Interview with multilingual consultant Yeliz Mete
Our communications staff recently interviewed one of our multilingual counselors. They asked her questions about how she uses her native language during reintegration counseling.
Why did you choose the reintegration profession?
"By nature, I am someone who loves to help! Activating with basic activities, helping with paper or interpreting work and so on. I had never really thought about the reintegration profession myself. When I offered family help, because I am multilingual, I was asked if this work wasn't something for me? Coincidence does not exist, it had to be so."
What did you think of the mentoring and onboarding process at Puls? Was this what you expected in terms of guidance?
"This went really well! I was well received and super well guided by my coach! In addition, I had plenty of time to prepare and I got a lot of subject matter from internal knowledge sessions."
Is the work what you expected it to be?
"Honestly, the coaching piece is indeed what I expected. Now it's mostly getting creative and making the work my own."
What do you like most about the Work & Mobility Consultant position?
"Guiding people with whatever disability to something that suits them! And then especially looking at each person as an individual. Because each route is tailored to his or her interests and feasibility. Is it not medically feasible? Then the trick is precisely to put in the right guidance to shape acceptance to a possible benefit."
What does an average workday look like for you?
"My work day consists of many interviews and then reporting. But also consists of preparing interviews and contacting employers and/or insurers. I usually try to schedule all my interviews in the morning and then report in the afternoon."
With some clients you may also be able to communicate in your native language. What is the added value of this to the client and employer?
"Communication is always very important! For the workplace, someone with poor Dutch may be sufficient, but in the case of a 2nd track Understanding in one's own language is important. You can tell from certain words that there is more going on, you wouldn't be able to find out if you don't speak the language. You will also notice that you can communicate more openly and create safety when you speak their native language. This also makes people feel at ease with you much faster. It also saves a lot of time with acceptance and, above all, a lot of time and stress in any miscommunication."
Do you enjoy being able to communicate with some clients in your native language?
"It is very gratifying to be able to help and guide a broader audience during what is, for many, a difficult time."
Do you feel you get to hear more information when you can communicate in your native language?
"There is indeed more sharing when you can communicate in the clients' native language. Especially things that are normally difficult to share in a language you don't fully master. Of course we handle this information well in connection with the law of privacy."
And do you feel that this also allows you to penetrate the client and any partner more?
"Absolutely! Often a partner joins at intake. Once they notice that I can also communicate in the native language they don't even sit in on subsequent interviews."
What are the extra things you put in to accomplish something? Like pulling in family members to explain, offering courses in their own language, referring them to Mosque....
"Basically everything you mention above. Nothing is standard. Everything is tailor-made in our programs, only it often takes a little more time and attention for non-native speakers to, especially in the beginning, get everything clear and get all noses in the same direction."
