Maria on Inclusivity and Focusing on Strengths

Maria moved to the Netherlands from Italy twelve years ago after her husband was hired by a Dutch company. She stayed home for eight years. “I had my hands full raising three young daughters while settling into a new country and language.” When her youngest reached school age, Maria – who has a master’s degree and worked in customer-facing roles in Italy – decided it was time to return to work. “I missed being part of a team and helping people.”

From supermarket to bank

Maria found employers were reluctant to hire someone who couldn’t answer the phone, receiving rejection after rejection. “That was often a dealbreaker.” Despite sending many applications, she rarely received a positive response. Eventually, she found a job at a supermarket. “It wasn’t as challenging as my previous roles, but it taught me a lot. You’re continuously dealing with people. ”She then registered at Ctalents, a temping agency for disabled jobseekers, and secured an online interview with Rabobank. “I fought back my nerves and gave an honest interview. Two hours later, I was hired!”

Customer focus

Maria joined the Payments Transaction Expert department in August 2023. She deals with international banks, helping Rabobank clients facing issues with cross-border payments. “Real human contact is essential in this digital age. I always put myself in clients’ shoes and think what I’d want if I were in their position. That’s why I sometimes also arrange Teams meetings with clients, so that they can see they’re dealing with a real person who wants to help them.”

Multitalented Maria

Alongside her day job, Maria plays an active role in several community projects. She and her team volunteered at Stichting Jarige Job, helping disadvantaged children celebrate their birthdays, and Dress for Success, providing jobseekers on minimum wage with access to interview-appropriate attire. She has also worked on customer-focus projects. “I enjoy being busy and helping out, often going beyond my job duties. My team lead has told me how multitalented I am!”

Finding smart solutions

Maria usually joins meetings online. “I can turn on live subtitles during online meetings and follow what’s going on. It’s great.” For in-person meetings, she brings her laptop and sometimes works with a captioner. “The captioner writes down what’s being said in real time. Usually, it’s more accurate than a transcription of a recording. Having these solutions gives me peace of mind and makes me feel supported.”

Diversity improves teams

While people with disabilities deserve opportunities, many struggle to find them. Maria wants to send a clear message to employers: “Focus on people’s strengths. Diversity makes teams stronger. People with disabilities possess valuable qualities like compassion, determination and many others.” Her advice to others facing barriers to employment: “Don’t be afraid to reach out for support. It’s not that employers don’t want to help, it’s that they often don’t know how. Whenever you face rejection, keep going and never give up!”