ProActief is the career centre of the University of Amsterdam. Since 1996, they have supported UvA staff in managing their careers. They also work with institutions like the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and Amsterdam UMC. Their team helps people stay vital, employable and proactive in a fast-changing academic world. Services include coaching, training, reintegration and outplacement.
Director Ruerdje van Mierlo saw the need to modernise their approach. Careers are changing, and their offer needed to be revised to support this rapidly changing field. They wanted to restructure their services using the latest academic insights, and integrate validated career assessments that focus on career development.
Another need was consistency. Coaches all had their own styles, which led to variation. ProActief wanted a shared language and approach that would bring more clarity in their offering for both clients and internal stakeholders at the UVA. They looked for more than a new tool. They needed a practical, research-based framework and a partner who could support both with strong content and help drive change and team development.
“I was looking for scientific foundation, collaboration, as strong meaningful career assessment, and a fun way to modernise our approach and upskill our team. I found all of that in Zest.”
Zest for Work brought both, academic depth and practical application. ProActief chose the Career Fitness Profiler, developed by TalentlogiQs (spin-off of the University of Antwerp), as the foundation to restructure and modernise their offering. This evidence-based tool integrates career values, energy and career competencies, and uses a visual human-centred model of sixteen career types.
“We really restructured all our services around the career model’s dimensions. It gave our language the professional credibility that strengthens our work.”
Combined with a learning programme for the team, it brought more than a method. It helped create shared language and gave the team a modern approach to support career reflection and activate career ownership and mobility in their programmes.
The trainer was a very knowledgeable and brought the team along, supporting the individual needs of the different team members. The learning journey offered insight and sparked energy and enthusiasm in the team. It helped the team to open up to new ways of working and deepen understanding of modern career development. It created a common approach and language across our career trajectories. They started using the methodology after formal certification.
At an organisational level, the approach brought visual coherence in their offering, supporting increased clarity for their clients and stakeholders. The methodology is now the basis in their work on sustainable careers, creating shared language and strong conceptual foundation.
This project was an important step in the professionalisation of both the team and their services. With a solid scientific base and a strong visual framework, ProActief is well-positioned to grow as a modern, forward-looking career centre.
“The materials, the manual, and the innovative tool of the Career Fitness Profiler, I think Zest for Work really have something unique and valuable to support Career Development.”