At Blue Fielders, we believe in connecting international talent with local expertise, making sure that our engineers can hit the ground running when they arrive in the Netherlands. David Silva, a 26-year-old biomedical engineer from Portugal, took the leap and joined us in the Netherlands, where he is now thriving as part of our team. His journey is a great example of how we make relocation smooth and worry-free, so our engineers can focus on what they do best.
David wasn’t actively searching for a job outside of Portugal, but when our recruiter reached out on LinkedIn, the possibility of moving to the Netherlands sparked his interest. “I had been trying to find new opportunities in Portugal, but the options weren’t aligning with my goals,” David recalls. He realized that this opportunity with Blue Fielders was not only professionally appealing but also a chance to grow personally. After a few interviews, he landed a position at Novartis.
Smooth transition with full support
At Blue Fielders, we guide our talents from start to finish. For David, this meant that we arranged his complete move from Portugal to the Netherlands. “Moving to another country is a huge step, but Blue Fielders took care of everything – from housing to the necessary paperwork,” David explains.
Finding housing in the Netherlands? That’s already a challenge for locals, let alone someone who is just new. “I had a place to live from day one, something I didn’t have to worry about,” says David. This gave him space to settle in quietly and focus on his new role.
But we went beyond that: from the 30% rule to a car for his commute, everything was taken care of. “With all practical matters under control, I was able to dive fully into my work and build my life here.”
Adapting to life in the Netherlands
Transitioning into a new work culture can be a challenge, but David quickly found his place in the Novartis team. “The team was very welcoming, and being in such an international environment made it easier to adjust,” David shares. Many of his colleagues are also expats, which helped him feel part of the community from the start.
David also noticed some key differences in the Dutch work culture compared to Portugal. “In the Netherlands, employee rights are strongly protected. For instance, every hour worked is compensated, which wasn’t always the case back home. The early work hours were an adjustment, but I appreciate having more free time in the evenings,” he adds with a smile.
Of course, the infamous Dutch weather was another adjustment. “The weather, of course, is something you have to get used to,” David jokes. But with our ongoing support, including Dutch lessons to help with further integration, David is settling into his new home in the Netherlands.
Advice for engineers considering a move
Several months into his new role, David is thriving. “I get messages on LinkedIn all the time with job offers, which shows how much demand there is for skilled engineers here,” David says. His advice to other engineers considering a move? “Do it! Blue Fielders makes the transition easy, and there are so many opportunities here in the Netherlands.”
David’s journey with Blue Fielders highlights how international talent can flourish with the right support. Ready to start your own adventure? Choose Blue!
