Exellys Stories

Stay up to date with developments, accomplishments and other news and blogs.

6 tips for getting the most out of your internship 15 July 2019
Doing an internship over the summer? Internships may not come with much power or allure, they can be a fantastic way to earn professional experience before you graduate. You can even leverage this experience into a full-time position later on.
DIY: How to survive as a woman in tech 9 July 2019
A few weeks ago, we invited 4 top leading ladies to have a round table session with some of our female Exellysts. They took the time to share their experiences and stories on leadership, career progress and gender equality. Based on the insights of these power women, here are some tips and tricks to handle yourself as a woman as you pursue your career in tech.
Why Unity is one of the best game engines for beginners 24 June 2019
Thinking about getting started with game development but don’t know where to start? We suggest Unity and here are five reasons why!
7 video’s to show you what working at Exellys is really like… 20 June 2019
Every week we publish another blogpost. But what of instead of telling, we showed you what we’re all about? We browsed through our YouTube channel and selected 7 video’s that give you a quick impression of the life of an Exellyst.
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!
7 last minute study tips that actually work 11 June 2019
If you’re a student, June and January usually mean one thing; exam time! If you’re feeling stressed, here are some tips for last-minute efficiency and a care free summer. Because you don’t want to add August to that first list.
How this Functional Analyst is working on the most innovative projects 3 June 2019
Let’s meet Giani-Luigi Driesen, curious to say the least and passionate about football and all things digital. He likes to learn, whether it’s about technology, biology or how people interact with each other. So diving into a major project at Belfius Insurance as a Functional Analyst proved to be an interesting and exciting first job experience.
How 40 consultants hacked the future of work 27 May 2019
1 challenge, 40 motivated Exellysts, 1.576 post-its (give or take) and potentially a beer or two. The perfect recipe for the first edition of HackSmart, Exellys’ very own two-day innovation hackathon.
9 Career lessons to learn from Game of Thrones 21 May 2019
That was it, Game of Thrones is over. After 71 episodes it turns out, Game of Throne’s biggest ‘gotcha’ was that between all the violence, nudity and dragons, the show actually offered some important career advice too. So, here are 9 career lessons that this legendary show taught us. Just be careful, because spoilers are coming…
Exellys is IT Sourcing Company of the Year 17 May 2019
Last night we attended the 20th edition of the Datanews Awards and became IT Sourcing Company of the Year. This award wants to honor companies who successfully succeed in helping others to find, attract and retain the right people for the job.
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.
From engineering student to technical consultant – Meet Casper 7 May 2019
Let’s meet Casper, a 22-year old who is really interested in traveling and exploring other cultures, he’s a great communicator and an awesome programmer. Coincidence or not, those three things are now part of his job as a Technical Consultant at Swift.
How Business Engineer Viktor became a BI Consultant 30 April 2019
Let us introduce to you, Viktor Van Beersel. A 25-year-old BI Consultant who calls himself a true social animal and values contact with other people more than anything else. That’s why he felt a spontaneous spark with both Exellys and Biztory, where clients and colleagues don’t bite but and are just an easy conversation partner.
What you need to remember from Stack Overflow’s 2019 Developer Survey 23 April 2019
For nine years, Stack Overflow has fielded an annual global survey asking tens of thousands developers about their opinions on a wide variety of topics, from which programming language they prefer to how optimistic they are about the future. Following the recent publication of the Developer survey results 2019 we picked out some of the highlights.
How Hendrik became a traveling SAP Business Analyst 15 April 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!
Singularity Summit: Our CEO’s favourite talks & take aways 9 April 2019
A while ago, our Founder & CEO Raf Seymus hopped on a plane to Spain to attend the Singularity University Summit in Madrid, a two-day conference that helps leaders understand how to apply exponential technologies to create positive change and economic growth.
Companies will have to create radical digital sustainability 2 April 2019
Industry 4.0 is ushering in a new era of exponential change, rapid disruption and regulatory challenges on a scale never seen before. But Raf Seymus, Founder & CEO of Exellys, believes that the future for businesses is extremely bright: “While many jobs will be automated out of existence, many more new jobs will be created,” he predicts.
I believe in the collaboration between man and machine 28 March 2019
Acronyms such as IoT, AI, and ML can make it easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges presented by Industry 4.0 (i4.0). But according to Veerle Lozie, VP of Operations and IT at Melexis, there’s no need to worry. “The opportunities will be huge for everyone”.
Industry 4.0 is going to change life fundamentally 25 March 2019
For me Industry 4.0 is about hacking. We can alter genes and create super humans, we can produce new molecules in order to make new materials and we can even squeeze time. It’s no longer science-fiction. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here and, according to Jurgen Ingels, Serial Entrepreneur & Investor, this is how we should tackle it.
Government can enhance trust in technology 20 March 2019
The technologies driving Industry 4.0 have already started to change the way we live, work and interact with each other. Robotics, infotech, biotech, and nanotech are fundamentally reshaping the way that we live. According to Philippe De Backer, Minister of Digital Agenda, the fact that Industry 4.0 will be driven by technology means that up to two-thirds of people will have to be retrained and reshaped in the next ten to fifteen years.
Technology can turn this planet into a garden of Eden 18 March 2019
From autonomous vehicles to digital assistants and self-healing materials, the lines between the biological, physical and digital spheres are being blurred before our eyes. Change is happening at an exponential speed and the emergence of cyber-physical systems shows us that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is already underway. Yet according to Erwin Verstraelen, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer at the Port of Antwerp, many people are unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Google Hash Code: The Exellys Edition 4 March 2019
Hash Code is a team programming competition organized by Google for students and industry professionals across the globe. Some motivated Exellysts took on the challenge and participated in the qualification round on the 28th of February. Six of our consultants formed two teams and took on a Google engineering problem.
7 Habits for unsuccessful people and how to tackle them 26 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.
What you need to thrive in Industry 4.0 20 February 2019
In five years, over one-third of skills that are considered important in today’s workforce will have changed. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, genetic editing and more are no longer science fiction but near future. Companies need to embrace this technological and digital (r)evolution and talent needs to be prepared today in order to tackle the innovations of tomorrow.
A 10 step guide to finding your career path 13 February 2019
In an ideal world, everyone would have a clear calling and settle into a life-long, fulfilling career doing what they love. Unfortunately, things don’t work out that way and many people find themselves unsure of which occupation to choose, or which direction their career should take them. Whether you’re just starting out, or are trying to decide your next move, this step-by-step guide might help…
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.
14 rules programmers should live by 22 January 2019
There are some truly great programmers out there. So, what sets them apart? All successful programmers live by certain rules and applying these rules can help you become more efficient and productive.
How to work from home more efficiently 15 January 2019
Here at Exellys, we’re firm believers in the importance of having fun, having a change of environment and mixing things up. But we’re also experts at promoting productivity and efficiency among our team. So here are some top tips for working from home more efficiently.
Reimagining work in the age of AI 8 January 2019
It’s 2019. Take a look around you. Far from being the stuff of science fiction, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already become an indispensable part of your daily life. But are robots coming for our jobs?
5 awesome last-minute Christmas gifts for your techie friends 17 December 2018
Still wondering what to get your techie friend or loved one this Christmas? Well, stop stressing because we’ve got you covered! Techies are notoriously difficult to buy for, but we’ve picked out five sure-fire winners that are guaranteed to bring peace and joy to any techie this holiday season!
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!
3 Rules for scaling your team for greatness 4 December 2018
Digitalization is forcing companies to innovate rapidly. Tech trends are forcing organisations to become leaner and more efficient while at the same time having to expand their IT teams. How do you find the most suitable employees from the available talent pool? Here are three rules for scaling your IT Team for greatness.
4 reasons why fun in the office is important 27 November 2018
Who has time for fun when there’s work to be done? We do! Our new office is awesome, but, as anyone who visits us soon finds out, it is more than just an office: it embodies who we are and what we do. Our new home perfectly symbolizes our mission: to nurture top tech talents through training, coaching in a fun and stimulating environment.
Attracting young tech talent at an established industrial player 19 November 2018
“Already three Exellysts have been successfully integrated as fulltime Umicore employees and we currently have three Exellys consultants on our team.”
Meet Steve Wozniak in our office 13 November 2018
As you may have heard, we recently moved to a brand new office in Mechelen. Next to our tech talent scouts, talent development managers and sales and marketing teams we also have some very special guests… No less than ten pioneers in tech. That’s right, we named our meeting and training rooms after some of the people who had (and still have) a tremendous impact on technology today. They don’t need an introduction so let them introduce themselves just as they do on the walls of our office.
A brand new office in Mechelen: a successful opening night 26 October 2018
An impressive office, a buzzing crowd and four captivating panel members eager to share their story and love for Exellys on a Thursday night. That is all it took to introduce the new Exellys office in Mechelen. See you soon?
From computer science graduate to technical consultant 23 October 2018
They say first impressions are the most important. So, when Rutger discovered Exellys and everything we stand for, he kept in touch. Because he could not get us out of his mind, even after having committed to another job, he eventually ended up with us. And that’s where the love story continues. Meet one of our technical consultants who, honestly, always had a connection with us and wisely decided to make his move.
Exellys hacked the Port of Antwerp 16 October 2018
As you might have seen on our social media, last week 10 Exellys consultants participated in the ChainPORT Hackathon. Tom Bruyninx, Java API developer at ING and one of the participants, took the time to write down his experiences.
A dynamic private banking environment 25 September 2018
“Thanks to Exellys, young graduates benefit from a smooth transition from academic to professional life in an enriching and well-structured way; the surrounding frame ensures a happy landing in our organisation.”
4 reasons why you should become our next Solution Architect 17 September 2018
The brightest minds are brought together to create breakthrough technology solutions that advance the way people live and work. A team of doers, dreamers and visionaries that is dedicated to helping their customers make their mark on the world. And now they want you to be one of them as their new Solution Architect. Why? Keep reading and you’ll find out…
Man of steel: Where the steel industry and IT come together 6 September 2018
When you match an industrial engineer with an innate passion for oversized swords with an internationally renowned steel company like Arcelor Mittal… you just know you’re a winner! But how do the steel industry and IT come together?
10 questions you should ask yourself after one year on the job 3 September 2018
After one year on the job, it’s time for a Q&A with yourself! It doesn’t hurt to look into your rear-view mirror every once in a while. Not to get nostalgic or go over all your shoulds and should nots. No, it’s healthy to look back at where you first started because it will remind you how far you’ve come, how much you’ve grown and most importantly, where you’re heading.
How a 27 year old consultant ended up working from a beach 21 August 2018
Let’s be honest here, if you were to picture yourself in your next IT job, would there be any palm trees, sandy beaches and clear blue water in the frame? The answer is probably no, unless you work for an awesome employer who sends you on a mission to a tropical island. That is exactly what happened to lucky bastard and Exellyst Arvid who spent 3,5 weeks in Mauritius on an assignment for BrightKnight!
Why talent development matters on the job 14 August 2018
As a team lead or hiring manager, talent development should be one of the cornerstones of your working philosophy. But what is the tangible return on investment of talent development, really? And why does it seem to be so tricky to get it right?
You have a limited amount of fucks to give, spend them wisely! 9 August 2018
Every year the Exellys team gets a book for some light summer reading. Each book is carefully selected for its valuable lessons. This year, we received a book by Mark Manson: The subtle art of not giving a fuck. In this blog post we share 4 lifechanging truths we learnt. Ready to be enlightened? Keep on reading, unless you don’t give a fuck, of course.
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!
Partnering for talent incubatorship 3 August 2018
“A good understanding of our organisations’ needs and the ability to match talent profiles, characterized by an open and flexible partnership.”
How to take your career into your own hands 31 July 2018
Exellys has by now become strongly associated with tech, but (and there is BIG but 😉 ) the fact is that although we specialize in matching IT Talents, we wish to nurture ALL talents from various educational backgrounds. That’s why we decided to share our top 4 hacks to accelerate your career growth.
From engineering student to IT system administrator 24 July 2018
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!
Life is short, work somewhere awesome! 18 July 2018
Having a job means so much more than simply receiving a paycheck at the end of the month. A good employer will give you the opportunity to grow personally as well as professionally while working on a career that you love. As every company has its own unique culture, it’s just as important to find a working environment that fits your personality as it is to find a position that suits your skill set.
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 our Belgian Red Devils can teach you to be better at your job 4 July 2018
We we’re watching the game and it’s safe to say that we broke some sweat. But what we took away from this experience is the incredible resilience the Belgian team displayed. They were defeated, all the odds were against them but they fought back as a team and came out on top! Here’s how.
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.
Are you a nifty JAVA software engineer? 5 June 2018
Integrating automation, engineering performant applications and simplifying complex business processes will be your main responsibilities. In addition to programming, you will be closely involved in the functional and technical analysis of the apps, as well as testing and documentation.
The Glue – A challenging IT scale-up 29 May 2018
“Exellys has an excellent feel for our way of working and knows our DNA well; they always keep this in mind when matching talent with The Glue.”
Kick-ass front-end developer wanted to join the baddest, raddest team of developers out there 22 May 2018
If we say: “bug”, you say: “fixed”. That about sums it up, right? Well, if that is how the overall majority of the company and the customers perceive your role to be, you’re doing one hell of a good job. Because being a front-end developer is one of the most challenging positions to take up within a team.
Scrum in five minutes 15 May 2018
Ever heard of scrum? Small tip: it doesn’t have anything to do with rugby! Scrum is an agile framework for managing work. Today, we’re going to take you through the basics and essentials, the things you need to know to become a Scrum Master. Just one thing, before you draw any conclusions. It’s about way more than playing with Legos!
How Mara from Romania became a Full stack Java Developer in Belgium 8 May 2018
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.
18 job interview tips by Penny, our recruitment manager 24 April 2018
You’ve made a great impression at a job fair. Or perhaps you wrote an exceptional letter of application? Whatever the reason, you received an invitation for a job interview. Perhaps this is your first interview or maybe you’ve got a few under your belt already. Fact remains that effective pointers are worth their weight in gold.
Fast learners, great potentials 19 April 2018
“At the very moment, meeting Exellys was a real gift as they helped us to find the rare tech talent we were looking for.”
The hackathon aftermath 17 April 2018
We organised a kick ass hackathon. The challenge? Crack the code of private banking. Not an easy thing to do. Almost 30 young hackers and hustlers came to Antwerp to take a shot at glory and more importantly to win a 4 day trip to Lisbon’s Web Summit, the largest tech event in Europe.
Disrupting disruption: What the heck is a Hashgraph? 10 April 2018
Hashgraph DLT technology is a superior consensus protocol with a unique data distribution structure. It may be a much better alternative to current blockchain technology. The project is still under development and there is no public version of it yet. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to follow the development of this technology to see where it might lead.
Quick wins on LinkedIn for young graduates 3 April 2018
“Isn’t LinkedIn for people with at least some professional experience?” Not necessarily. You can hardly create a LinkedIn profile too soon. In fact, your penultimate year is the ideal time to do it. There’s more data you can add right away than you think.
Meeting of the Minds: Photo Report 27 March 2018
That’s right, Meeting of the Minds. These are our quarterly meetings with all Exellysts: consultants, internal staff and management. A group that hasn’t stopped growing since 2014.
Our focus? Knowledge sharing and co-creation, because that’s in our DNA.
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.
How to find the perfect professional match 13 March 2018
Matchmaking is serious business, especially when it comes to the graduate-employer relationship. Why? Well, you’re a first-timer, a newbie, a greenhorn… As with your very first serious relationship, the experience you gain will set the tone for the rest of your career.
The ultimate guide to finding a Blockchain job in 2018 6 March 2018
Given that this particular market is growing exponentially, wanting to get involved is natural. If you are thinking of making a career change, this guide will supercharge your move off the sidelines and into the thick of this exciting space.
Google Hash Code: Photo Report 2 March 2018
Some motivated Exellysts took on the Hash Code challenge on the first of March. Hash Code is a team programming competition organized by Google. Here are some impressions.
From engineering student to front-end developer 20 February 2018
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.
Weathering the financial crisis and beyond 15 February 2018
“Exellys offers a special way to attract young IT Talent as a springboard to a career at Belfius Insurance.”
The art of making a job fair worthwhile 13 February 2018
Here is a common misconception about job fairs. A lot of people seem to think that a job fair is just meant to be ‘strolled around’, to get a general idea of what companies have to offer and collect brochures and goodies.
How to go about internships: 6 golden tips 9 February 2018
How do you know if an internship will provide you with the experience and accomplishments you’re looking for? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back and we’ll be breaking down 6 golden tips to get you where you want to be.
Digitalization in the banking industry 6 February 2018
Self-driving cars, drone deliveries, smart buildings, and Elon Musk’s vacuum tubes. The technology is there and the world is ready. But how does this ‘digital is the new normal’ mentality impact the banking industry?
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.
When alliances are formed, both companies and employees grow 23 January 2018
Many companies are working hard on rethinking and rebuilding their employer-employee relationship framework. The Alliance, a book by Reid Hoffman, provides insight and a framework for the new model of employment.
4 Industries that will never be the same after Blockchain 16 January 2018
You might first have heard of blockchain in connection with the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. It seems to be in the news more frequently nowadays, and people are talking about it more and more.
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.
Technology and innovation will save the day 15 November 2017
Exellys attented the Web Summit in Lisbon this November, the Walhalla of all things tech. It was an amazing event and we were blown away (yet again) by how technology and innovation are reinventing the way we live, work and interact with each other.
This is why an IT 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.
11 tips to superpower your LinkedIn presence 27 October 2017
You’ve done it. You finally made a LinkedIn account and filled in the key details in your LinkedIn profile. Then, you made your first connections and maybe even received some recommendations (well done!)
Robotics: join the (r)evolution 17 August 2017
From Star Wars to superhero movies, robots are never very far away in modern life. But this is fiction. Right? It will be reality sooner than we think. The future of robots is here. Now.
5 reasons you aren’t coaching employees to excellence 2 August 2017
Coaching your employees has clear advantages. It provides positive support, feedback and advice to improve people’s personal effectiveness, increases their job satisfaction and develops their career.
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.
5 reasons why your best talent quits 9 March 2017
From my personal experience with coaching over 300 young and promising talents, I see five common problems in organisations that make young professionals think about quitting.
5 reasons why it’s hard to find talent 12 January 2017
Skilled blue-collar workers and commercial profiles are the hardest to find. But IT talent doesn’t exactly grow on trees, either: IT specialists come in sixth place on the list of shortage occupations in Belgium.
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”.
Building the bridge between business and IT 27 December 2016
One year ago, Lissa and Vincent started working for Exellys as IT business analysts for Umicore. Umicore is a worldwide and BEL20-listed company that aims to deliver materials (mostly metals) to the processing industry.
Raf Seymus in Knack GO Startersgids 1 August 2016
For organisations, talent is key to make a difference. But in reality they usually look for ‘experience’ and work-related knowledge. That observation, in combination with my personal experience, gave me the idea for Exellys.