Their teams include young professionals just starting their careers, experienced specialists, and colleagues who have been with the bank for many years. "I’d say we have a great mix of colleagues who have been here for a long time and colleagues who are still relatively new," says Tieme. "You learn a lot from people with years of experience. At the same time, new colleagues bring fresh perspectives and ideas." Iris also appreciates the benefits of working in such a diverse team. "In my day-to-day collaboration within the team, I really enjoy working with a diverse group of colleagues, both young and experienced."Differences in age and experience are not viewed as barriers, but rather as opportunities to learn from one another. The combination of fresh knowledge from university and years of experience within the organization often creates a dynamic and engaging team environment, where different perspectives come together and strengthen the team as a whole.

It’s easy to meet colleagues from outside your own team here"

A network that extends beyond your own team

In addition to their day-to-day work, both Tieme and Iris take part in initiatives for young employees within Rabobank. For Iris, that means participating in the Early Career Program (ECP), where she connects with other young professionals from different parts of the organization. "Every Friday, I join around forty other young professionals for activities as part of the program. We receive all kinds of training, covering both hard and soft skills. This includes programming courses and Agentic AI training, as well as presentation skills and giving and receiving feedback. There are also social activities, networking opportunities, and plenty of time to connect with one another."

Through the program, Iris quickly built a network beyond her own department. "Being part of this program has allowed me to get to know many young colleagues working across different areas of the bank." As a result, she has established valuable connections throughout the organization, giving her greater insight into different teams, functions, and career opportunities within Rabobank.

For Tieme, that sense of connection came through Young Rabo, Rabobank’s young professionals network, which now has more than 1,250 members. "Young Rabo not only encourages young employees within the bank to step outside their comfort zones, but also helps them expand their networks and bring out the best in themselves. Through Young Rabo, it's easy to meet colleagues from outside your own department. Throughout the year, a wide range of activities is organized, from sporting events and inspiring guest speakers to community initiatives and company visits."

Through the network, Tieme discovered just how many opportunities there are within the organization. "Through Young Rabo, I participated in an afternoon at a residential care centre, where we shared soup and conversations with residents. I also attended the Spring Parade at the DeLaMar Theater, where I learned more about topics such as sustainable agriculture and the future of our food system. It's exactly this combination of enjoyable activities, new connections, and personal development that makes Young Rabo so valuable to me."

These experiences have helped him broaden his perspective beyond his day-to-day role, while building meaningful relationships with colleagues across the bank. For Tieme, Young Rabo is not only a way to expand his professional network, but also an opportunity to contribute to society, explore new interests,

Rabobank collega besteld koffie met gebarentaal

Making a difference for customers

For Tieme, customer interaction remains one of the main reasons he enjoys going to work every day. In his role, he helps customers with questions about their banking needs and gains a great deal of energy from conversations where he can genuinely make a difference. "I love the conversations where you truly feel that someone is grateful for your help." He always strives to support customers in the best way possible, and that gives him a strong sense of satisfaction. "What I find most rewarding is when I know I've really made a difference for someone.”

Job satisfaction starts with people

When asked what makes working at Rabobank special, both Tieme and Iris ultimately come back to the same answer: the people. For Tieme, a large part of his job satisfaction comes from connecting with colleagues. That is why he prefers working from the office. "I'm actually in the office almost every day." The reason is simple. "I simply prefer being somewhere I can also talk to colleagues." The spontaneous conversations are what make his workdays enjoyable. For Tieme, job satisfaction is also found in everything that happens beyond his day-to-day responsibilities. "It's very easy to meet colleagues outside your own team here. That creates a great atmosphere and often leads to surprising conversations and new ideas. What I really appreciate is that there's always something being organized, whether it's through an employee association, team outings, or larger events such as the employee festival. Because of that, Rabobank doesn't feel like a place where you only come to work. It feels like an environment where you get to meet new people and continue developing yourself."

For Iris, job satisfaction comes from the combination of challenging work, support for early-career professionals, and a strong network of young colleagues. "It's very important to me to stay connected with other young colleagues. It's great to have people you can exchange ideas with and learn from." Their stories show that job satisfaction is not just about what you do, but especially about who you do it with. Whether you're helping customers in Gouda or developing AI solutions in Utrecht, Rabobank offers the opportunity to grow, meet new people, and find your own place within the organization.

Tieme has also noticed how approachable people are throughout the bank. "The culture here is very much about simply reaching out and having a coffee with someone." That openness often leads to new connections and sometimes even unexpected opportunities. "You really get the feeling that growth and development are possible here, and that people are willing to help you achieve them."