“I feel too young to sit at home as a retired miner, that’s why I want to stay working”

Ilhan has been working as a temporary worker at Job Talent since early 2018. Since then, he has been working as a forklift driver at the beverage manufacturer Konings in Zonhoven (Belgium). And he absolutely loves it! He explains why, how he ended up with us, and what he enjoys about working as a temporary worker.

From miner to forklift driver

Ilhan: “I’ve been a miner all my life until I retired in 2009. In the meantime, I’ve been working as a temporary worker for several years, and since 2018 through Job Talent. So, for a few years now, I’ve been working night shifts as a forklift driver at Konings. It’s a job I really enjoy, especially the aspect of night work because it allows me to stay busy during the day too.”

Too young to sit at home

“Why don’t I just stay at home like a good retiree (laughs)? Well, simply because I feel too young to be constantly at home. I’m now 58 and I still enjoy being around people and staying busy with various things. Yes, even with work!”

Flexibility

“So far, I haven’t experienced any negative aspects of working as a temp worker. On the contrary! Over the past few years, I’ve only experienced the benefits. For example, if I want to go on a long vacation in the summer? I can, as long as I let them know in advance. Of course, this is also possible because I’m officially retired. But flexibility is a huge advantage.”

The speed of Job Talent

“I worked for another temporary agency before Job Talent, until I made the switch in 2018. And I’m so happy I did! They really take care of everything for me. For example, I recently needed documents for a job bonus, so I called my regular contact person Pascal at Job Talent. I hadn’t even hung up the phone when the documents were already in my inbox! Also, if I need to contact someone at Konings and I can’t reach that person, they arrange it for me through Job Talent. Because I’m retired, I have a certain gross amount that I’m allowed to earn. Job Talent always figures out how much I’ve already earned and how much more I can earn. So, together we determine how many days I can still work that month.”

“I really feel like Job Talent has my back and does everything for me. If I need help, I can reach them day and night!”

The family feeling

“I recommend everyone to work as a temporary worker! And to do that with Job Talent. Thanks to them, I’m now a permanent temp worker at Konings, and I feel great there. At my age, I don’t need to switch between different companies anymore. I really enjoy having a fixed place and knowing what to expect. I’ve known my colleagues at Konings for five years now, and we have a very good relationship. They treat me equally to colleagues with a permanent contract. It feels like family!”