Thinking about a career change in your 30s (or beyond)? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not too late. Especially in the Netherlands, where flexibility, growth, and second chances are part of the culture.

Take it from someone who’s lived it: after over a decade of teaching English across the globe, moving to the Netherlands meant starting over. With Dutch still in progress and public school doors closed, I found a new way to teach—through writing.

Let’s explore what’s possible—together.

Feeling stuck? Discover when it's time to ask for help—and why reaching out to a coach can be a game-changer. Our latest guide offers clear, actionable tips on spotting those warning signs, choosing whom to trust, and overcoming the cultural and personal barriers that can hold you back. It's all about breaking free from pride and seizing the opportunity for a fresh perspective on your career journey.

Career transitions can be exciting… and completely overwhelming. One day, you’re full of ideas. The next, you’re staring at your laptop wondering, Where do I even start?

At Empowerment Foundation, we work with professionals who feel lost in the process—whether they’re unsure about their next step or struggling to get unstuck. But here’s the thing: a breakthrough isn’t about waiting for clarity to magically appear. It’s about creating it.

Read more about cultural biases and internal doubts immigrants face in the Empowerment Foundation’s Shea Harty’s interview on workplace equality with Alexia De Souza from Her Expat Life.

The changes in the style of working evolved rapidly since 2020. It also brings new opportunities in terms of career pivoting and change. Learn how to pivot effectively, analyze career strengths and weaknesses, update career materials, invest in the new path, and more.

In a recent interview with Alexia De Souza from Her Expat Life, Flor de Maria Paredes Mattos, co-founder of the Empowerment Foundation, discussed career shifts, coaching, and her views on the future of leadership.

High emotional intelligence in the workplace leads to increased productivity, better conflict resolution, and significant career success.

The article provides a method for addressing and achieving "lost goals" from the past year. It involves listing all goals, identifying those that were not achieved, and examining if they align with current values.

The article talks about the difficulties that non-Dutch speakers face in the job market in Amsterdam, especially when they have a gap in their work history. The probability of finding a job declines the longer one is unemployed, which can overwhelm job seekers.

Empowerment Foundation provides career coaching to help individuals maximize their personal and professional potential.

Self-care is important, and it's not just about physical activities. Routines and rituals can help us feel in control, and it's okay to ask for help when needed.

Visualization, involving detailed mental imagery of desired outcomes, such as a successful job interview or the first day at a new job, can boost self-esteem, optimism, and resilience.

We discuss the difficulties and negative impacts of unemployment on physical and mental health, social life, and family relationships. The text emphasizes the importance of crafting and telling one's own story rather than being defined by statistics and reports.

When feeling lost in a job search, connect with your authentic self, prioritize self-care, identify unique qualities, and promote them widely.

The text provides eight tips for writing a killer cover letter, which includes doing research, addressing the organization's goals, making a personal connection, keeping it to a page, and asking for feedback.

The article discusses the benefits and limitations of career coaching for those seeking employment in the Netherlands. A career coach can help personalize your career plan, minimize stress and anxiety, and provide honest, unbiased feedback.

This blog discusses the ecosystem immigrant entrepreneurs experience.

This blog discusses how to navigate AI-powered recruitment.

“Working with a coach was probably one of the best decisions I ever made. In a transitional period, it is incredibly useful to have an external voice of reason that helps you navigate and prioritise. I came out of quite a toxic job, and I didn't feel like myself. My coach helped me to reconnect to my intuition and gave me the confidence to follow through with my professional ambitions.”

“I am really impressed with the caring professionalism and services offered by Empowerment. I feel very grateful to have been welcomed into their network during a very difficult process of trying to enter the Dutch job field, and I benefited a lot from one-on-one coaching that helped me focus and make a path to achieve my goals.”