D-9 months

I started my new project. The original planning was for it to be finished within 7 months, but it got delayed by two months due to external links over which I had no control. The planning now is that this project will take 9 months to complete.

D-3 months

This is when I officially become a ‘replacement candidate’. This means that I will have to continue working for my organisation for another 3 months, but some things do change from this date onward:

• I have approx. €12.000,- to spend on education, which I will have to spend within the next 6 months

• I will get unlimited (within reason, ofcourse) time off and expenses paid for job interviews, etc. There have been cases where people supposedly scheduled 5 job interviews each week, but that is not permitted obviously. I am expected to still work.

D

My project is finished, I no longer have to work. I will be paid for another 3 months, the only change is that I won’t get certain expenses paid that have to do with being able to do my job. I will still get expenses paid for job interviews.

On or shortly after this date, I will move to Bangkok. I’ll be there for six months.

D+3 months

The official end of the contract. I will no longer be paid salary or expenses and no longer get support from the organisation or the coaching company. My educational budget (if anything left) will be revoked, unless I’ve already signed up for something or classes already started continue after this date.

D+5.9 months

Back in Amsterdam after being gone for six months, to claim unemployment benefits on the last working day within 13 weeks after I become unemployed at the latest. I’ll be in Amsterdam for about one month, so I can go to the benefits office and what not. I’ll receive one month of benefits at 100% of my current salary, which will cover my ticket and expenses but probably will not leave anything else. At the end of the month, I write the benefits people a letter telling them to stop paying me benefits and tell them I’m going abroad for 6 months to try my chances there.

D+7 months

I fly back to Bangkok for another six months.

D+12.9 months

In order not to loose my right to unemployment benefits, I have to return and report to the benefits office no later than the last working day of the sixth month after having stopped my benefits and ask them to resume paying me benefits. The plan is to let this coincide with me running out of funds over there. This means I’ll have been looking for a job in Asia actively for 13 months, but without succes. After such a long period, I figure I should take my losses and return home.