After finishing school, Startz moved to the United States where he lived for five years while attending university, and worked his way through school working as a dishwasher, waiter, and travelling salesman. In 1925, he began working as a sailor, and travelled to South America, where he picked up Spanish and Portuguese. He returned to Holland in 1928 where he found work as a translator but soon was hired as an announcer at PCJJ, which had just begun broadcasting and where his multilingualism was an asset.
After graduating, Startz moved to the United States for five years while studying and working various jobs like a dishwasher, waiter, and salesman. In 1925, he began as a sailor, traveling to South America where he learned Spanish and Portuguese. He returned to Holland in 1928 and found work as a translator before becoming an announcer at PCJJ, which was newly established and used his multilingual abilities.