Sem (17) is not made for school, but it is made for technology!

Sem finds his place at Van Bilsen via BergWerk

Some young people only really come into their own when they are allowed to do instead of learning from books. This also applied to the 17-year-old Sem. School turned out not to be the right environment for him, but he did have the will to get started. Thanks to BergWerk he got that opportunity, and now he enjoys working as an apprentice machine operator Van Bilsen in Ermelo.

He rarely had an interest in school. Except in gym. (;

At the age of fifteen, Sem noticed that he had difficulty motivating himself at school. He exchanged his pre-vocational secondary education for an MBO level 1 BBL program in construction. This way he could work four days a week and only had to go to school for one day. But that one day didn't work out well either. That didn't suit him either. Despite his compulsory education, he came into conversation with the right people and an alternative was sought: a place where he could grow. Not by reading books, but by working with his hands.

Sem had previously gained practical experience with several part-time jobs: in demolition with his father, in laying cables with his father-in-law and in the catering industry. Eventually he came into contact with BergWerk, where he signed up with the desire to really get started.

How BergWerk Sem helped

Mountain worker Henriëtte invited Sem for a conversation to listen to what he really wanted. This is how Van Bilsen was soon discussed. On March 10, 2025, Sem started at Van Bilsen, without experience or diploma, but with the right attitude. CEO John likes to see that: “At Van Bilsen we believe that motivation is at least as important as experience. It is often a matter of searching, but with Sem we immediately saw that he really wanted.”

At the workplace, Sem learns from his manager Marcin. “He does something for it, I watch it and then try it myself. And if necessary, he will send me in. That's how I learn every day. No day... no, no hour, is the same here.”

His duties? Replacing tools such as drilling and milling, checking products for quality and smoothness, and participating in the production process of towbars, for example.

No diploma, but motivation

What appeals to him most in his work? “That not a day is the same, and the colleagues! Most are older than me, and I like that. They take the work seriously, I learn a lot from that.”

He doesn't know yet whether he will stay in technology. “I might want something else later, but now I'm in the right place. I would like to grow and maybe get certificates later.”

Are tips for other young people who have doubts about the technology?

“You don't have to be sure right away. Just try it. Then you will automatically notice whether the work and the company suit you. I did that too and it turned out well.”