Dorothée Heerema-Vreede - Senior Recruitment Consultant, Nomilk2day BV
First yes, then no, and finally yes. Dutch native Dorothée Heerema-Vreede had actually ruled out an expat life. Until suddenly the opportunity arose to move to Asia with her young family. Now she leverages her HR experience as a Senior Recruitment Consultant to further expand Nomilk2day.
Dorothée Heerema-Vreede
What if you always wanted to go abroad, but end up buying a house, settling down, and starting a family? Most people wouldn't pursue it at that point. Initially, Dorothée and her husband felt the same way. A request from her partner's employer to move to Malaysia to establish an office changed everything. We thought; what if we do it? We wanted to know more about it." Long story short. The couple flew to Malaysia to explore whether such an adventure would suit them. And then they saw themselves going for it after all.
What attracts you to Asia, and specifically Malaysia?
"The beautiful nature, the wildlife, and the Malaysians themselves. They are so friendly and kind. As Dutch people, we can be quite direct, and even though that's not how they interact here, they understand. What I also find remarkable is the mix of cultures. All celebrations are embraced here, and everyone enjoys them. This makes you quickly feel part of the whole."
What were your biggest concerns beforehand?
"I felt like I was taking the children, aged 7, 6, and 4, away from their safe environment. Away from family, friends, school, and the neighborhood, and placing them in an unknown country where they don't speak the language. But they adapted so well! Children understand more than you think and find their way through play. The transition went quite smoothly."
You've been there for six months now. How was the initial period?
"The children picked up English quickly, and my husband is very excited about his work and his Asian colleagues. I was quite restless during that first period. I came from a busy job, the kids were in school, and I wondered what I should do all day. So, I volunteered for various tasks, including at the Dutch Association Malaysia. I organized activities, processed registrations, and built many contacts."
Sounds fun!
"Absolutely, and also valuable. A few Dutch people recommended me to talk to Nomilk2day Asia. While looking at Jaap's LinkedIn profile, I received a message from him. He asked if I was open to a coffee and a chat. And now we are colleagues."
You have a background in HR. Tell us about that.
“That's right. I started as a corporate recruiter, then became head of recruitment, progressed to HR business partner, and then moved to a fast-growing investment company with several subsidiaries. In Malaysia, there are also many companies with growth ambitions. They want to hire a lot of people quickly, but of course, they also want those people to still be there after a year. That's why it's important to stay focused on content. Through the many job interviews I have conducted in my career, I have developed a sense of what suits each situation.”
In your previous roles, you have sat down with headhunters. What lessons have you learned from that?
“Indeed, I have worked closely with headhunters. From that experience, I learned the importance of being able to empathize with your client. It means truly thinking along. It's not just about speed; you need to really understand the company you are looking for and their recruitment needs. The company may say they need an accountant, but upon deeper investigation, a controller may be a better choice. Furthermore, it's crucial to understand where they want to go in the future. What do they expect from the candidate a year from now? What is the career path? I believe I am good at assessing what people value.”
What personally drives you?
“I find it enjoyable and enlightening to now be on the other side of the table and to be able to assist multiple clients simultaneously with their recruitment needs. There are many opportunities for Nomilk2day in the Asian market, especially in the agri-food sector, but I also see potential in the energy and logistics sectors. I expect that if I do my job well, clients will return. This way, I contribute to the further growth of the office in Asia. The fact that we are doing this with a small team in a growth phase makes it extra fun and challenging for me because that's when you can truly be entrepreneurial and make an impact.”
Does the idea of living and working in Asia for an extended period of time appeal to you? If so, send us your details so we can consider you for future opportunities or apply for one of the current vacancies.
