Louis was an exchange student from the Netherlands studying at iCLA in 2019. He is now working for Woonwaard, a semi-public housing corporation located close to Amsterdam that provides affordable housing for lower-income residents. On his recent visit back to iCLA with friends he made during his time here, we asked him how studying at iCLA has made an impact in his life, his career path after the completion of his exchange period, and finally, insights to share with students at iCLA.
Enjoy this exchange student spotlight with Louis!
Can you tell me a little bit about your job position and your work responsibilities?
I’m currently a trainee at a housing corporation (Woonwaard) near Amsterdam (woningcorporatie in dutch, 住宅株式会社 in Japanese). It is a semi-public organization that provides affordable homes for people with lower incomes. I mostly advise the management (and sometimes the board) on specific matters such as renter’s participation, rent policy, and new sustainability measures. When I am not advising, I mostly conduct desk research to prepare for presentations, or to create new policy documents together with colleagues. For example, right now I am working on a policy document on circular building which entails that we use biobased, recycled materials to create sustainable, futureproof housing.
What was your motivation to enter your field of work?
In my field of work there are many opportunities to create impact. We are in the middle of a housing crisis, at least in the Netherlands. The demand for affordable housing far outsizes the supply. We need to build more, but also sustainably because the building sector is the largest contributor to pollution. We need to rethink housing and I want to be a part of that change.
My field of study also had an impact on why I chose to enter this field of work. I studied political science, focusing on international relations. My studies really ignited my interest in societal issues. The sector is also very political. Our work is directly influenced by national government policies, and we have to work together and negotiate with local political organs such as city councils to realize large building projects.
What kind of skills did you gain during your study abroad period that has been beneficial in your work?
I think that the most important thing that I got out of study abroad was a new perspective. Most of my political science courses at my home university were focused on Europe and the United States. I really enjoyed the focus on Asia because I could learn about politics in a new context. However, the more cases you study the more you start to see the striking resemblances. I have also noticed the similarities between case studies from my time at university and my work now.
The meetings I attend at work, especially when external parties such as city councils and renter’s associations are involved, can appear strikingly similar to the international negotiations I learned about at iCLA. Political actors across the world are often driven by interests, power, and convictions. I think realizing that other parties have different interests and acknowledging those interests leads to much more fruitful meetings. Also being aware of the power dynamic and how this affects your influence on the negotiations is useful. Lastly, addressing strongly held beliefs can often be the first step before you can progress. I think most people are aware of these things subconsciously, but I think my studies really helped me become conscious about them so now I can pinpoint where and why negotiations strand and how we can resume.
Looking back at your time at iCLA, what was something you enjoyed most as an exchange student?
I find it really difficult to pin it down to just one thing. If I had to choose it would have to be the community. Coming from my home university, iCLA felt super small to me, with far fewer students and all contained in one building. But this also resulted in a very tightknit community. After a few months I knew nearly everyone on campus and made a couple of friends for life. I do think that iCLA is fairly unique and that it will be really difficult to find such a university experience elsewhere. To be honest when I applied to study abroad at iCLA I didn’t really know what to expect but I am really glad I took that leap of faith because it resulted in one of the most memorable, and enjoyable experiences of my life.
What was the most difficult thing you experienced when searching for a job and how did you overcome it?
I think that the rejections can be very mentally exhausting. I applied to dozens of jobs, and I was rejected by most companies. Constant rejections can negatively affect your self-esteem and make you wonder if you are good enough. But there are so many reasons for rejections, and sometimes it has nothing to do with you. I think it is important to ask for feedback on why you were rejected. This gives you the opportunity to reflect, refine your pitch, and evaluate your priorities. In some ways I’m glad that I got rejected, because it allowed me to think about what matters to me and apply for jobs that really fit me. Don’t worry you’ll get there!
What is your job-hunting/career advice for iCLA students, including exchange students?
I think that one of the most important things you can do when job hunting, is to let your friends and family know that you are searching for a job. Your friends can know things about you that you don’t know about yourself. A friend of mine recommended the traineeship I’m currently doing because he thought it would really fit me. Ultimately, people want to help each other so it never hurts to let your close ones know.
Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not just because it better fits the job description. Trust me, most recruiters can see through this and if they don’t, there is a high chance you’ll be stuck in a job that doesn’t really suit you. Also, get involved in extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars are a great way to showcase your personality and let future employers know what you are really passionate about. Furthermore, it gives you an opportunity to develop transferable skills. For example, I was part of the radio club in university and now I’m going to be the host for the company podcasts.