Moving forward with confidence after redundancy, severance or VSO
Leaving an organisation can bring very different challenges. You may be ready to move forward immediately, need time to recover first, or want to explore what kind of work would genuinely suit you next.
Most people don’t realise this: even when your employer names an outplacement provider, you are usually free to choose your own coach, as long as it fits the agreed budget.
Orange Expats offers personal outplacement coaching for internationals living and working in the Netherlands. Each programme starts from your current situation and helps you move forward at a pace that is both realistic and sustainable.
.
What outplacement support here looks like
Not everyone is ready to begin applying for jobs straight away. My outplacement programmes therefore offer different starting points. Not everyone needs all four. Where we start depends on where you are, and we work that out in the introductory call.
Your situation
1. Restore
Restore is the first stage when you are still dealing with the immediate impact of your departure or a difficult period at work.
The coaching may focus on:
- processing the loss of your role or professional identity;
- regaining structure and a sense of control;
- understanding stress signals and personal boundaries;
- rebuilding energy and confidence;
- identifying what is currently realistic;
- taking small, manageable steps forward.
The purpose is not to decide what job you should pursue. The first aim is to help you feel more stable and able to look ahead again.
2. Career Readiness
You may start directly with Career Readiness when the most difficult recovery period has already passed, but you are not yet ready for structured career exploration.
The coaching may focus on:
- rebuilding trust in your professional abilities;
- recognising your needs, boundaries and working conditions;
- understanding what sustainable work would require;
- reconnecting with your professional identity;
- preparing to explore future career options;
- deciding when Career Clarity would be appropriate.
Career Readiness does not assess whether you are medically fit for work. It focuses on whether you have enough space and confidence to begin thinking about your professional future.
3. Career Clarity
The goal of this Career Clarity – programme is to determine the best-fitting next step in your career and to draw up a concrete plan of action.
“I’m going to take real time now to properly think through what I want from my career.”
You might have questions such as:
- Which roles would fit my talents and experience?
- Do I want to remain in the same sector?
- What type of organisation and working environment suits me?
- Which career options are realistic in the Netherlands?
- Should I pursue employment, consultancy, entrepreneurship or further study?
The programme may include:
- a scientifically validated career assessment;
- exploration of talents, motivations, values and interests;
- analysis of the common thread in your education and work experience;
- identification of suitable roles and working environments;
- desk research and exploratory networking conversations;
- testing and comparing possible directions;
- developing a focused and realistic career profile.
Result
You complete career clarity with a clearer understanding of your preferred direction and the criteria for a sustainable next step.
You may then continue independently, pause before taking action or add the Job Market Launch later.
4. Job Market Launch
It is for participants who want support not only in determining their next direction, but also in translating that direction into a targeted job search.
The first part focuses on career direction and positioning. The second part helps you become visible and active in the labour market.
In addition to Career Clarity, the programme may include:
- developing your personal pitch;
- improving your CV and LinkedIn profile;
- identifying suitable employers and vacancies;
- developing a networking and job-search strategy;
- preparing applications and networking conversations;
- interview preparation and mock interview;
- preparing for negotiations and the transition into a new role.
Result
You complete the programme with:
- a focused professional profile;
- practical job-search materials;
- an active networking and application strategy;
- stronger preparation for interviews and your next professional move.
Job Market Launch as a later addition
You do not need to decide immediately whether you want full job-search support. After completing Career Clarity, Job Market Launch can be added as a separate follow-on module when you are ready to take action.
How Orange Expats is different
What makes this different from a standard outplacement programme
A standard programme runs a set number of sessions in a set order: assessment, CV, applications, done. After a long conflict, an illness, or a reorganisation that dragged on for months, starting with your CV tends to produce a decent CV and not much else. Here, recovery can be part of the work.
It is also built for someone who already knows the local codes: what a Dutch CV should look like, how direct to be in an interview, how much you can say about yourself before it counts as boasting. As an international you are working a layer below that, in your second language, often with your residence permit tied to the outcome and without the network you would have had at home.
I am Dutch, extensively trained in both career guidance and counselling, and I have spent 20+ years working with professionals from more than eighty countries. So I can explain the Dutch system from the inside and still see why it does not land the way people expect.
Secure your budget now, start when you are ready
Does your settlement budget come with an expiry date? Tracks here stay valid for six to nine months from purchase.
We can agree yours and invoice it while the budget is still here, and start your sessions later. You keep the budget, and you take the time you need first.
Testimonial
“What stood out immediately was Stella’s ability to really listen and create a safe space during such a difficult period. She helped me reflect on my strengths, values, and motivations—things I had overlooked while simply trying to cope with daily pressures. Instead of feeling lost, I began to see new perspectives and possibilities, whether that meant continuing my career here or considering a transition elsewhere. Her guidance was practical and very hands-on. Stella tailored her advice to the Dutch culture, and gave me tools to navigate the uncertainties ahead. Each session left me with concrete steps but also with the reassurance that I didn’t have to face these decisions alone. What made the biggest difference, however, was her emotional support. Losing a job or considering a move back home can feel daunting, but Stella reminded me that transitions aren’t just about employment—they’re also about regaining clarity, stability, and confidence for the future. Looking back, working with Stella was one of the best decisions I made in the Netherlands. She didn’t just help me plan my next career steps. Her support was essential because it helped me to find the courage to move forward, wherever that path would take me.”
Outplacement Costs and Settlement Budgets
Whether your settlement or employer offers a small or more extensive allowance, we can design a programme that fits.
The content and number of sessions are always tailored to your situation, goals, and needs, so you get meaningful support.
We’ll discuss this further during your free introductory session.
If your budget expires before you are ready to start, say so in the call. We can usually secure it now and begin later.
Still negotiating your VSO? Read what to ask for when it comes to outplacement and career coaching support.
Questions about outplacement support?
If you have been made redundant, are facing reorganisation, or are unsure what your next professional step should be, these are some of the questions we are most often asked.
Yes. OrangeExpats specialises in supporting internationals and expats in the Netherlands. The guidance is tailored to the realities of building a career in a different country and navigating the Dutch job market as an international professional.
Yes. OrangeExpats supports expats and internationals who are dealing with redundancy, reorganisation, dismissal or a settlement agreement and need clarity, direction and support for what comes next.
It can be both. OrangeExpats offers specialised career transition support for expats, including outplacement support after job loss as well as broader career coaching when you are rethinking your direction or preparing for your next move.
Support may include clarifying your next direction, rebuilding confidence, strengthening your CV and LinkedIn, refining your personal branding, improving your job search strategy and preparing for interviews.
Yes. Some people want to move quickly, while others first need time to reflect, process what happened and decide what kind of role fits them next. Both are valid starting points.
Yes. Practical support with CV, LinkedIn, personal branding and interview preparation can all be part of the process, depending on what you need.
The best next step is to book an initial conversation. That gives us the chance to understand your situation, where you are in your transition, and what kind of support would be most helpful.
Most run between 3 and 6 months, depending on where you start and how much time you have. If your residence permit is tied to work, we compress it.
Yes. All sessions, materials and reports are in English. I am Dutch, which means I can also explain what is happening around you in the Dutch system, and translate where that helps.
Tracks stay valid for six to nine months from purchase, so we can agree yours and invoice it while your budget is still valid, and start the sessions later. The budget is secured and you still get the breathing space. Worth arranging before your deadline passes rather than after.
Your employer receives an invoice, and any reporting that your agreement specifically requires. What you and I discuss stays between us. If your agreement asks for progress reporting, we go through what that covers before we start.
My clients
Social Impact
By choosing coaching at Orange Expats, you not only advance your own journey but also contribute to the recovery and development of young people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), who I personally assist in their personal and professional growth.