“Out of my comfort zone is my comfort zone.”
Alejandro Palacios says this with a smile at the very start of our interview.
For him, moving to another country always felt like a natural step. He’s simply not someone who wants to stay in one place forever. He likes to travel, discover new places and see what else the world has to offer.
Long before he packed his bags for the Netherlands, he had already discovered that he feels most comfortable outside his comfort zone. An Erasmus exchange in Denmark confirmed his curiosity about living and working abroad. Later, after building a solid professional foundation in Spain, he realised he was ready for a new technical challenge.
That search eventually brought him to the Dutch yacht building industry, where he now works at HOFF, Partners in Engineering, through Middle Point.
Discovering a passion for shipbuilding
Interestingly, maritime engineering wasn’t Alejandro’s original plan.
“I actually wanted to study Aerospace Engineering. But during my Naval Architecture studies, I was completely sold. It’s a world that really fascinates me. You see how engineering and society come together. Everything is engineered. That’s what makes it so interesting. At one point I realised I didn’t want to switch to Aerospace anymore.”
He completed his degree in Naval Architecture and started his career as an engineer in Spain. During the next four years, Alejandro worked in engineering departments on a wide range of shipbuilding projects. Most of his experience was gained in naval defence projects, where he was involved from concept design through to detailed engineering. He learned a great deal and enjoyed the work, but slowly another ambition started to grow.
Looking for a different type of ship
Alejandro had always wanted to discover another side of the maritime industry. Passenger ships. Cruise ships. Superyachts.
The desire to work on technically challenging and inspiring projects became stronger every year. After completing his master’s degree, he started thinking about the next step in his career. Maybe this was the right moment to make that move abroad. Not only to continue growing professionally, but also to build a new social life in another country.
For him, that meant looking towards Western and Northern Europe. Countries like the Netherlands and Germany offered exactly the technical environment he was looking for.
“I always knew I wanted to work abroad one day. That feeling stayed with me after my Erasmus experience in Denmark.”
When the timing finally felt right, Alejandro started exploring opportunities on LinkedIn. Middle Point had actually contacted him a few years earlier, but at that time he was still studying and simply wasn’t ready for the next step. That first connection stayed with him. So when he decided it was time to move abroad, he took a closer look at several recruitment partners. He wanted to find a company that genuinely understood both the maritime industry and the people working in it.
“Everyone says they’re there for you. Everyone says they think along with you. But from experience, I know those are often just marketing claims. I need to feel that it’s genuine, and with Middle Point I honestly did. From the very first conversations, I believed they could really help me further.”
Alejandro was particularly impressed by Middle Point’s knowledge of the maritime industry.
“They know the shipyards in Western Europe, but also the suppliers, engineering companies and the people behind them. They really understand how the industry works. Middle Point genuinely delivers on what they promise, and I noticed that from the very beginning.”
More than just recruitment
Alejandro got in touch with Sally Tarr, Recruitment Consultant at Middle Point Amsterdam. What immediately stood out to him was that she wasn’t only interested in his technical background. She genuinely wanted to understand his ambitions and what kind of life he wanted to build.
The conversations went far beyond finding another job. It was about what would suit him, what wouldn’t, what kind of environment he would enjoy and where he could really grow. Instead of sending dozens of vacancies, Sally focused on opportunities that matched both his technical skills and his personality.
One of those opportunities was HOFF. And then? Everything moved surprisingly fast. Within a week(!), Alejandro had an nterview with HOFF and received an offer.
“It all happened much faster than I expected. Moving to another country is a big decision, but after the weekend I already knew. It simply felt right. And for me, that’s always an important sign.”
Once he accepted the offer, he discovered that Middle Point’s support was as robust as they said it was.
Ready at Day One
For Alejandro, the real difference started after signing his contract. Middle Point helped him with every practical step involved in moving to the Netherlands. His BSN appointment was arranged. They helped him open a Dutch bank account. His health insurance was explained and organised. He was introduced to housing specialists.
“I had so many questions. And every answer led to another question. What really stood out was how quickly they responded, always with practical advice. They guided me through the entire process step by step. I’m incredibly grateful to Middle Point, and especially to Sally. Whenever I called, I also realised there was an entire team behind it. Experts who deal with these situations every single day. That immediately gave me a calm and reassuring feeling. I simply knew everything would be taken care of.”
Before arriving in the Netherlands, Middle Point even arranged a hotel for Alejandro and his brother, giving them time to settle in before starting work.
Before his first day at HOFF, he spent a day at the Middle Point office, where he was introduced to all the practical systems, from timesheets to everyday administration. One particular moment has always stayed with him. Because HOFF was moving to a new office during Easter, his start date had to be postponed by a few days. Rather than simply informing him, Middle Point adjusted everything behind the scenes so he could start at exactly the right moment. It may sound like a small detail. For Alejandro, it showed how much attention was given to every single step.
“They made sure I didn’t overlook anything.”
Middle Point calls this approach Ready at Day One. Alejandro immediately smiles.
“That’s actually the perfect name. Because that’s exactly how it felt.”
Feeling at home at HOFF
Working at HOFF quickly turned out to be exactly what Alejandro had been looking for. The technical challenges matched his ambitions, but just as important was the atmosphere within the team.
“I didn’t expect Dutch people to be so open. Of course you read about a country beforehand. You look into the culture and the way people live. But you only really experience it once you’re here. I’m naturally an open person myself, so it always works both ways. But how warm and genuine everyone was, and how welcome I felt within the team… I could only have hoped for that.”
Then he adds with a smile:
“And of course, I’m really good at what I do. I’m confident in my work. I recognised that same mindset in the team, and that made it easy to connect.”
Continuing to grow
Although Alejandro already had several years of experience, he feels his development has accelerated since moving to the Netherlands. He wants to keep growing, both as an engineer and as a designer.
“I don’t see a ceiling, and I don’t want there to be one.”
Outside work, he’s also building a new life in the Netherlands. Discovering new places, surfing whenever he gets the chance, skiing in winter, or simply enjoying a drink with friends while talking about life.
Why Middle Point made the difference
Looking back, Alejandro doesn’t first think about the paperwork, the relocation or all the practical arrangements. What he remembers most is the feeling that he was never doing it alone.
Every question had an answer and every step came with guidance. That allowed him to focus on what really mattered: starting his new job and building a new life.
“Moving abroad? I wouldn’t call it scary. I’d call it challenging, in a positive way. And that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Middle Point understood that from the beginning, and by bringing me together with HOFF, they really made the difference.”
Read more about working in the Netherlands or Germany in this article.
