“Everyone working here at SIDN is very valuable to the internet community”
Working in the world behind the .nl domain
SIDN is a private organisation with a public role. "We have a responsibility to help ensure that the internet is open and secure. We're working together to realise problem-free, opportunity-rich digital living for everyone," says SIDN's HR Manager Joanna Bonjernoor. "Everyone here is fully committed to pursuing that goal for the good of society, in line with our 5 core values: independent, reliable, professional, innovative and customer-oriented." Joanna Bonjernoor and Inge Loeff, SIDN's Corporate Recruiter, talk about our community role, the onboarding of new personnel and what it's like working at SIDN.
Working for the good of the internet community
"At SIDN, we're proud of the role we play, working for the good of the internet community in the Netherlands and beyond," says Joanna. "Everyone here uses their expertise to contribute to an internet that's open, secure and accessible to all. We think it's important that new joiners buy into that ethos and take responsibility for playing their part." Inge shares that view. "Everyone working here is very valuable to SIDN and therefore to the internet community," she adds. "That enthusiasm is apparent throughout our organisation."
Joanna: "Because of our shared purpose, working relations at SIDN are very close. There's a lot of emphasis on collaboration, both within teams and between departments. We also organise activities that help us get to know each other better on a personal level. We have an annual get-together, alternating between a team-building weekend away for SIDN people, and a family day for SIDN people and their families. And we're transparent in the way we communicate with everyone that works here. We use online channels and our newsletter to keep them informed about everything that's happening inside the organisation and in its environment. A summary of every management team meeting is shared as well."
Onboarding new joiners
"I joined SIDN as Corporate Recruiter about 6 weeks ago," explains Inge. "The open culture and informal atmosphere were immediately apparent. Before I actually started, I was given a copy of the comprehensive staff handbook, plus access to the 'Join the club' online environment, where there's lots of practical information about working at SIDN. Things like professional development opportunities, salary scales and SIDN's mission, vision and core values. But also practical details, such as parking arrangements and lunch facilities. Then, on my first day, my new team gave me a personalised card and a bunch of flowers. So I felt very welcome."
"Everything that we say in our job adverts is true, and we keep our promises," says Joanna. "We believe it's important to be authentic and transparent about what it's like to work at SIDN. For example, we're clear about what's expected of you, and what your role, responsibilities and salary will be. We're not secretive about things like that. New joiners are made to feel at home, and get a thorough induction programme. A newcomer's early days at SIDN are all about getting to know their colleagues and the organisation. They have a number of introductory meetings, at which other SIDNers explain our policies and communications. And, of course, talk to them about privacy, security and stability, which are essential for our work."
Hybrid working
Joanna: "Hybrid working took off during the coronavirus pandemic. While many organisations were unsure whether to let their people go on working from home some of the time, we investigated the benefits of a hybrid work form with the intention of retaining it. We developed a policy, with guidelines and parameters for hybrid working. Within that framework, individual teams are allowed to decide their own working and collaboration arrangements. We also make sure everyone has all the equipment and (ergonomic) aids they need to work comfortably and productively at home. In our offices, the conference rooms all have equipment for hybrid conferencing. Our 2022 staff satisfaction survey showed that people were really positive about our hybrid working policy and the freedom they were given."
"While we want people to be able to find a balance that suits them, we do believe that some face-to-face contact is important. We see the office as somewhere where everyone enjoys being together and finding inspiration. To encourage that, we transformed our company restaurant and some of the conference rooms into places with a homely vibe, warm colours and lots of plants."
"SIDN provides a stimulating working environment that fosters innovation and growth. The hybrid working opportunities, combined with the freedom and responsibility that we're given, result in a healthy work-life balance. I'm proud of SIDN, not only because we operate a leading top-level domain, but also because it's an inspiring place to work where talent has the opportunity to flourish."
Inge Loeff, corporate recruiter, started at SIDN in February 2024.
Professional development opportunities and other benefits
Everyone who works at SIDN gets a generous professional development budget, so that we constantly enrich our collective expertise and capacity for innovation. The development budget is just one element of a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. "Our people also have access to one-to-one coaching from external professional coaches," says Joanna. "They can talk to a coach if, for example, they're feeling stuck or want to take the next step in their professional development. Since last year, people have also had access to a budget coach. Another thing we're introducing is the option of preventive medical checks. If you choose to take part, you're invited to fill in a questionnaire and have a physical check-up. You then get appropriate advice about things such as diet, exercise and general health. We want to contribute to the wellbeing of our people both at work and away from work. Because the better people feel, the better they perform and the more they enjoy their work."
At SIDN, we use the Agile working method, we work in multidisciplinary teams, and we don't have annual performance appraisals. We emphasise performance and professional development all year round. Each individual has control over their own professional development, with their line manager playing a coaching role. Inge: "Because we work in short sprints, we're able to keep each other updated on how we're progressing, bounce ideas off one another, and make full use of each other's knowledge and skills. It works really well."
"For me, SIDN is like a warm blanket. Everyone is happy to help, and everyone gives 100 per cent. I also have autonomy within my role."
Ferry Stelte, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), started at SIDN in February 2024.
Continuous improvement
We work hard, set the bar high, and are prepared to be critical of ourselves and each other. We're also committed to being a good employer now and in the future. "That philosophy led us to map the employee journey, all the way from application to leaving," explains Joanna. "In light of the findings, we made a number of changes, such as expanding our induction programme. We also regularly ask personnel for feedback. One way we do that is by organising a staff satisfaction survey every 18 months." The survey invites people to rate things such as their working conditions, work processes and collaboration. "Although it's nice to hear from colleagues about what we're doing well as an employer, it's even more important to find out how we can keep on improving."
Interested in working in the world behind .nl? Check out our vacancies at https://werkenbijsidn.nl or do our culture fit test. If you've got any questions about working at SIDN, drop a line to Inge Loeff at inge.loeff@sidn.nl.
