How curiosity led Rick to a new career

For Rick Boer, SNA Inspector at Normec VRO, his career at Normec started with a healthy dose of curiosity. In his previous role in the payroll department of a staffing agency, he was regularly involved in inspections. The more he was exposed to the profession, the more interesting he found it.

"At one point, I simply called Normec," Rick recalls. "I was curious about the inspector role and wanted to know what it was like to work here. The conversation immediately felt right, and not long afterwards I was sitting down for a coffee meeting."

During that first introduction, it was the freedom and independence of the role that appealed to him most. Now, more than four years later, Rick is still working as an SNA Inspector at Normec VRO, and the reality has lived up to his expectations.

"You're on the road a lot, visiting different companies and meeting new people every day. No two days are the same. That variety is exactly what makes the job so enjoyable for me."

Freedom in your work, trust in each other

As an inspector, Rick works largely independently. Yet he never feels left to figure things out on his own. "You’re given a lot of freedom to do your work in your own way. At the same time, you know there are always colleagues you can rely on whenever you need support."

According to Rick, this is exactly what sets Normec apart. The organisation places trust in its people while remaining involved and supportive. "That’s a combination I really appreciate. You’re given the space to make decisions independently, but there’s also personal attention whenever it’s needed."

Finding solutions together

In his work, Rick regularly encounters situations that require quick thinking and flexibility. One example involved a client whose regular contact person unexpectedly fell ill just before an inspection. The colleagues who had to take over had little experience with inspections and were quite anxious about the situation. "The first reaction was actually: shouldn't we postpone the inspection? But after several conversations, we decided to tackle it together."

With additional guidance from Rick and a great deal of commitment from the organisation, the inspection was able to proceed as planned. "By the end, the sense of relief was enormous. Those are great moments. You realise you’ve genuinely been able to help someone."

Work that makes a difference

That feeling of making an impact is something Rick experiences regularly, especially when an inspection helps ensure that an employee receives what they are entitled to. "At moments like that, you see that your work has a direct impact on people’s lives. Without the inspection, the issue might never have been discovered. That’s when you really feel that what you do matters."

He also sees how important his role can be when working with new clients. While a first inspection often feels daunting to them, Rick sees it as his responsibility to put people at ease. "What makes me most proud is when a client is visibly nervous at the start of the day, and we part ways with a smile at the end of the inspection. Of course, there are sometimes areas for improvement, but if someone can still look ahead with confidence, that gives me a great sense of satisfaction."

Continuing to grow

With new legislation and regulations constantly emerging, the profession is continually evolving. For Rick, that means continuing to learn and develop. "Over the past few years, I’ve learned how to better guide clients through changes and new regulations, without stepping into an advisory role. Maintaining that balance is an important part of our profession."

For Rick, that is exactly what makes working at Normec so appealing: the freedom to act independently, the trust to take responsibility, and the opportunity to make a difference every day.