Flux Forward Newsletter – March Reflections: Movement Requires Direction

Mar 31, 2026

As March comes to an end, one theme kept coming back in our conversations. Not just in what people say, but in what they do every day.

Many internationals we spoke to this month are active. They apply, attend events, improve their CVs, and try to stay consistent. From the outside, it looks like progress. But underneath that activity, something often feels off: “I’m doing everything, but I don’t know if it’s leading anywhere.”

We heard this in different ways throughout the month. Not a lack of effort, but a lack of direction.

What we saw in March

In March, we spent more time working directly with people.

During a session at Codam College, Our cofounder, Ben Brink, worked with technically strong students on how they present their work. Many of them are capable, but struggle to explain what they’ve built and why it matters. The gap is not about talent. It’s about translation.

Technical Skills Are Not Enough: Positioning Yourself for the Job Market
With Ben Brink at Codam College

A similar pattern showed up in our in-person workshop in Groningen, together with JobOn at Forum Groningen. In this session, we worked directly on CVs and LinkedIn profiles. Not in a general way, but by looking at real examples and making small, practical changes.

Again, the same insight came back. Having skills is not the problem. Even having a strong CV is not the problem. The real challenge is how that experience is understood in a different context.

Many internationals don’t lack skills. They lack clarity in how their value is understood. That’s the #visibility_gap.

Applications don’t lead to interviews, not because people are not capable, but because their value is not clear enough. Visibility is not just about being seen. It’s about being understood.

Small spaces, different conversations

Alongside this, we hosted a series of small online conversations throughout March, facilitated by Charline Baker-Friesen. Not large events. Not webinars. Just small, structured group conversations where people could slow down and reflect.

We explored themes around work, identity, stability, mental load, and everyday life in the Netherlands.

Across these sessions, one thing stood out: People come from very different backgrounds, but often go through very similar experiences. Dealing with uncertainty, managing daily tasks, rebuilding identity, and trying to move forward at the same time.

In smaller spaces, something changes. People speak more openly. They think more clearly. And often, what helps most is not advice, but recognition. Realizing you are not the only one going through this changes how you carry it.

What we shared this month

In March, we also published a few reflections based on these conversations:

🔗 When busyness becomes a coping strategy: https://fluxforwardnl.substack.com/p/when-busyness-becomes-a-coping-strategy

🔗 The hidden rules of networking in the Dutch ecosystem: https://fluxforwardnl.substack.com/p/the-hidden-rules-of-networking-in

🔗 Why internationals feel behind (even when they’re not): https://fluxforwardnl.substack.com/p/why-internationals-feel-behind-in

Across all of them, one idea keeps coming back: The issue is not effort. The issue is direction and context.

A voice from the community

One sentence from this month stayed with us: “I’m not lacking effort. I’m lacking direction.”

It’s a small shift, but it changes how you see your situation.

What’s next

In April, we are continuing to create more structured spaces for direction.

On Monday, 6 April, we are hosting an online session with Ben Brink: Why many internationals feel stuck in the Netherlands (even when they’re doing everything right). A focused session to better understand what’s happening and what to do differently.

🔗 Link to register: https://luma.com/wvbcewdm

The week after, on Monday, 13 April: The Invisible To-Dos of Life in NL, with Charline Baker-Friesen. A small, open conversation about the mental load of building life in the Netherlands.

🔗 Link to register: https://luma.com/wzgsua5b

If this feels familiar, it might be worth not just thinking about it, but joining a session and seeing it from a different angle.

Online sessions at Flux Forward - April 2026

We are also preparing the next steps for our Activation Circles. Small group formats where people can move from confusion to clarity in a more focused way.