“At APG, you are not just a number”

Who are the people who consciously choose to work in the pension sector? What do they do every day to manage your pension? And what do they enjoy so much about their work? In the series “The people behind your pension,” we take you behind the scenes. This time:Nadine van der Vegt is a content specialist.

You write about pensions every day, but you're still in your twenties. Isn't that subject matter a bit far removed from your own life?

“The job advertisement I responded to said: “You know more about bricks than you do about pensions.” Well, that was true. I even thought: if I ever get to retire, I'll be like, 80, and pensions won’t even exist anymore. I’m more confident about that now, because I can see all the changes that are happening as a result of the new pension rules.”

Do you ever discuss pensions with your friends now?

“My friends still don’t have a clue about pensions. They know I do ‘something’ with it, but they feel the subject is too complex for them. Even just the word pension is already difficult for them to swallow.”

What do you tell them about your work?

“What I tell them is: OK, we are switching to new pension rules. Pension fund participants will receive a letter about this, and my job is to write these letters, along with several other content specialists. Because these letters must include legally required information, they can sometimes end up being twenty or thirty pages long. We draft a document and then coordinate it with lawyers, actuaries, compliance officers, researchers, subject matter experts, and, of course, the various funds. So we have to consult a lot. When you finally complete such a big project together, it’s really cool. My friends think it’s impressive too. But they prefer to talk about something else.”

APG works for eight pension funds. I guess it makes a difference whether you are writing a letter for medical specialists or for cleaners?

“You’re right. Each fund has its own tone of voice and style guide. Additionally, there are frameworks that you need to consider, such as those of the current and revised pension schemes. The Future of Pensions Act includes a glossary that specifies exactly which terms you may or may not use, along with their corresponding usage guidelines. And of course, you also have your own writing style. Sometimes, discussions focus on a particular word rather than the content. Then I sometimes think: hello, this is my area of expertise!”

And where did you gain that expertise?

“During and after my studies in media entertainment management, I worked at various marketing agencies. However, I always wanted to be my own boss, so I started my own marketing communications agency. I wrote texts for insurance companies and municipalities, as well as for smaller clients, including a zoo, an electronics store, and a budding artist. I also conducted extensive participant research. It was very broad and super fun.”

And then, how did you end up at APG?

“Three years ago, I was asked via LinkedIn to apply for a job with APG’s Client Journey team. After an interview, I was sent a writing test to complete within an hour. I was just about to go on vacation, so I did the assignment in the car, with all our luggage and our dogs in the back. Soon after, I received a phone call: We’re going to welcome you to the team! The assignment was so big that I couldn’t do my other work alongside it anymore.”

Now you’re working at APG full-time. Do you work at the office very often?

“No, I usually work from home four days a week. And one, sometimes two days, at the office. Initially, this was mainly at the APG office in Amsterdam. But after our team was reorganized, I was assigned to Heerlen, although I still get to Amsterdam on a regular basis. My boyfriend, our dog, and I currently live in Overijssel. When I go to Limburg, I spend three hours and 37 minutes on the train both ways.”

Over seven hours of commuting? You must really love your job!

“I do really enjoy it. It is hard work, and although it is not always fun every day—because there is a lot of feedback or because something is missing or wrong with a text—I am appreciated as an expert. And I learn something new every day. I like that. The people you work with also look out for each other. And that’s something I’ve really missed in companies, but also in our society, in recent years. At APG, you’re not just a number. I also genuinely appreciate that we have a social purpose. We help participants to better understand their pensions. What’s more, we’re working on improving the pension system, and APG is at the forefront of that, which is also really cool.”

What makes your work challenging?

“I used to work in Amsterdam, and at that time, I saw Limburg mainly as a vacation destination. Now I know that, apart from different dialects, there are also various cultural differences. People in Amsterdam are often quite direct, just like me. In Heerlen, the culture is much gentler. Recently, someone pointed out to me in a very kind and gentle manner that there were still some mistakes in a draft text. That made me think: I have to do something about this. Now, if I have to tell a colleague something that could be interpreted as criticism, I always add: I know this may sound blunt, but I don’t mean it that way. What is difficult, though, is that no one at APG really wants to make decisions. At least, that’s how it seems to me. But in the meantime, we have to keep going, of course.”

Are you planning to stay at APG for the time being?
“Absolutely. Maybe in a few years, I will think: My heart is no longer here. Or APG says to me: Thanks for your efforts and goodbye now! Then I will know I gave it my all. Our project group works incredibly hard. We all want to make a big impact on those transition overviews.”

And how do you recover from all that hard work?

“I love walking, and three times a week, I run. Or I cycle around, with my dog in the cargo bike. I also enjoy reading, and I’m very musical: I sing, dance, and play piano. Sometimes, after a stupid online meeting, I put on a song I like and dance in my living room for a while. After that, I’m good to go again.”