Four rotations, countless possibilities: how Karlijn found her place at Rabobank
- Karlijn SandersProduct Manager
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When Karlijn Sanders started Rabobank’s Global Traineeship, she wasn’t looking for a fixed career path. With a background in Industrial Design Engineering and a master’s degree in Strategic Product Design from TU Delft, she wanted to keep learning and explore her different interests. Four very different rotations later, she discovered what gives her the most energy: building new things, exploring opportunities and working directly with people.
Why did you choose the Global Traineeship?
I knew I wanted to continue learning, but I also wanted to gain experience within a large organisation. I have many different interests, so the broad nature of the Global Traineeship immediately appealed to me.
I wasn’t looking for a fixed career path yet. Instead, I wanted the opportunity to explore different areas, learn new things and discover where my strengths and interests could take me.
I didn’t have a predefined end goal. For me, that was precisely the appeal of the traineeship.
What kind of rotations did you do during the traineeship?
The short answer? Completely different ones.
I started within Life Event Journeys, where I worked alongside a Product Manager on customer journeys around important moments in people’s lives, such as moving in together, bereavement, onboarding and divorce.
In that role, I learned how an idea can develop into a product. You look at customer needs and pain points, create a vision and then work with engineers to turn improvements into reality, for example in the Rabobank app or online banking environment.
My second rotation was within Transition Development, where I worked on initiatives related to subjects such as the food transition and making homes more sustainable. This was my stretch assignment. I was fascinated by sustainability, but I had limited experience with it at the time. The rotation gave me insight into how different teams within a large organisation work on societal transitions.
Next, I moved into international banking within Wholesale & Rural Banking. I worked with colleagues in different countries and contributed to projects aimed at strengthening collaboration between Rabobank offices in Europe and Asia.
I suddenly found myself discussing international client solutions and joining meetings with senior executives. It introduced me to a side of Rabobank that I didn’t know existed.
My final rotation was within Tribe Innovation, where I worked on future opportunities for Rabobank through experimentation, research and the development of new propositions. That was where everything clicked for me.
Which rotation taught you the most?
Honestly, my first rotation. Not necessarily because of the content, but because it introduced me to the complexity of working in a large organisation.
During my first week, someone scheduled a “bilateral” with me, and I had no idea what that meant. You learn a whole new language when you join a big organisation.
At the same time, every rotation expanded my understanding of Rabobank. As you move through different teams, you start to see how the organisation fits together and how many people are involved in turning an idea into something concrete.
How did you find your permanent role?
Throughout the traineeship, I regularly reflected with my Talent Manager on what gave me the most energy. One thing kept coming back: I love building new things, exploring opportunities and working directly with people.
That realisation pointed me towards Tribe Innovation. However, when I started my rotation, there wasn’t a permanent position available. I considered other options but ultimately decided to follow my enthusiasm. I was very open about wanting to stay.
Together with my manager and Talent Manager, I explored the available possibilities. Eventually, a position became available, allowing me to continue within Tribe Innovation.
My advice is to be proactive and let people know what excites you. In my experience, openly discussing your interests can help you discover possibilities you might not otherwise have considered.
What can future trainees expect?
Expect the unexpected. Three of the four teams I joined were departments I didn’t even know existed before I started.
You don’t need to know everything on day one. Be curious, stay open-minded and keep talking to people. Conversations with colleagues can introduce you to teams, subjects and roles you might not have considered before.
Even today, I still discover new teams and possibilities within Rabobank. For me, that variety is one of the things that makes Rabobank an interesting place to start and develop my career.