In 2024, our HR department started organising a 'intern day' twice a year. This takes place in each traineeship period – once in the February to June traineeship period and once in the September to January period.

You can't underestimate the value of introducing students to our organisation, colleagues, know-how, products and, of course, each other. But what is it like for our HR department to organise a day like this? Junior human resources advisor Lisa Berentsen and human resources employee Nardy Groot Bruinderink-Peters were happy to share their experiences with us.

What exactly is the purpose of this day? Why is it valuable?
Three colleagues in our HR department originally started as  before officially joining the company. In addition to their traineeship at VB-Airsuspension, they completed traineeships with other organisations, which gave them the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes in other environments. They gained a lot of inspiration and learned many other things. For example, they attended a similar trainees day during a traineeship with another organisation – an excellent idea that really adds value according to our HR department!

The HR department didn't want to reinvent the wheel and therefore decided to organise its own (VBA) trainees day to put its interns firmly in the spotlight. A intern day is also the perfect time to learn more about the organisation better and to get to know each other. Ultimately, all interns are in the same boat: they have all come here for their traineeship period and are on station to gain new, practical experience. That is why it is nice to get in touch with each other and to be able to exchange experiences and tips. By introducing the trainees day, we hope to reduce any obstacles that stand in the way of this.

We should also not forget that getting to know them better is also a nice bonus for us. "It keeps us young as well," our HR colleagues added.

What’s it like to organise such a day?
The first two editions of the intern day took place in 2024. Based on these experiences, HR has optimised the structure of the upcoming intern days in 2025. This ensures that every intern day is organised in a better way.

The wonderful thing about organising a intern day is that many colleagues are really eager to help. The Testing & Workshop department offers an exciting ride on our own test track, General Sales & Marketing Manager Sander Dusseldorp is happy to give a (company) presentation, and our Marketing & Communication department sends out personalised invitations.

Of course, we needed to find out how much time the various parts would take, but ultimately it was a great programme that filled the entire day and alternated between active and interactive events. In addition to the business side of this day, there is also room for a more personal approach. This is HR's way of striking the right balance between 'information' and 'relaxation' at the intern day.

What is the intern day like for you?
Different colleagues, different experiences. Nardy and Lisa attended the most recent trainees day in November 2024, and each experienced it differently.

Nardy Groot Bruinderink-Peters | Human Resources Employee
"I found it very exciting. Presenting is certainly not my favourite activity, and on a day like this, you stand in front of a group of students all day long. So I was a bit tense when I started my day. In the end, it was really nice to get to know the group a little better. The nice memory we all share will benefit their entire traineeship period. It’s great to see how everyone comes in with certain expectations and how the day comes to an end. Some were keen, others had no idea what to expect, but we also got some honest answers, such as “I expected it to be dull.” Fortunately, the response at the end of the day tended to be very different and certainly positive. I hope we can keep doing this and we can get to know many more interns in the coming years!"

Lisa Berentsen | Junior Human Resources Advisor
"I found intern day a really fun and enjoyable day. As someone who started out as a VB-Airsuspension trainee myself, I understand the importance of such a day. It is a valuable opportunity to learn more about the company, but it is also a time to get in touch with other trainees and share experiences. What I particularly appreciate is the informative structure of the day. The interns gain a clear picture of the company's different departments and activities. The presentations and interactive parts ensure that they acquire knowledge and are actively involved. But what really makes this day special is the great atmosphere. That’s how I got to know the trainees better."

Looking to the future
Of course, the HR department hopes that it can use the knowledge of eager, enthusiastic and motivated interns many times in the future, and we hope the VB-Airsuspension trainees day shows our appreciation and gratitude for this.

We all know that one clever idea often leads to another, so wouldn't it be great if we could expand this intern day to an introduction day with fun programmes for all new colleagues? Who knows...