Inside SkillLab: Your Questions Answered

Are you ready for your next career adventure? Perhaps you have stumbled upon a SkillLab job opening on LinkedIn and are curious: 'What exactly does SkillLab do?' and 'What's it like to work there?' We understand. 

To give you an inside look, we're sharing answers to the most insightful questions asked by candidates during our hiring process. After all, interviews are a two-way process. We're getting to know you, and you're getting to know us! 

So, let’s start answering questions! 

Mission & technology

Q: What is SkillLab's North Star?

A: Our North Star is to become the pioneers who modernize labor market systems. SkillLab enables a paradigm shift in labor and education markets by connecting people, jobs and education through the universal language of skills. We want to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to realize their full potential through meaningful work. Our goal is to make labor markets more equitable through the universal language of skills.

Q: What is SkillLab mission and technology about?

A: At SkillLab, we're driven by a powerful mission: to create more inclusive and equitable labor markets. We believe in a skills-first approach, empowering individuals to showcase their unique skills and connect them with meaningful opportunities based on those skills. 

We provide a complete technology solution for employment services. This enables labor market stakeholders – including job seekers, employment services, education providers, and employers – to embrace the transformative approach of skill-first labor and education markets. 

Empowering Job Seekers:

Our mobile app acts as a powerful career orientation tool. The app leverages AI to translate work and life experiences into a comprehensive skills profile. This allows users to:

• Generate Tailored CVs: Showcase skills effectively to potential employers.
• Explore Career Pathways: Discover personalized recommendations for careers, jobs, and training programs.
• Upskill for Success: Identify opportunities to enhance their skillset and stay on a learning track.

Supporting Employment Services:

We partner with employment service providers, our core clients, to improve public career guidance services. Our platform empowers career counselors with access to detailed skill profiles, job and education matches, and the tools needed to deliver customized career services. In this way, we support governments in digitizing career services and transitioning to a skills-first approach.

Want to see what this looks like in action? Read this post about how counselors from the State employment service of Ukraine are benefiting from the SkillLab features. 

Q: Why Skills-First?

We recognize that the traditional approach of employment services that merely focuses on degrees, qualification and titles can be limited and even marginalise some job seekers. By using the universal language of skills, we break down barriers and connect people with opportunities based on their true potential.

Read more about transitioning in a skills-focused labor market.

Culture

Q: What is SkillLab's culture like?

A: Instead of simply telling you, we'd like to show you by sharing the authentic voices of our SkillLabers. For instance, we regularly conduct interviews with our interns after each internship cycle to gather feedback and understand their experience. We ask them a simple but crucial question: "How would you describe SkillLab's culture in your own words?"

Here's what they've shared:

• "You feel welcome regardless of your position, level, or background."
• "SkillLab is a community where you feel seen."
• "It's incredibly international, diverse, and open."
• "The first word that comes to mind is 'young'—filled with potential for growth."
• "It’s very wholesome, gentle, and kind. How is it possible that everyone is so happy and eager to help in this company?"

These responses highlight the core of SkillLab's culture: collaborative and innovative. We value diversity, inclusivity, and continuous learning. We encourage open communication, feedback, and a supportive environment where everyone can contribute their best! 

Q: What learning and professional development opportunities are available to your employees?

A: As a company working on skills, we are committed to empowering SkillLabers to grow their skills.  We offer various learning and development opportunities, including personal learning and development budget, access to mentors and coaches, monthly lunch learning exchanges, and training for (aspiring) people leaders. We encourage continuous learning and skill development. 

Read more about Learning at SkillLab. 

When it comes to professional development and recognition, feedback lies at the core of our culture: This is why we have established a bi-annual 360 degree feedback cycle where SkillLabers receive and give feedback from their peers and team lead, and discuss their performance in the past six months. This is implemented to celebrate our accomplishments, reward or promote the SkillLabers with high performance, identify areas of improvement and plan the next career steps.

Q: What does success look like in a SkillLaber?

A: A successful SkillLaber is someone who is passionate about our mission of connecting people with jobs and education through the universal language of skills, and committed to continuous learning. They are collaborative, adaptable, and great team players. They offer timely feedback, address disagreements and conflicts in a constructive manner. 

Q: What is your work set-up? Can I work fully remotely?

A: We offer a flexible, hybrid work environment, combining working from home with time in our Amsterdam office, where our team and headquarters are based. This setup fosters collaboration and connection, while also respecting individual needs to work in a flexible way. We encourage SkillLabers to work from the office because we believe that strong communication and team bonding are essential for successful team outcomes. This is also why social life has a central role at SkillLab. Read more about our social events. 

Q: What support do you provide to relocate to the Netherlands? 

A: People who don’t live in the Netherlands and are willing to relocate to Amsterdam for this role receive extensive relocation support that covers visa sponsorship if needed, your plane tickets to the NL, covered real estate agent fees to secure accommodation before moving to the Netherlands. If you relocate from abroad to work for SkillLab in the Netherlands, you will be eligible for the 30% ruling tax scheme. SkillLab will take care of the application and will guide you through the process.

Hiring process

Q: What does the hiring process look like?

A: Our standard hiring process typically includes four stages:  an initial screening, a technical or role related interview, a behavioral interview based on our SkillLab values and an interview with the team lead or other relevant internal stakeholders.

Read more about our hiring process.

Q: When (and how) will I hear from you?

A: We communicate all our updates in a timely manner via email. You can expect an answer from us usually within one to two weeks of the last interview stage. We always strive for keeping our processes short and efficient, so you might hear back earlier if feasible. 

Join Our Mission:

If you're passionate about creating a more equitable future of work and are looking for a challenging and rewarding career, then explore opportunities at SkillLab. We're looking for talented individuals who share our vision and are ready to make a difference!