At Port of Opportunities, we are proud to connect international professionals with companies that are open to talent, motivation and diversity in the workplace. A great example of this is Oleg, who started his new career as a mechanic at Rotterdam Shiprepair in March.
What began as a new step in an unfamiliar working environment has grown into a valuable collaboration built on eagerness to learn, commitment and mutual trust. Oleg shows how important it is not only to offer newcomers a job, but also guidance, stability and the space to continue developing.
Before Oleg started at Rotterdam Shiprepair, he had already gained technical basic knowledge and experience. This background provided a strong foundation for his new role in ship repair. At the same time, moving into a new working environment required adaptability and a willingness to keep learning. This is exactly where Oleg made a strong impression from the beginning.
Oleg’s experiences in his new role
For Oleg, his experience at Rotterdam Shiprepair has been positive from the start. “My experience at Rotterdam Ship Repair has been very positive. From the beginning, I was welcomed by the team and supported in adapting to the new working environment.”
What he enjoys most is that the work is varied and continuously offers new learning opportunities. He also finds great satisfaction in working together with colleagues and seeing concrete results. “What I enjoy most is working as part of a team and seeing the results of our work.”
For Oleg, his work is more than just a professional step. It has also influenced his personal development in the Netherlands. One statement from Oleg captures exactly why this work is so meaningful to us as Port of Opportunities:
“I have become more confident both professionally and in my daily life in the Netherlands.”
For us, this is incredibly motivating to read. It shows that a sustainable match is not only about finding a job, but also about confidence, stability and building a future in the Netherlands. These kinds of experiences give us even more motivation to make more matches like the one between Oleg and Rotterdam Shiprepair possible.
Oleg also feels well integrated within the team. “I feel well integrated into the team. My colleagues have been friendly and always willing to help whenever I had questions.” By asking questions, learning from experienced colleagues and actively participating in the work, he grew step by step into his role.n te stellen, te leren van ervaren collega’s en actief mee te draaien, groeide hij stap voor stap in zijn rol.
Rotterdam Shiprepair’s experience with Oleg
Rotterdam Shiprepair also describes Oleg in a positive way. Jan Kees and Oscar explain that he stands out mainly because of his enthusiasm, eagerness to learn and work ethic.
His way of working fits well with the company culture at Rotterdam Shiprepair. By showing initiative, asking questions and being willing to get involved, Oleg has gradually adapted to the working environment. As Jan Kees and Oscar explain:
“By being eager to learn and willing to get involved. That is something we, as Rotterdammers, really appreciate.”
To support Oleg properly, he was assigned a buddy with whom he works closely and from whom he learns in practice. This approach helped him become familiar more quickly with the tasks, work processes and expectations within the company.
Rotterdam Shiprepair sees Oleg above all as a motivated and eager-to-learn colleague who actively works on developing himself further within the profession. Through his open attitude, willingness to get involved and interest in the work, he shows that he fits well within the company’s practical working environment. In doing so, Oleg brings not only technical basic knowledge, but also the right mindset to continue growing within the team.sse in het werk, laat hij zien dat hij goed past binnen de praktijkgerichte werkomgeving van het bedrijf. Daarmee brengt Oleg niet alleen technische basiskennis mee, maar ook de juiste mentaliteit om verder te groeien binnen het team.
A successful partnership: Rotterdam Shiprepair and Port of Opportunities
The collaboration between Rotterdam Shiprepair and Port of Opportunities is experienced positively by Jan Kees and Oscar. They describe the relationship as good and especially value the fact that Port of Opportunities actively thinks along with them. “Good relationship, they think along with us and proactively let us know whether candidates may be suitable for us.”
For Port of Opportunities, it is also valuable to hear that Rotterdam Shiprepair has now shared their positive experience with other companies as well. When asked whether they would recommend other employers to give newcomers a chance, their answer was clear: “Yes, and we have already done so!” For us, this confirms that successful matches not only have an impact on one candidate and one employer, but can also contribute to more opportunities for other newcomers in the Dutch labour market.
Oleg’s journey at Rotterdam Shiprepair shows what is possible when motivation, guidance and the right working environment come together. With the right support, international professionals can not only apply their professional knowledge, but also grow in confidence, independence and social participation.
Would you, like Rotterdam Shiprepair, like to create a sustainable match with one of our talents? Please contact us through our contact page.