Four rotations, one traineeship: how Sjoerd discovered what fits him

Why did you choose the Global Traineeship?

I’ve always seen myself as a bit of a generalist. I studied International Business Administration and completed master’s degrees in Strategic Management and Data Science & Society. I knew I wanted to work in a large organisation, but I didn’t have one specific role in mind.

The Global Traineeship appealed to me because it gave me the opportunity to explore different areas of the bank before deciding what kind of role would suit me.

When I spoke with people working at Rabobank, they described the culture as warm, collaborative and people-focused. Combined with the opportunity to learn quickly and build a broad network, it felt like a great place for me to start my career.

What was it like working abroad?

The opportunity to live and work abroad for four months was something I simply couldn’t pass up. There were various options for a global rotation and, after some conversations, I secured a position in Dublin.

You learn so much when you step outside your comfort zone, not just professionally, but personally as well. Different cultures approach work differently, and experiencing that firsthand really broadens your perspective.

The practical side of moving abroad also turned out to be easier than I expected. My accommodation and travel were arranged, I received intercultural training and there was support throughout the process. That meant I could really focus on the experience rather than the logistics.

Other trainees have completed rotations in countries such as Australia, Mexico and Canada. For me, the possibility of gaining international experience was a real added value of the traineeship.

What surprised you most during the traineeship?

The biggest surprise was how many different environments I genuinely enjoyed.

Before starting, I expected to be most interested in strategy and sustainability-related work. But I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the commercial and financial side of banking too. The pace, the client interaction and the focus on creating value together with customers really gave me energy.

There wasn’t a single rotation where I was counting down the days until the next one. In every team, I found something that matched my interests and helped me grow.

How did you find your permanent role?

By the time I started my final rotation, I had built a strong network across the organisation and had a much better understanding of what motivates me.

Throughout the traineeship, you continuously reflect on what gives you energy, where your strengths lie and what kind of impact you want to make. I seriously considered opportunities on the commercial side of the bank, but the role within Transition Development ultimately felt like the right fit for me. I enjoyed the work, the team and the purpose of what we’re trying to achieve.

My advice for future trainees? Stay curious. The traineeship will introduce you to teams, topics and opportunities you didn’t even know existed. The more open you are to exploring them, the more you’ll get out of the experience..