“The warehouse there is a really international environment. A lot of people from Poland, Romania, South America, and some people from Spain. I didn’t expect that international environment, so that’s cool.”
From Argentina to Spain and eventually to the Netherlands. Franco took the leap of faith to work for a better future. After a little doubt he learned the work environment and living area exceeded his expectations. He quickly made new connections with people all around the world. He’d like to tell you more!
From Argentina to the Netherlands
Franco is originally from Argentina and eventually moved to the Netherlands. Through a recruitment agency in Spain, PeopleHub, he was introduced to Workstead. Today, he works at Koopman International as an order picker and is also responsible for checking orders.
Franco had some doubts about making the move. “It’s my first time here, so I had some doubts. That’s normal because you don’t know if it’s going to be how you expect,” he says. However, those doubts quickly disappeared after arriving. “I would say you need to try it. The worst thing you can do is not do it.”
A smooth application process and a good start
For Franco, the application process was straightforward from the very beginning. After being introduced to Workstead through PeopleHub, he received clear guidance throughout the entire process. “It was so intuitive and easy to do,” he says. He particularly appreciated the support from the PeopleHub team. “They were so patient, and they explained the whole process really well through WhatsApp, so it was easy.”
“The first three days were training days, so they tried to explain everything to you,” he explains. After those first few days, he had another week to get familiar with the work and the environment. “The space there, the environment and the work experience are really, really nice,” he adds.
An international working environment
At Koopman International, Franco quickly discovered a diverse and international workplace. “The warehouse there is a really international environment. A lot of people are from Poland, Romania, South America and Spain,” he says. “I didn’t expect that international environment, so that’s cool.”
He also appreciates the atmosphere among his colleagues and supervisors. “They’re really nice and patient bosses, and that’s important,” Franco explains. “We aren’t even speaking Dutch, we are speaking English, and that’s really important to be open and patient.”
For Franco, the international environment is also a great opportunity to meet new people and build connections. “I enjoy building relationships with my coworkers, especially the international ones.”
A peaceful place to live
Alongside his job, Franco receives accommodation through Workstead. He currently lives in accommodation provided by Workstead, surrounded by nature and located around 15 minutes from his workplace. “The living area is so peaceful, it has a lot of nature, as you can see, and it’s situated like 15 minutes from work,” he says.
Franco has his own room with everything he needs. Outside of work, he also makes the most of the facilities and the surrounding area. “I enjoy going to the gym because there is a gym at the accommodation,” he explains. He also enjoys cycling through the surrounding natural area. “It’s a nice, natural lifestyle,” he adds.
Because Franco has a driving licence, he also has access to an agency car. As a driver, he helps his coworkers get to work as well.
A step he would recommend
For anyone considering moving to the Netherlands for work, Franco has a simple message: “You need to try it.” He understands that moving to another country can be exciting but also uncertain when you don’t know what to expect. Still, he is happy that he took the first step.
And when asked whether he would recommend Workstead to his friends or family, his answer is clear: “For sure, yeah.”