About us

Job coach

I was born in 1970 in a very small village above Gorinchem. I am married and a mother of two

young adults (a daughter and a son). Autism and energy management are part of our family life

and make me and our household less typical. Long ago, I got my Master's degree at TUE, worked

in the IT industry and since 2013 I have been working at FHICT as a teacher, tutor, coach or mentor

for mainly international students.

I am an enthusiastic, curious, colourful and positive person. I love looking for things (fossils,

Pokémons, birds...) and sometimes I like the hunt even more than the catch. In the picture, in front

of my face, you can see an ammonite I found in France (Cap Blanc-Nez), which I am extremely

happy with.

Enough about me. CJS is all about you! And I am extremely curious about your story.

Due to a wealth of neurodivergent brains in my own family, I turned my career around in 2012 to increase opportunities for neurodivergent youth. Initially, this was primarily focused on preventing dropouts in higher education and increasing the chances of getting a degree. A college degree will do just fine, I naively thought at the time. That turned out to be a mistake. The step to work is quite a challenge for many young people, especially if, for example, you have a neurodivergent brain or chronic illness that makes you different from the average applicant.

I am therefore incredibly happy that Manon Krabbenborg and I were able to set up Career Jumpstart together. Within Career Jumpstart, I focus on employment guidance and (job) coaching in addition to project management. I enjoy solving the puzzle of which job suits a candidate best and proactively approaching companies for that purpose. Even though I work mostly as a project manager, contact with candidates is what makes me happiest.

I enjoy working towards a more inclusive society in which the talents of all young people are used to their full potential and they are happy in their jobs. That makes me happy! In addition, coaching especially neurodivergent youth is always an enriching experience in which I continue to learn and also have many great stories to share. Like that of cartoon character Shin Chan. Feel free to ask me about it (if you have a lot of time).

In addition to a huge passion for my work, you can easily get me to talk for a very long time about Pyrenean mountain dogs and movies. I am also an avid reader and love cooking, eating, traveling and my wonderful neurodivergent family. 

I have had a blast teaching at Fontys Information and Communication Technology for sixteen years and counting. Besides teaching, I'm also a semester coach and an internship and graduate supervisor. I also volunteer as a study coach for Planckgas (Fontys Applied Science). After an inspiring course to become a walking therapy coach, I realised how valuable nature is in coaching. I must admit my bias, as I enjoy strolling through nature in my spare time. Other hobbies are reading, singing, Tai Chi, music, theatre and drawing. 

I'm a mother of four sweet children, with three of them having autism. I'm also a grandmother of a very adventurous toddler and an adorable baby. I enjoyed following the Practitioner Autism course at Fontys OSO in 2019-2020. It helped me get an even better understanding of autism. Recently, I finished job coach training. I can't wait to start this journey together with you!

I believe that everyone within our society counts, regardless of your qualities and pitfalls. As long you're content with who you are and what you do. My focus within Fontys Information and Communication Technology is supporting (graduated) students who need a little more help. Together, we'll figure out the requirements a job needs to make you happy and at ease in your workspace. Few things bring me as much joy as helping students. Other sources of joy are my four children, drinking wine and going out for dinner. I also enjoy playing a thrilling game of beach volleyball. 

Hello there, I'm Lars Veerhoff, a job coach with over 15 years of experience in education. I currently specialize in helping neurodiverse students find fulfilling and meaningful careers.

I take a personal approach to coaching and understand that everyone's career journey is unique. I've worked in special needs, secondary, and higher education, so I know how tough it can be to navigate the job market.

I believe in personal agency and am committed to empowering you to take control of your career journey. I'm here to provide support and guidance, but ultimately, it's up to you to take action and make your dreams a reality.

I also developed a reflective career support intervention called the Career Fitness Journey. This program is designed to help students better understand their career goals and how to achieve them. This reflective process increases self-awareness and confidence, clarifies career goals, and provides a greater sense of purpose and direction in your career journey, which is invaluable to navigating the complex and ever-changing job market.

Overall, I'm passionate about helping neurodiverse students succeed in their careers. My whole-person approach, reflective career support intervention, and practical advice make me an asset to any student seeking guidance and support on their career journey. So, if you're looking for personalized career support, I'm here to help you achieve your goals!

I like to work with you to find a great place to work. A place where you feel safe, where you can develop and where your talents come into their own. A place that suits you!

With a background in Applied Psychology and Occupational and Organisational Psychology, I am happy to support (graduate) students in this search. In this, I think it is important that your qualities are seen, by yourself and by others.

I love sociability! I like to spend my free time with my friends and family, having a drink together or taking a boat trip.

“Perhaps you have to meet yourself first, before you can be yourself,” wrote Loesje.

How nice is it when you can be yourself in your work and your qualities are truly seen, named and used? The feeling that your work gives you freedom and energy because it suits you so well. Sometimes it helps when someone invites and challenges you to 'encounter' yourself and get to know yourself better. Someone who really sees you. 
Really seeing, connecting and appreciating each other are important aspects for me and I find them in my work at Career Jumpstart. As HR Coach for the Career Jumpstart colleagues, I like to contribute to team building, cooperation and optimal talent utilization.
In the job coaching of our candidates I can make a meaningful contribution to the candidates' self-examination through my listening ear and attention. So that they really see themselves. And can then start the search for a job that makes them happy because they experience freedom and their talents are seen, named and used.

Important values for me are freedom, development (discovering new 'roads') and connection. I find these values in my work at Career Jumpstart. And also the camper van in the picture is my ultimate symbol of that; 'camping' is literally and figuratively discovering new roads, together with my family, in connection, experiencing wonderful freedom.

I am a passionate trainer-coach who guides individuals on their journey towards personal development and growth.

Within my work, I particularly focus on the professional side and help students in their search for a suitable job or internship. My life motto, “Be different, be yourself,” reflects my belief that everyone has unique talents and potential (dharma). Therefore, my mission is to help people discover, embrace and use these qualities with confidence and pride.

I have been involved with Career Jumpstart (CJS) since September 2023, a match made in heaven. My curiosity, quirkiness and pioneering mentality come into their own here. Here I feel like a fish out of water, because my passion for being different, inclusion and personal growth aligns perfectly with the core values of CJS. I enjoy meeting people, coaching them and seeing them grow in their own power.

What makes my coaching extra special is the use of dogs as a mirror in the process. Dog coaching is a powerful method where the dog as a pure and honest being acts as a mirror for your emotions, behavior, goals and energy. 

Trudy, my faithful coaching partner, is unequaled in this. With her pure and sensitive nature, she senses exactly what is going on, without judgment. She is loving, thorough and to the point: she gets right to the core and shows you what is really going on inside you. Through her presence and interaction, she helps you become aware of patterns and stimulates growth and change at a deep level.

My own search for “Who am I?” and “What do I want?” has brought me to where I am now, and with full conviction I can say that I am completely in place, both at TU/e and Career Jumpstart. I wish the same feeling for everyone.

So don't hesitate to apply and let's work together on your personal and professional development. The result will be a suitable job!

Why am I súpertproud to be part of Career Jumpstart?
Because we help students use their qualities - even (or especially) if they are neurodivergent. Everyone has unique talents that can add tremendous value on the job market. Sometimes it's just a matter of discovering what your talents are and how best to use them.

My development didn't go by the book either. I started studying at a lower level and as a result thought that my possibilities were limited and I couldn't do many things. But it was precisely the long route that shaped me into who I am today. Through various studies, internships and experiences, I not only discovered my talents, but also learned the value of that journey. So I know better than anyone that growth doesn't always go in a straight line - and that's totally okay.

I feel like a fish out of water when I get to be the connecting link between thinkers and doers. My motivation is sharing. My passion is making an organization more communicative. Success is created together by sharing knowledge and experience. I therefore strongly believe in the power of cooperation. Every achieved goal counts as a (small) success and a team can be proud of that!

As a mother of 3 daughters studying in college (2 more to go), I know better than anyone how difficult it can be for students to keep everything in balance. Especially when personal circumstances come into play. It is therefore very nice when there are guidance opportunities or when help is offered at school, so that you do not get stuck and can continue your studies.

I myself recently went back to school and completed the HBO course in office management and organization. I value personal growth and continuing to improve skills.

I must realize that I am a bit of a control freak, but that ensures that I will take care of everything to perfection and not overlook any detail.

Picture this: you put a coin in a gumball machine, hoping for a yellow gumball, but you get a green one. Disappointing? Maybe. But what if that very green gumball brings you something wonderful?

It works the same way in your (study) career. Sometimes things go differently than planned. Maybe you get stuck, have doubts about your next step or are looking for more energy and fulfillment. I help you not to get stuck in frustration, but to discover what is possible.

As a job coach, I guide you with an open, equal and empathetic attitude - always with a touch of humor. We explore your talents and qualities and how you can use them to resiliently define your path.

With extensive experience as a teacher and career coach in college, I know how valuable it is to work from one's strengths. That is why I not only help you recognize your qualities, but also really use them. My approach is positive and solution-oriented, inspired by positive psychology and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

Do you want to discover what 'gumballs' your career has to offer? Let's get started together!

I have a passion for discovering what really drives you. You matter! I believe in the power of everyone. 

In my role as a job coach, mother, colleague, just as a human being, I always look for your story. I am curious and think with you about opportunities and possibilities. Do you find something difficult? You can! Together we look for ways that suit you.

As a mother of two children, I see daily how very different we are. This makes me aware of the fact that everyone needs something different to flourish. This applies to all of us! I also notice it in my other work as an ecological garden designer. There I see how flowers and plants flourish in different places - depending on soil, light and conditions. And it is precisely this diversity that makes a garden beautiful. The same goes for you: by discovering what your unique place is, you can flourish optimally.

As a job coach, I believe that diversity is a tremendous strength. You are unique and I like to help you discover what works for you. Whether you're looking for an internship, your first job, or you have another support issue, together we look for the place where you can flourish. Life is the plural of guts, and sometimes it takes stepping out of your comfort zone. But hey, that's where the best opportunities arise!

What do I bring? I am curious, listen carefully, ask the right questions and think creatively with you. Trust, honesty and connection are important values to me in my work. And know: You already have everything in you! I help you find the right direction.

I do research at Career Jumpstart. That means I examine whether Career Jumpstart is having the desired impact. I do this by analyzing the answers to the various questionnaires that are submitted to candidates. For example, I look at whether candidates feel they have improved their career skills through Career Jumpstart's guidance. And whether candidates ultimately find a suitable job. I also keep an eye on the feedback at Career Jumpstart, so that we as an organization can continuously improve ourselves.

In the photo I am holding my ring. I have been wearing it since my early teens. The ring is shaped like a broken circle and symbolizes temporality for me. Everything is transient, everything is finite. That may sound very gloomy, but for me it means that even unpleasant moments are only temporary. And that you should enjoy beautiful moments even more. The ring reminds me of optimism and perseverance. My hope is that we can pass on that mindset to candidates at Career Jumpstart!