Maria

DNB trainee

An unexpected match

“I was born and raised in Amsterdam and stayed here to study political science and economics. I didn’t know at first that DNB would match so well with my studies. My first introduction to DNB was through a lecturer who worked there, and later I attended a guest lecture by Klaas Knot. That’s when I really saw how broad and socially relevant the work here is. Still, I thought that with my background I would have ended up in The Hague, in a traineeship in government service. I also looked at traineeships with the city and the province. And then DNB came my way. At first I doubted whether it would suit me - wouldn't it be too formal and stuffy? But friends told me to give it a try. Before I knew it, I was at the selection day.

Fresh perspective

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from people at DNB, but I soon noticed the open and friendly atmosphere. Here, it’s not just about hard work. There is also plenty of room for collaboration and development. I felt that atmosphere immediately at the selection day, where we also enjoyed lunch and got a goodie bag. I felt genuinely welcome. The next morning I got the call: hired! A few months later, I started my traineeship with an ‘out of the box’ placement with the open government legal team. That was a challenge because I had no legal background and had to learn all about the Open Government Act. But I was given the space to provide my input from a fresh perspective and I found my own way to contribute.

Here, it's not just about hard work, there is also plenty of room for collaboration and development."

Observing at a high level

What struck me is how approachable people are here, at all levels. I thought a bank would be hierarchical, but I don't notice that at all at DNB. I attended meetings with board members and was given plenty of opportunities to help think about process improvement. I shadowed my divisional director for a day and got to help prepare a presentation for the Supervision Council’s off-site. It is fascinating to see how decisions are made and how internal processes work. DNB is involved in so many topics, much more than I expected. From geopolitical developments to financial regulation and social issues - the field of work is enormously broad.

Learning and growing together

I'm on the traineeship together with a diverse group of people. We are all very different, but that's what makes it interesting. The training sessions are really in-depth, but there is also room to unwind. We have lunch together and do an activity every month. The newly renovated building also makes DNB a great place to work. My department was involved in a lot of the decisions that went into the renovation programme, and I learned a lot. From De Nieuwe Schatkamer to the sustainability programme - everything has been thought through. That shows how seriously DNB takes social responsibility, and it makes me feel proud. I have only just arrived here, but I can see myself working at DNB for a long time to come. There is so much to learn and discover here."

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