For Glara, Rabo@Anywhere makes all the difference

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"Being able to choose where and how I work is incredibly important to me"

One day she is working in Utrecht, the next in Amsterdam. Sometimes in Almere, Hoofddorp, or another Rabobank location, and a few years ago even from Indonesia. For Risk Manager Glara Sofi (31), this is exactly why working at Rabobank is such a great fit.

When Glara joined Rabobank through the Young Professional Programme (recently renamed the Early Career Programme), she quickly discovered that she needs freedom and flexibility to perform at her best.

“Having the freedom to choose where and how I work is incredibly important to me.” For most students and early-career professionals, flexibility is a key factor when choosing an employer. At Rabobank, hybrid working has become second nature. This means that, in consultation with your team, you can work from wherever suits you best: from home, from the office, or from another location entirely. Glara says: “I don’t think I could work for an organisation that doesn’t support this.”

Working where you feel energised

“For me, hybrid working is mainly about being able to decide what works best at any given moment. That can be from home, but more often than not I choose to work from the office. The office gives me energy. With structure around me and people working alongside me, I’m much more productive.”

As a result, she regularly works from different Rabobank locations, something that is actively encouraged. “If I’m meeting friends in Rotterdam in the evening, I’ll work there during the day. That saves me an hour and a half of commuting time. I also recently supported activities at the Kwaku Festival from the Amsterdam region office. Through the connections I made there, I gained a better understanding of how the local bank operates and the kinds of initiatives and events that are organised.”

You’re given the freedom to organise your work in a way that fits your life"

A network that grows with you

For young professionals, this freedom offers another important advantage: the opportunity to meet more people. Through the Young Professional Programme, Glara built a strong network across the bank. “By now, I know someone at almost every location. That means going to the office never feels like an obligation.” These connections provide more than just enjoyable conversations. “You hear how other teams work, the challenges they face, and the projects they’re involved in. You learn an incredible amount about the bank.” According to Glara, this can make a significant difference, especially at the start of your career. “When you’re just starting out, you’re still discovering what you enjoy and what suits you. That’s exactly when it’s valuable to have easy access to people from all kinds of backgrounds and teams.”

From Almere to Indonesia

For Glara, the freedom offered by Rabo@Anywhere does not stop at the Dutch border. A few years ago, she and her husband spent several weeks in Indonesia. “We wanted to visit family, but we also wanted to make the most of our holiday allowance. So we decided to work from Indonesia for part of our stay.” It turned out to be a unique experience. “In the mornings, I had time to spend with family, and later in the afternoon my workday would begin. It was very special. During online meetings, I often had a swimsuit hidden underneath my blouse. Between meetings, I could take a quick dip in the pool.” From a practical perspective, it worked remarkably well too. “At the time, I was collaborating closely with colleagues in Australia. The time difference actually made it much easier to coordinate with them than it would have been from the Netherlands.” Glara also sees another advantage: working from a warmer location during the winter months. “You can enjoy better weather without using all your holiday days. It gives you energy and helps prevent the winter blues.”

The flexibility is also embraced within the trainee programme itself. “Some trainees even spent a week working together from Portugal. It really shows how much freedom people have to shape their work in a way that suits them.”

Freedom creates trust

For Glara, the real strength of Rabo@Anywhere is not only about choosing where you work, but also having the flexibility to fit work around your life. “I have colleagues who go for a workout in the morning and start work afterwards. Others need to pick up their children from school. For me, it sometimes means attending a yoga class during lunch or grabbing a matcha with a friend. All of that is possible, as long as you do your job well.” According to her, that trust leads to greater job satisfaction and a stronger sense of responsibility. “You’re given the freedom to organise your work in a way that fits your life.”

For colleagues who are just starting their careers, she has one clear piece of advice: “Be curious. Try working from a different location. Start conversations with people. You learn so much that way.” She laughs. “The more people I get to know within the bank, the more enjoyable it becomes to go to the office. That may well be the greatest benefit of all.”

Hybrid working abroad

Would you like to combine a visit to family abroad with your work, just like Glara did? Rabobank offers opportunities to do so, although certain conditions apply. For example, working remotely from abroad is not permitted in every country. Subject to approval, employees may use this arrangement for up to 30 working days per calendar year. These days can be spread across multiple trips and different countries, provided those destinations are permitted under the policy.

Want to learn more about this employee benefit? Read more here.