Sam started his career at Randstad Digital in 2018, following the advice of 2 of his friends that had already been working here for a while. He had just graduated and was at the very beginning of his career. 1,5 years later, he’s still loving his job at Randstad Digital. Even better: he’s working on his dream project, as system engineer at Proximus. It’s time to get to know him better!
Where does your passion for IT come from?
“I’ve been passionate about IT since I was a child”, Sam tells us. “I was fascinated by everything that had to do with IT. When I got older, I became the IT’er of the family. If an aunt, uncle, grandmother or grandfather had problems with their computer, they would always call me. So why not make a career out of it?”
Sam continues: “I chose to get a degree in computer sciences with an option in network management at the Erasmus University College Brussels. My studies went smoothly and I got my diploma. Not long after that I took on my first project at Randstad Digital.”
“My first project was a lot of fun, but now I am actually doing my dream job: I’m working as a system engineer at Proximus. I never expected that I would be able to do this job so soon. I thought I still needed some more support experience. But when my account manager Christophe offered me this opportunity, I full-heartedly accepted it. My motto is: accept any challenge that comes your way and see where it leads you.”
Why did you choose consultancy?
“At the beginning of my career I opted for consultancy because a job as a consultant offers a lot of variation”, says Sam. “If you’re tired of one project, you can take on a new one. That way you learn a lot in a short period of time and your job always stays interesting. I love that no day is the same!”
“What’s more, it gives me the opportunity to figure out what I want in my career. If I get a project that I don’t like, that’s fine. It’s something I’ll remember when I’m looking for my next project!”
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
Sam: “Flexibility is the most important quality of every IT’er. You can get a long way by being flexible. And your teammates will appreciate you even more.”
“An example from my daily life: a while ago, my day ended at 3.30 PM. But all of a sudden, I got a call to ask if I could go do an intervention in Ghent. Which meant that I wouldn’t be home until very late. But I still did it. Solving problems, that’s what I love about my job!”
“I never know what my day will look like”, Sam says. “My team works for emergency centres throughout Belgium, so sometimes I’ll get to the office and I’ll have to jump back into my car to drive to Luxembourg, for example. This irregularity is not for everyone, but I love it!”
Sam continues: “Respecting your colleagues is important as well. Having a good relationship with your colleagues makes your life so much easier…”
What tip would you give to starting IT’ers?
“Weigh all your options before accepting a job”, Sam answers. “As an IT’er, you’ll get many job offers. Recruiters will call you almost every day. Talk to everyone, so you know what they’re offering. Don’t just pick any job without knowing what you’re getting into.”
“I think the most important thing in this sector are the learning possibilities. One of the reasons I chose to work for Randstad Digital, is the Randstad Digital University. I get the chance to keep on learning and growing, and I think this should be possible in every job in IT. So make sure you are taking every opportunity to learn and grow that you can get.”