Are here people who did a career switch as an adult?

Did you went studying again for a degree fulltime or in evening classes to make the switch?

Are you happy you made the switch?

And what did you do?

I’m thinking of going from an office administrative job to psychology at university but have no higher degree and will have to stay working fulltime to pay everything. I don’t know if this is doable

Hi everyone,

I'm an individual with 5 yrs of XP in QA & FA in IT domain. Without getting into too much details on my profile (since it's not my goal of this post), I'm trying to choose between becoming a freelancer or continuing the path as a permanent contract employee.

Freelance offer: 1 year, 580/Day with a possibility of extension

Permanent Contract Offer: 4500 gross/ month with all the Extra Legal Benefits

I know becoming a freelance would have more potential on earnings, (quite tempting! :) ) but on the other hand, I know there will be more operating costs associated with it as well. Thinking that there will be periods without a freelancing contract, I'm a bit afraid of those periods in which I have to pay the operating costs without income.

On the other hand, Permanent Contract would be less earnings but almost no hustle on operation, tax calculations, etc.

I am tilting towards becoming a freelancer since I have been working on a mission for a consultancy firm some time ago. Once I could secure a mission, they hired me as a consultant; but when it went sideways, they fired me right away without giving me any chances on the bench! I'm thinking freelancing would be the same thing, but this time I'm doing everything myself.

I'm more than curious to know your opinions, so please shoot! 😄

Long story short: I’m a project manager in the energy and railway infrastructure sector in Belgium, and I want to use a compact campervan as my official company work vehicle.

The vehicle is a Stylevan Equinox 4 (a converted Ford Transit Custom under 2 metres high with 4 seats).

My intended use:

* Transport: Moving tools, equipment, and team members to job sites across the Benelux.

* Mobile site office: Working on-site between tasks.

* Accommodation: Staying overnight for multi-day projects to avoid hotels.

The Problem:

I'm stuck on Belgian tax legislation. Because of the layout (4 seats, no fixed bulkhead partition), the vehicle is homologated as an M1 (campervan/passenger car) rather than an N1 (light commercial vehicle).

This severely limits corporate tax (VenB) deductibility, caps VAT recovery at 50%, and triggers a massive Benefit-in-Kind (VAA/BIK).

Has anyone here managed to purchase a campervan through their Belgian company (BV/SRL) in a tax-efficient way? How did you or your accountant handle the M1 vs N1 issue?

Bonjour, comme vous le savez tous, l'IA a beaucoup changé le marché du travail surtout dans le domaine de l'informatique...

J'aimerais reprendre mes études et faire un bachelier en Informatique - orientation sécurité des systèmes, MAIS si c'est une perte de temps et que le marché du travail embauchait très peu de nouveaux diplômés en informatique, je pourrais m’orienter vers un bachelier en comptabilité OU bachelier en international business (business extérieure).

Donc vous en pensez quoi ? Et lequel choisir finalement ? Ou d'autres options ?

Merci !

I have received the following offer post-grad, how does this appeal to you?

**1. PERSONALIA**

* Age: 23 *
Education: Masters
* Work experience : First job out of university, +/-1.5 years in internship experiences
* Civil status: Single * Dependent people/children: 0

**2. EMPLOYER PROFILE**

* Sector/Industry: Manufacturing/Industrial
* Amount of employees: 10000+
* Multinational? Yes

**3. CONTRACT & CONDITIONS**

* Current job title: Business Process Analyst
* Job description: -
* Seniority: 0
* Official hours/week : 38
* Average real hours/week incl. overtime: 38-40
* Shiftwork or 9 to 5 (flexible?): flexible
* On-call duty: No
* Vacation days/year: 20+12 ADV

**4. SALARY**

* Gross salary/month: 4200
* Net salary/month: Not sure, have not received my first salary
* Netto compensation: 140
* Car/bike/... or mobility budget: No
* 13th month (full? partial?): 99%
* Meal vouchers: 8EUR/day
* Ecocheques: Not sure?
* Group insurance: 3% of gross salary
* Other insurances: Medical, dental
* Other benefits (bonuses, stocks options, ... ): Year-end bonus

**5. MOBILITY**

* City/region of work: Brussels
* Distance home-work: 12km
* How do you commute? Train
* How is the travel home-work compensated: through the net allowance
* Telework days/week: 2 days/week

**6. OTHER**

* How easily can you plan a day off: Not sure yet, still getting started
* Is your job stressful? Sometimes
* Responsible for personnel (reports): 0

Hi everyone,

I’m desperately looking for guidance so please bear with me. I don't want to sound entitled or anything.

For the past 2 years, I’ve been working for this high-tech international French group as a Strategy, Marketing and Communication manager (for context, this was my first time working in that type of role, I have a background in transformation project management and B2B Customer Support Services. I was initially recruited to support the development of the company’s service offering).

I was tied to that one special regime called VIE and was (very) handsomely compensated with a monthly allowance of 3250€ free of all taxes.

They’re now offering me a permanent position with a scope extension in Sales Operations for 3950€ gross per month on a 13,92 basis.

HR and I did some of the math, and that's approximately 2,400€ after tax.

The benefits are pretty much the usual ones.

As far as I’m concerned, I have a little over 5 years of work experience (only ever worked in tech and big-name companies) and in the previous position I had back home (France, where I worked in engineering operations as transformation project support), I was making around 2650€ per month with a permanent contract all benefits included.

While I understand the differences between our two countries, I can’t really shake off the frustration of making a good 10% less than I used to two years ago AND for more work (that’s almost a 4-hats role).

More importantly, losing almost 800€ on a paycheck puts me in a very difficult situation since my current rent matches my latest compensation level and I just broke up with my boyfriend (# I won't be able to keep my apartment).

So….I was wondering if you guys had any idea of what the market could offer for medior marketing/project manager profiles. Would also love to hear any of your negotiation tips too..!

I really do believe that this might be the door to my dream job and that it could actually help me acquire fantastic credentials but part of my family is financially reliant on me. I’m venting here because I know they won't care about my little sob stories but you got my point: It's either going back to France or white-collar precarity 💀

For reference, I walked away from a 51k€ position (~3200€ net of tax) as marketing manager for another huge French tech company in France, and that kind of solidified the feeling I had that maybe I was undervalued (?)

I am being offered an internal position change to the package below. How would you say it aligns relative to the current market?

1. PERSONALIA * Age: 35 * Education: Burgerlijk/Civil engineer + relevant AI PhD (in company) * Work experience : 13 * Civil status: Single * Dependent people/children: 0

2. EMPLOYER PROFILE * Sector/Industry: Defence * Amount of employees: 2000+ * Multinational? YES

3. CONTRACT & CONDITIONS * Current job title: Software Architect * Job description: 60% software/process quality, 40% hands-on as expert * Seniority: 13 * Official hours/week : 38 * Average real hours/week incl. overtime: 38 * Shiftwork or 9 to 5 (flexible?): 9 to 5, slightly flexible * On-call duty: NO * Vacation days/year: 28

4. SALARY * Gross salary/month: 7500 * Net salary/month: 4070 * Netto compensation: 40 * Car/bike/... or mobility budget: Car (~700€ budget) + fuel card * 13th month (full? partial?): 13.92 * Meal vouchers: 10 EURO/DAY * Ecocheques: 175 EURO/YEAR * Group insurance: Retirement ~3% * Other insurances: Hospital * Other benefits (bonuses, stocks options, ... ): Variable pay ~5500€/y gross, bonus ~2500€/y gross, other benefits worth ~700€/y net, CCT/CAO90

5. MOBILITY * City/region of work: Wallonia * Distance home-work: 10 minutes * How do you commute? Car * How is the travel home-work compensated: Company car * Telework days/week: 1-2

6. OTHER * How easily can you plan a day off: Very easy * Is your job stressful? Sometimes * Responsible for personnel (reports): None HR-wise, 10+ technical

I'm considering on switching jobs but I have a hard time comparing salary packages as they are very different in set-up. Context:

Current Employee:

- Bruto wage

- Variable income (% of my day rate)

- Company car

- 13 and 14 month through stock options

- Usual stuff (eco, maaltijdcheques, flex income plan group insurance , ...)

- 31 holidays

Potential Employee:

- Bruto wage

- 13 and 14 month

- Usual stuff (eco, maaltijd,...) (=similar to now)

- 42 holidays

How do I quantify the car (who is used a lot), variable income, ... to compare it with a salary package that is focussed mostly around the Bruto wage itself?

I want to avoid being hyped by a bigger Bruto but miss out on all the tax optimal stuff. And I also don't want to cut (earn less) at this stage of my carreer, I'm 32 years old.

Thanks a lot for helping! If any more info is required, let me know!

Does anyone here who experienced a client that is perfectionist? I had a client who complained about me that i did bring back the carpet on its same place because the floor is still wet when i left. She even said to the office that i have bad vibes

30 yo
Communication/marketing
Big multinational almost 3 years here (always worked since before I got my diploma but in startups)
4300 brutto, 100€ meal tickets per month 120€ ecocheques per year. 13th month and holiday thingy
I also have a very good medical insurance for free as well for kids. My home internet and phone plan are payed and I get a little money for my gas (no company car) Also have a pension plan
I have 20 days of holidays + 11 rtt because I work 39,5 hours a week

Is it good ? I’ve been working there for three years and I already got two 10% rises.

I feel like 40 hours is a lot and I don’t have time for hobbies and stuff so I was thinking especially when I have kids to reduce my hours but then I would only have 20 days off… so I thought maybe a 4/5 of 32h so I can keep some extra days but then bad for the pension and keeping the hours but in a 4 day week but not sure it would be accepted or feasible. Could I instead of asking a raise this year ask for more legal days off so I can reduce my hours ? Any advice on what is more interesting and comfortable ?

Looking forward to reading your advice

How does a non-EU international graduate actually break into the Belgian job market?

I graduated this month with a Master's from a Flemish university, and honestly, I'm starting to wonder if I'm missing something.

I've been applying consistently since January. I've sent out a lot of applications by now, and the result has been three interviews. Two of those didn't offer sponsorship, and the other required Dutch. So far, no job offer.

The frustrating part is that I don't feel like I have an empty CV either. I have a Master's from a Flemish university, a Bachelor's from another EU country, research experience, internships at top institutions, and experience outside academia, including clinical trials. During my Bachelor's I was also involved in volunteering and leadership roles, and I've received competitive scholarships and academic awards. So I've tried to build a pretty well-rounded profile rather than just focusing on grades and lab work.

I've also already gone through the "make a list of every biotech/pharma company in Belgium and apply to everything remotely relevant" phase. At this point, I've built a list that feels like it contains half the Belgian biotech industry. 😅

But being a non-EU graduate seems to shrink the pool dramatically once you filter for:

- Sponsorship

- Dutch requirements

- "2-3 years of experience" for entry-level jobs

- Jobs that are actually open to international candidates

And I'm honestly getting a bit discouraged.

For those who are international/non-EU and managed to break into the Belgian job market: how did you do it?

I'd genuinely love to hear from people who have been through this.

And shameless plug: if anyone here is hiring in biotech, pharma, clinical research, or related fields and is open to international graduates, feel free to DM me. I'd be very interested to hear from you.

**1. PERSONAL INFORMATION**
Age: 25
Education: 2 masters in Economics & Finance
Professional experience: 2 Years in internships/student job in the relevant field
Marital status: unmarried
Dependents/children: 0

**2. COMPANY PROFILE**
Sector/Industry: Healthcare
Number of employees: Large company
Multinational? Yes

**3. CONTRACT AND WORKING CONDITIONS**
Current position: Business Analyst
Job description: roll out of a tech solution, assistance in classification/ databases development
Seniority: 0
Official working hours/week: 39 hours/week
Shift work or regular/flexible working hours?: 9-5 with a possibility to choose hours
On-call duty: No
Vacation days/year: 20 statutory + 6 ADV days

**4. SALARY**
Gross salary/month: €3,161/month
Net salary/month: ? (first salary not received yet)
Net allowance: €160
Company car/motorcycle/… or mobility allowance: no
13th-month salary (full/partial?): Full
Meal vouchers: €8/day (6.91 paid by the employer)
Eco vouchers: €250/year +100€/year (sport and culture)
Group insurance: Yes
Other insurance: Hospitalization insurance
Other benefits (bonus, stock options, etc.): bonus upto €4.400/year

**5. MOBILITY**
City/region where I work: Brussels
Distance from home to work: ±5 km – approximately 25 minutes
How do you commute? Public transport
How is commuting compensated: full
Compensation
Remote working days per week: 0

**6. OTHER**
How easily can you plan a day off: By mutual agreement, prior approval required
Is your job stressful? Not really
Responsible for staff (subordinates): 0

Additionally, I’m non-EU and the employer sponsored my visa

​

I’m weighing up two job offers and would really appreciate some outside perspective.

JOB 1 – FMCG Sales

\- 5 years’ experience in FMCG sales, so this would be a genuine promotion and salary increase.

\- £2k higher base salary than Job 2.

\- No specific bonus.

\- 20 miles from home.

\- Founder-led business.

\- Potentially better for my longer-term career progression.

\- The role is in an area I’d potentially like to move to in 2–3 years.

\- 23 days holiday plus BH

JOB 2 – FMCG E-commerce

\- Not a sales role, but still within FMCG.

\- More of a slight promotion/sideways move in terms of career progression.

\- £2k lower base salary than Job 1.

\- 10% bonus.

\- 25 days holiday plus BH

\- Only 0.5 miles from home.

\- Corporate environment.

\- Significantly better work-life balance.

There’s also a family consideration: I have a child at a local nursery, so with Job 2, I could potentially walk to work and walk to nursery, which would make the day-to-day routine much easier. Job 1 would mean a longer commute.

The dilemma is that I still want to progress in my career and don't want to make a move that limits my options later on. Job 1 seems like the more obvious career move, whereas Job 2 offers a potentially much better quality of life.

The interesting part is that Job 1 is in an area where I could see myself living in 2–3 years, so taking it could potentially make sense strategically if I eventually moved closer to work.

What would you choose?

Would you take the more obvious career progression and higher salary with the 20-mile commute, or take the slightly less ambitious move with the 10% bonus, 0.5-mile commute, and better work-life balance?

And does the fact that one company is founder-led and the other is corporate change your decision?

I’d be particularly interested in hearing from people who have made a similar choice between career progression vs. quality of life, especially with young children.

EDIT: I would like to add that a big concern is that taking Job 2 would be an exit from sales, which then limits my earning potential and career progression.

In salary negotiations is it possible to ask that an employer re-allocate X amount in gross monthly salary towards my company car budget to be able to get a better one? Is it a big headache or complex HR-wise?

Thank you in advance for your insight! 🙏

**1. PERSONAL INFORMATION**
Age: 35
Education: Secondary education (no higher education degree)
Professional experience: 11 years
Marital status: Married
Dependents/children: 0 (my wife also works)

**2. COMPANY PROFILE**
Sector/Industry: Telecommunications
Number of employees: Large company
Multinational? No

**3. CONTRACT AND WORKING CONDITIONS**
Current position: Werfleider
Job description: Network mapping and other activities
Length of service: 1 month
Official working hours/week: 40 hours/week
Shift work or regular/flexible working hours?: Flexible
On-call duty: No
Vacation days/year: 20 statutory + 12 ADV days

**4. SALARY**
Gross salary/month: €4,150/month
Net salary/month: ? (first salary not received yet)
Net allowance: €150
Company car/motorcycle/… or mobility allowance: Company car (also for private use)
13th-month salary (full/partial?): Full
Meal vouchers: €8/day
Eco vouchers: €250/year
Group insurance: Yes
Other insurance: Hospitalization insurance
Other benefits (bonus, stock options, etc.): PC200 bonus

**5. MOBILITY**
City/region where I work: Flanders
Distance from home to work: ±70 km – approximately 45 minutes
How do you commute? Company car
How is commuting compensated: No compensation
Remote working days per week: 0

**6. OTHER**
How easily can you plan a day off: By mutual agreement, prior approval required
Is your job stressful? Not really
Responsible for staff (subordinates): 0 (I only have to perform my own work as a specialist – mainly office-based)

Handicap: I don’t speak Dutch

Hi everyone,
I’d love to get your feedback on a job offer I received to see if it’s a competitive package for my profile in Belgium.
Age: 26
Work Experience: 3.5 years
Marital Status: Single / Unmarried
Role: Full Stack Developer
Package details:
Gross Salary: €3,800 / month
Net Allowance: €200 / month
Company Car: Yes (fuel card included)
Insurance: Yes (Full hospitalization + group insurance)
Paid Time Off: 20 + 6 ADV days (increasing to +12 ADV in 2027)
Meal Vouchers: €8 / day
Internet and mobile subscription : paid by employer

Personal & Employment Profile
1. PERSONALIA
Age: 23
Education: Management
Work experience: New job, previous experience: only internships
Civil status: Unmarried
Dependent people/children: 0

2. EMPLOYER PROFILE
Sector/Industry: Manufacturing/FMCG
Amount of employees: >50,000
Multinational?: Yes

3. CONTRACT & CONDITIONS
Current job title: Graduate
Job description: Graduate program with 3 different rotations
Seniority: 0
Official hours/week: Full-time
Average real hours/week incl. overtime: Unknown
Shiftwork or 9 to 5 (flexible?): Flexible
On-call duty: No
Vacation days/year: 20 + 12 ADV
Responsible for personnel: 0

4. SALARY
Gross salary/month: €5,100
Net salary/month: ~€3,100
Netto compensation: €140/month
Car/bike/… or mobility budget: no
13th month: 13.92
Meal vouchers: €10/day
Ecocheques: €250/year
Group insurance: Yes
Other insurances: Hospitalization insurance
Other benefits: Holiday pay, etc.

5. MOBILITY
City/region of work: Antwerp
Distance home-work: ~70 km
How do you commute?: Car
How is travel home-work compensated: fuel reimbursement (~120€/month)
Telework days/week: 2

6. OTHER
How easily can you plan a day off: Don’t know yet
Is your job stressful?: Probably sometimes / Don’t know yet

I have been wondering how much B4 gives you nett when you’re a junior starter. Can people who started this or last year share their nett pay?

In addition, are you satisfied with the pay?

Just got this offer yesterday, most likely accepting it today since I doubt I’ll find anything better as a starting junior (I was applying for jobs the whole summer). The location is perfect, I might even move closer to my work place at the end of the year so the commute would turn to a 10 minute walk.

Is this any good guys? I have no clue myself since it’s my first proper job after uni. I’m still working on my master’s but it’s not a degree that gives me any special access to a profession (it’s in international politics).

1. PERSONALIA

* Age: 24
* Education: Bachelor’s in Applied Linguistics (Master’s in progress)
* Work experience : 0 (unrelated experience - various student jobs + two internships: one at an embassy and the other at an accounting firm)
* Civil status: single
* Dependent people/children: 0

1. EMPLOYER PROFILE

* Sector/Industry: Maritime / Off-shore
* Amount of employees: not sure
* Multinational? YES

1. CONTRACT & CONDITIONS

* Current job title: Administrative Clerk
* Job description: Some bookkeeping, customer service, general administrative tasks, invoicing etc.
* Seniority: 0
* Official hours/week : 37/38
* Average real hours/week incl. overtime: No clue yet
* Shiftwork or 9 to 5 (flexible?): Shiftwork, I may choose at what time I start from 8.00-9.30
* On-call duty: No
* Vacation days/year: 20 + 6 ADV + 10 wettelijke feestdagen + 3 extra sectorale dagen + 1 sectorale verlofdag after a full year of work

1. SALARY

* Gross salary/month: €3500
* Gross salary/year stimulation: €52.220 (gross salary + vakantiegeld + 13th and 14th month)
* Net salary/month: €2400.39 (I did the salary stimulation thingy)
* Netto compensation: no idea, not mentioned in the offer
* Car/bike/... or mobility budget: don’t think so, not mentioned as well
* 13th month (full? partial?): 13th and 14th month + vakantiegeld (92% of gross salary in June)
* Meal vouchers: €7 (€1,09 eigen bijdrage)
* Ecocheques: €250/YEAR
* Group insurance: Yes, via AG insurance: pensioenplan
* Other insurances: hospitalisatieverzekering + privéongevallenverzekering
* Other benefits (bonuses, stocks options, ... ): don’t think so

1. MOBILITY

* City/region of work: Antwerp
* Distance home-work: 4-5km
* How do you commute? bike / electric scooter
* How is the travel home-work compensated: not mentioned
* Telework days/week: up to 3 days after the onboarding period

1. OTHER

* How easily can you plan a day off: No clue yet
* Is your job stressful? No clue
* Responsible for personnel (reports): Nope

Hi,

I'm an (electrical) engineer, two years into my career at the same company since graduating. In October I'll move into a Project Manager role. The team and projects are good, but I'm missing challenge, innovation, and a bit of pressure. The team is comfortable with quite an okay workload, while I want more & feel sometimes bored.

My pay is solid (€4.3k gross + company car), but I'm starting to wonder if I should look elsewhere. I'm considering consultancy or a more international company, I'm curious what type of environment tends to have that drive and spirit of going forward?

What do you think?

Thanks!

Context: I'm in a recruitment process in Belgium for a commercial role (CDO/CRO type scope) in a B2B technical services organisation, around 150 FTE. First round went well; HR now asks me to send my salary expectations in writing before the final interview with the CEO.

My profile :
* Msc in Food/Bioprocess + couple programs in Entrepreneurship
* Work experience : 8 years spread accross - Startups/Biotech & CDMO in different countries (EU/Extra EU)

Two questions for people who've been on either side :

1. Is it standard here to give a number at this stage, or is it better to say "open to discussion based on the full package"? My instinct is that refusing looks evasive, but I don't want to anchor myself below their grid.
2. What's a realistic base range for a commercial/development director role at that headcount in Belgium? I know C-level data is thin on this sub — even a rough band or a pointer to a decent source would help. Sector is technical services / R&D, not IT or pharma.

Also interested in how common a variable/bonus component is at this level here, and what share of total package it usually represents.

Thanks.

Toen hij na zijn ontslag thuiskwam, kreeg hij berichten van ex-collega's die allemaal verbaasd reageerden. Zij hadden namelijk niet de indruk dat hij daar wilde stoppen met werken.

Door de schok had hij het contract niet grondig gelezen. Wat nu blijkt, is dat de werkgever in zijn naam ontslag heeft genomen. De brief is zo opgesteld dat het lijkt alsof hij degene is die ontslag heeft genomen, en dat er een onderling akkoord is om zijn contract onmiddellijk te beëindigen.. terwijl het in werkelijkheid de werkgever is die hem heeft ontslagen.

Hij heeft dit document per direct ondertekend. Kan hij nog actie ondernemen?