 Between 1982 and 1986 as youth worker of the construction trade union and between 1986 and 1990 as chair of the CNV youth labour union.Between 1990 and 1997 she was on the union's board and she represented the union in the Social Economic Council and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).Between 1997 and 1998 Verburg worked as a businesswoman in communication and projects.