Astrid Roest

Podcast: Let’s talk money: everything you need to know about salary negotiations 27 November 2023

Money. For some it’s an uncomfortable subject, for others it’s easy to talk about. But we all need it to pay the bills. And whichever way you look at it, salary is an important aspect of job satisfaction. Astrid Roest, Talent Development Manager at Exellys, has some expert tips on how to find out what you’re worth and how to ask for it. Listen to our podcast below, or if you don’t understand Dutch and/or don’t have time to listen to the whole talk, read the blog!

How Sophie’s coach helped her thrive 31 October 2023

One of the major benefits of becoming an Exellyst, is the extensive coaching and mentoring you get from your Talent Development Manager (TDM). If there’s anything on your mind, your coach will give you advice. They won’t hold your hand, but they will guide and encourage you. This is how Sophie Lievens managed to turn her concerns into opportunities, and shape her work into a job she loves.

Podcast: Choose your own path: Laura’s journey of transitions and personal growth 24 September 2023

For this episode, we have a guest who’s very determined and won’t be pushed in a direction that she feels isn’t right. She’s not afraid to go back to the drawing board and start again, even if she’s already put a lot of time and effort into something. Laura Van Loon is a 25-year-old graduate who traded medicine for industrial engineering, and development for project management & support engineering. Her secret? A supportive environment and a coach who helps her navigate it all.

“Having doubts about Exellys? All the more reason to join.” 19 September 2023

Nicola Krynin joined Exellys a while ago. He was offered to integrate into ProjectiveGroup. “Even though I’m usually a doubter, this decision was a no-brainer,” says Nicola. In this interview Nicola tells you all about his background and trajectory at Exellys. Want to know why Exellys is a great place for doubters, and why he’s so grateful to his coach? Then read on!

Why Jordi moved from Spain to join Exellys in Belgium 26 July 2023

Data Analyst Jordi recently completed his Start Smart Program at Exellys and successfully integrated at Atlas Copco. He applied at Exellys remotely from Spain in 2019, and even though we weren’t living in a Zoom and Teams society yet back then, everything went smoothly for him. Let’s have a closer look at his experiences from these last two years…

Test engineering: necessary evil or exciting opportunity? 29 March 2022

Software engineer Lars had some doubts about becoming a software tester. After all, testing software is not the same as developing it. He decided to give it a shot and found out that he gets to do a lot more software engineering than he thought. “I never imagined this job would be so diverse, so challenging and so interesting!”

Hocus Focus: Six ways to concentrate better 19 May 2021

Living in an ‘always-connected’ world has made life more demanding and stressful than ever, with infinite diversions nothing more than a click or tap away. But too much tech is only part of the problem. Here are six research-backed ways to turn the tide and boost your concentration.

How stepping out of your comfort zone can become an eye-opening experience 10 March 2021

Exellyst Katrien Meessens recently wrapped up her StreetwiZe expedition. During three days, the Exellysts are brought in contact with boys and girls aged 14 to 17 who are living in a closed community institution. The co-creation project enables the Exellysts to explore skills such as authentic leadership, compassion, engagement and empowerment in a unique way.

Why energy management is the secret to better work 12 January 2021

In the competitive business world of today, where organizations are demanding ever-higher performance from their teams, we need something that can reconcile the high-demanding expectations towards productivity and results in the mental and physical health of employees. Enter energy management.

Meet the very first UK Exellysts 31 October 2020

After Belgium and the Netherlands, Exellys recently made its way across the North Sea to start writing its UK chapter. With the support of ProjectiveGroup’s ecosystem and strong footprint in the financial services industry, we started growing the Exellys UK community. Let’s get to know some of the people who joined us.

How to raise concerns at work, even as a new kid on the block 27 September 2020

Exellys supports the graduates we place with our financial services clients, to fast-track their professional development, helping them become valuable assets to their organisations. We do this by giving them regular coaching sessions and tailor made training programmes that focus on the skills and awareness they need to excel at what they do.

Will AI take over the world? 16 August 2020

At our latest Meeting of the Minds – the Festival edition – Dominiek Henckaerts gave a mind-bending keynote speech about AI. Dominiek Henckaerts is CEO of the Leuven-based IT academy MultiMedi and has been teaching about AI for the past 8 years. We’re honoured to share the key takeaways of his talk with you. But before we find out if AI will take over the world, let’s go back in time a bit. Roughly 4,200 years back, to 2242 BC…

Why you aren’t coaching employees to excellence 22 June 2020

Many organizations expect senior leaders and middle managers just like you to take up these coaching roles. But you have the feeling that you’re not as effective at it as you could be. Here are some of the reasons why…

This Exellyst created an AI course without a line of code 30 September 2019

Ever heard of Udemy? Well, Data scientist and Exellys consultant Domien Van Damme is a big fan of the platform and recently even created his very own course: Machine Learning, AI and Data Science without programming. In the first days alone, 2.224 people registered. Here, he elaborates on why he took the time to create this course.

How Hendrik became a traveling SAP Business Analyst 21 September 2019

Hendrik knew he wanted to do ‘something with IT and business’ after graduating. And possibly with lots of traveling because he wants to nourish his curiosity for other countries. He found his passion and felt an immediate connection with Umicore, who offered him a job as a world traveling SAP Business Analyst. A match that goes both ways!

How Maxim became an IT system administrator 19 September 2019

In September 2017 Maxim started working at Melexis as an IT System Administrator and proud Exellyst. He made what he considers the best decision ever when choosing Exellys and kickstarted his career from day one with our Start Smart Programme. Today, (almost) 365 days later, he looks back on his experiences. Time for a chat!

Steven: From engineering student to front-end developer 18 September 2019

Surviving your final months as a student, graduating, finding a job that you like and still finding the time to have something that looks like a social life. Sounds challenging with only 24 hours in a day, right? And chances are you’re in a similar situation, or you will be sooner rather than later.

How Mara from Romania became a Full stack Java Developer in Belgium 17 September 2019

What if we were to offer you an international professional adventure? Would you hesitate? Mara seized the opportunity and relocated all the way from Romania to end up as one of our Exellys Consultants. Today she is very happy to be here and proud to call herself an Exellyst working as a Full stack Java Developer at ING Belgium.

How to think more productively 17 June 2019

A while ago, Functional Analyst Jolien Jackers took the time to write a blogpost on the Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy or REBT in short. How do people create their own stress and how do I start thinking more productively? Find out right here!

How Maxim made it from Functional Analyst to Product Owner 13 May 2019

Maxim Van Aert is an ambitious Product Owner at ING. He is leading a team, making important changes within the company and is always able to take people in tow. His endless drive helps him to grow as a professional, while still being down-to-earth and always open to learn. Time for a chat with this people-oriented young professional.

7 Habits of unsuccessful people and how to tackle them 3 February 2019

Bad habits can have a significant impact on all aspects of our lives. They can affect our levels of happiness and limit our successes. These habits can sometimes be difficult to break. If you aren’t careful, you can turn these patterns into a mindset and stifle your potential. A life of success is waiting for you; we’ll show you the routines you should adopt instead.

Why transparency should be a top priority for your company 29 January 2019

Being honest and sharing information should always be at the top of your agenda. The world is becoming increasingly closer-knit and the largest companies are emphasizing openness. Whether or not these tech giants are doing a good job at making transparency a priority, your company definitely should. Here are five reasons why.

Michiel flew all around the globe for a training week 10 December 2018

Wanna go into the wide world, ha? We get it. We’re all young. Most of us like discovering new cultures from time to time. That definitely goes for Michiel, Exellyst for 2 years and traveler at heart. He was able to mix business with the pleasure of exploring Shanghai thanks to Atlas Copco!

The five best talks from JS/CSSConf in Berlin 7 August 2018

Three front-end developers are sitting on a plane. What happens next? Not too long ago Stijn, Steven & Yoran, three Exellys consultants of the ING team attended the JS and CSS Conferences in Berlin. When they came back, we asked them to select their five favorite talks. So sit back, grab some popcorn (and maybe a note book) and let’s get started!

Be smart about your career by starting smart 10 July 2018

Our Class of 2016 successfully concluded the two-year Start Smart Programme at Exellys and we’re so proud of our graduates. It was a pleasure seeing and helping them grow into the confident young professionals they are today. Bright, competent, ambitious and ready for world domination. Their employers are damn lucky to have them on their team!

How to ace your exams with time management 12 June 2018

Exams aren’t everyone’s favourite time of the year; there’s lots of work to be done, a ton of distractions and constant demands on your attention. Sometimes, just avoiding Fortnite or resisting Netflix can seem more challenging than your actual revision! To succeed, you’ll need discipline and a good framework to help you manage your time effectively.

Data Trinity: What you should know about the Data Big Three 20 March 2018

We are fast approaching the ‘Data Age’, an entirely new era that will see the rise of everything from humanoid robots to autonomous vehicles and more.The power that this data will bring is virtually limitless and will change the way we communicate, work and live. Within the global datasphere work can be categorized into three main areas: Data Science, Big Data and Data Analytics.

Machine Learning is changing the world. This is how you stay ahead. 30 January 2018

No machine in the history of mankind has a learning capacity comparable to the human brain. Not yet. But things are changing.

Why engaging your employees is vital 3 December 2017

In the current business landscape, competition for both customers and employees is fiercer than ever before. Despite this, we see more and more in the media that employees aren’t happy in the workplace.

This is why a Tech Talent Scout at Exellys is so much more than a recruiter 2 November 2017

We at Exellys, are passionate about attracting, selecting and matching IT graduates and young IT professionals with the perfect job at the right company. We bridge the gap between the academic and the business world and by doing so we give them both a chance to boost their potential.

Java 9: All you need to know about the features and release date 26 July 2017

The upcoming Java Development Kit – JDK 9 will be packed with amazing new features, including modularization, a read-eval-print, ahead of time compilation, and a memory-saving enhancement.

Talent is overrated, so start smart 3 July 2017

Do you need to be born with the seed of success already in you? If you feel like you’ll never have what it takes to be a good data analyst/blogger/zoo keeper and that it’s just not in you, well, this blog post is for you.

Hunting for your first job in IT? Here’s how you start. 26 June 2017

Finding your perfect job is never easy. But, don’t despair. The good news is that you have your future in your own hands! You’re in the driver’s seat. It’s just a question of finding the right gear and accelerating in the direction of your professional goals.

How to use personal branding for a flying career start 6 January 2017

As a young graduate, you may think personal branding is not really any of your concern. Think again. First of all, personal branding is rapidly becoming a necessity in a fast-changing job market, where you increasingly need to “sell yourself”.