Stories to inspire

In this blogpost you will read more about the experiences of Willem Hoekman, Annelot Broerze and Allard de Boeij and how 'De Delftse Bedrijvendagen' helped them in their search for their first job.

Willem Hoekman 

Mechanical Engineer at VDL ETG T&D

While finishing my master in Aerospace Engineering, I was unsure about what to do next. I only knew that I wanted to work in industry and gain some practical knowledge in a design and production related field. I decided to join the Orientation Days of ‘De Delftse Bedrijvendagen’ as they are a great way to get a quick overview of a lot of companies in a short amount of time. Mainly, I wanted to see what practical opportunities different companies could offer me.

During the Orientation Days, one company (VDL Group) immediately stood out to me. Their presentation touched upon all the different work and personal development areas that I was looking for in my first job. Therefore, I decided to apply for a Coffee Date with them. Luckily, I was selected and invited to enjoy a (physical) cup of coffee with a VDL representative.

The nice working atmosphere VDL prides itself on was also present during the Coffee Date, which was a nice opportunity to get an actual feel for the company ambiance and the people that work there. While enjoying a drink, the different possibilities at VDL were explained, but most importantly, my personal preferences were discussed and they actively tried to find a nice fit within the company. The Coffee Date kicked off my contact with VDL and, eventually, I started as a mechanical engineer at VDL ETG T&D. A journey that began at the DDB!

Annelot Broerze

Intern, Solar Engineering at Ventolines

For the past few years, I have visited ‘De Delftse Bedrijvendagen’ to broaden my horizons about all the different companies where I could work. Last year I participated with one goal: to look for a company where I could do an internship. 

To make sure my resume was ready, I had a ‘CV check’ during the Application Trainings, which was very helpful! Then I planned my days for the Orientation Days by writing down for each day which companies I wanted to talk to and what time they had their presentation. Each time I enjoyed the presentation, I visited their company stand and talked a little more with the company representatives. Combining the two gave me a rough idea of their company and projects, as well as more specifics about what they were looking for and what I could do as an Applied Physics student at their company! I ended up joining the Coffee Dates and chatting for a bit longer to get more in depth. After this, I applied for an internship with Ventolines, a leading firm in the renewable energy industry, with experience in every phase of wind, solar and large-scale energy storage projects. After a successful job interview, where we discussed different project options, I started last September as an intern in the development team focusing on solar engineering. It has been a great experience so far!

Overall, I recommend everyone to go to ‘De Delftse Bedrijvendagen’. Even if you are not yet looking for something specific, it is already very useful to meet some companies or participate in a training.

Allard de Boeij

Technical Software Consultant at ALTEN

My search for a job took off three months before I graduated as an Aerospace Engineer. Previously, I had gathered some knowledge about businesses and industries, but the time had come to take this to the next level at DDB. 

The application training I followed was called “How to find the right job AND how to get it” and served as a great way to prepare for the upcoming orientation days. The talk focused on several guidelines I could follow while selecting potential companies. This was alsothe perfect time to revise my CV so that I could have it checked by the presenter of the training.

I got approached by ALTEN, an international tech- and IT-consultancy company, at the orientation days. This company sparked my interest, so I decided to schedule a second meeting. After a smooth job application process I signed my contract two months after being contacted at DDB. At the moment of writing this, I have already enjoyed two full months at ALTEN, and I am very excited about my future here!