About 4 years ago I started at Freshfields as a float-assistant. After just one month I was asked if I wanted to fill a permanent position as a Personal Assistant in the Global Transactions – Corporate department. When I started as a float, I naturally had the intention to eventually become a permanent Personal Assistant with my own team of associates. I couldn’t have foreseen that it would happen so quickly. Despite the fact that I really enjoyed working as a Float Assistant, I was immediately very enthusiastic, because as a Personal Assistant in a permanent department, you have more tasks and responsibilities.
No day is the same at Freshfields. And that’s why I still enjoy coming to work today. In the beginning I often got the question: “Don’t you mind travelling to the office for an hour?”. My answer is still, “No, because the work I do, I do with pleasure.” That’s partly because I work for a nice team. In addition to my administrative work, such as print/scanning, working out documents, etc., I try to support my team as much as possible by learning more about the things they are working on. This allows me to proactively think along with them and take work out of their hands. If that is not enough, I also work for Amsterdam travel with two other colleagues. Working for Amsterdam Travel is also diverse; on the one hand I book and change flight and train tickets and on the other hand I keep the administration up to date. In short, over the past 4 years I have been able to learn a lot at Freshfields. Also in the future I would like to learn more.
This is not all, besides working hard there is also time for relaxation. Various events are organised for this purpose, such as the Friday afternoon drink in our own office bar, the assistant outing and the annual Christmas party. All this contributes to our motto: “excellent, and not too serious”.

I started at Freshfields in 2002 and still enjoy going to work every day. As a large international law firm, clients expect the very best quality. This is something that can be felt in all layers of the company. Also within support. In the IT department it’s our job to make sure that everyone can do his or her job without too much delay and with the latest technology available. A landscape that is different every year and has to meet high security requirements. That is the strength of Freshfields, a company in an authentic sector that has to grow with the changes of the new world. As part of this company you get all the opportunities to get the best out of yourself. Growth and development of the person are very important and are a great motivation to actually want to get the best out of yourself. The motto is excellent, and not too serious. This comes back every day when you walk around the office. Informal, interest in people, but the expectation that what you do is of the highest quality. This ensures Freshfields’ good reputation as a law firm, but also as an excellent employer.

The most enjoyable question I’ve ever had when interviewing a candidate is: What are you most proud of at Freshfields?
A good, but not really a very difficult question! Namely, that in all the positions I’ve held at Freshfields I’ve always had the confidence of colleagues.

Officially, I’ve already held 5 positions within 3.5 years. In addition to my Master’s degree in Law, I started as a receptionist, in the summer I moved on to the position of float assistant. As a float assistant I worked in almost all departments, but in the GT – Finance department I got a job as a personal assistant. Because I had already enjoyed a holiday in that department and my master went smoothly, I immediately applied for that position.
During the year as a personal assistant, I learned a lot about the office and the different processes around clients, business and both internal and external procedures. I also used this year as a PA to orientate myself on what I wanted to do after obtaining my master’s degree. As I had discovered during a previous internship that the profession of lawyer is not my cup of tea.

Luckily, I’ve found my passion, HR and within a very familiar environment – just within Freshfields! First as HR officer and now as HR executive. In this role I’m not only responsible for the administration of inflow, outflow and throughput, I’m also responsible for the business support staff from an HR perspective. I also actively support colleagues when they are absent. Preferably I also take on fun other projects such as a business deal with a local gym or a new profile photo project. In short, many opportunities within an excellent, and not too serious environment!