Exellys Stories

How Gianni overcame his Imposter Syndrome 6 December 2023

Have you heard of Imposter Syndrome? Even if you’re not familiar with the term, chances are you’re familiar with the symptoms. Recent research shows that 65% of professionals suffer from Imposter Syndrome. Symptoms include doubting your abilities, feeling like a fraud and perceiving yourself as underqualified for your responsibilities.

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!

8 Things I wish I knew before I started my first job 7 November 2023

Are you a recent grad about to start your first ‘proper’ job? If so, we understand just how you feel. The anticipation. The nerves. The excitement. The self-doubt. It’s perfectly normal to feel a little uneasy before taking your first steps in the world of work. So, to help calm your nerves, here are eight things you should know before starting your first job.

Turin to Rotterdam, how Sara became a KYC Specialist 6 November 2023

Originally from Turin in Italy, Sara Baudetto is a shining example of the potential that awaits those who dare to step out of their comfort zones and embrace new challenges. She wanted more for herself than her native country could offer, so she ventured out. Now, she’s enjoying the perfect blend of her dream job at Rabobank and the continued coaching and training from Exellys.

5 benefits of studying in a group and why it works so well 5 November 2023

Collective study has grown in popularity over the last decade. Students gather in a particular place, such as a library, to sit together in silence and study – sometimes with hundreds of people in the same room. What are the advantages of studying together? Why does it work so well? And where can you find a good study space? That’s what we’re going to explore in this blog post.

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: “Our brain is not a storage unit” 29 October 2023

This is an episode full of firsts. For the first time, we have someone behind the mic who used to be a colleague, but is now a training partner. This episode, we’re not going to dive into someone’s personal story, but rather give you concrete tips and tricks to make you more productive and calmer at the same time. And for the first time, we’re doing this blog not as a translated, written account of the conversation, but mainly as an informative piece listing the gist of what you need to know about time management and productivity. If you’re intrigued and want to learn more, we invite you to listen or watch the full podcast episode below.

Perspective over perfection: How to secure a talent-filled future 16 October 2023

When it comes to the talent shortage, we’re not out of the woods yet. In the fast-evolving landscape of the business world, the traditional approach to recruitment should give way to a more flexible and forward-thinking mindset. Stop looking for that “five-legged sheep”, that one perfect candidate that checks all the boxes. Instead, focus on perspective over perfection and see how this approach can lead to a more engaged, committed and motivated workforce.

How to drastically improve your workforce retention 27 September 2023

1/3 of new starters changes employers in the first year… If you’re an employer, and these stats don’t worry you, you’re obviously doing something right. Congrats! But for the rest of us mere mortals, the rewards of improving workforce retention should be obvious. If your turnover is less than ideal and you’re interested in doing something about it, keep reading.

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!

How data analytics can help you keep talent on board 18 September 2023

With the imbalance between supply and demand of talent, the generational shift and worldwide societal changes, it has never been more difficult to keep employees engaged and motivated. Though we want to stress the importance of establishing a personal relationship with your staff and really getting to know them, there’s also a case to be made for using data analytics to improve talent retention. In this blog, we’ll zoom in on how to use data to keep your talent on board.

Exellys on tour – Meet us at your local job fair 12 September 2023

Here’s a (pretty lengthy) list of all the job fairs and events we’re doing in the upcoming weeks and months. So grab your calendar, start highlighting some dates and let’s have a conversation. Our tech talent scouts, consultants and talent development managers are looking forward to meeting you.

Podcast: Pushing Limits: Finding Growth Outside Your Comfort Zone 27 August 2023

At Exellys, we believe in the power of partnerships. Since our foundation in 2014, we’ve counted on training organisation Outward Bound to facilitate certain workshops and growth trajectories. Today, we’ve invited Dirk De Vilder on our podcast. Dirk is programme director and senior facilitator at Outward Bound and has been with us since the beginning. In this episode, we talk about the value of being out in nature, getting out of your comfort zone, and learning about team dynamics and feedback. All while focusing on self-reflection and individual growth.

Writing magnetic job descriptions: 10 tips to captivate top talent 15 August 2023

When it comes to technical jobs today, the demand far outweighs the supply. Graduates and talent with technical skills have their jobs for the taking. So how can you get their attention in a sea of similar job descriptions? How can you make your organisation stand out? And how can you inspire talented people to apply for the position you’re offering? Here are 10 tips on writing an effective and captivating job description that will attract top candidates!

The challenges of being a Transformation Consultant 3 August 2023

At the latest Meeting of the Minds, our Business Tribe gave a presentation about ‘Agile transformation in a big company’. Which challenges does change hold, […]

How Business Engineer Charles gets to pursue two careers at once 31 July 2023

Meet Charles Vanhaesebroucke. As an Exellyst, he combines the role of business analyst with the role of functional analyst at insurance company Nationale Nederlanden (NN) in the non-life insurance segment.

5 mistakes managers make during an interview (and how to do better) 31 July 2023

The internet is full of helpful articles on how not to botch an interview as a candidate. But what nobody seems to be talking about is how you can lose a great candidate due to a terrible interview. If the interview isn’t done right, the young talent can be left feeling uncomfortable and frustrated. This can lead to him/her rejecting an offer and signing a contract with a competitor.

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…

Podcast: “It’s never too late to change your career” 23 July 2023

Our guest for this episode of Exellys Talks is an experienced professional from South Africa. She came to Belgium, went back to school, and is now working as a business manager at ING. Sindy de Jonge is an inspiration to women, people who aren’t 20 anymore, and everyone who doesn’t have Dutch as a first language. She’s living proof that you can do it if you believe in yourself. “It’s never too late to change your career,” she says.

The Talent Shortage Challenge: how to adapt your hiring strategy 13 July 2023

Companies worldwide are hard-pressed to find, hire and retain talented employees. The talent shortage puts talent in the driver’s seat: if they don’t like you as an employer, they can just go elsewhere. So how do you deal with this talent shortage and what can you do to become more attractive as an employer? Here are five effective ways to adapt and future-proof your hiring strategy.

“As women, we need to support each other and share our knowledge” 3 July 2023

Sindy is not your typical Exellyst. Her trajectory has been so unique and inspiring that we simply had to share it. She faced and overcame many challenges: from having a different nationality, speaking a different language, to being a woman in a male-dominated industry: she crushed all these hurdles in her own upbeat and enthusiastic fashion.

Podcast: Looking for work? Here’s what (not) to do 26 June 2023

At the mic for this episode of our podcast Exellys Talks is Lenny Sluyts (28). Lenny started at Exellys in 2020, first as a recruiter and now as a full-time account manager. He’s still got a heart for recruitment though, which is why we’ve invited him to talk about the topic “applying for jobs”. What do you need to do to get noticed by recruiters? What are some do’s and don’ts during the interview? And what comes next? Let’s find out.

6 good reasons to invest in employee development 20 June 2023

If you’re not doing it already, it’s high time you make learning and development a focus of your company culture. Sure, it’s a bit of an investment, but it comes with great benefits: it helps you attract and retain top talent, boosts productivity and profitability, and helps you prepare your company for the future. Investing in your employees’ development not only makes them better equipped for their current roles, it also makes them good candidates for promotion so they can progress in their career path.

How 2 Exellysts got ownership of a sustainability project at HPE 12 June 2023

Exellysts Sien Van Broekhoven and Cedric Plouvier got to tackle a really cool sustainability project at their client, HPE. “We learned a lot from this project, and it was great that we got so much responsibility and autonomy,” Sien says. “Afterwards, we got to present our results to HPE Worldwide. Great for our visibility,” Cedric adds.

Chasing a Data Career in London: Meet Daniëlle 7 June 2023

Meet Daniëlle Metz, one of our first hires in the Netherlands since Exellys opened a brand-new office in Amsterdam. She just finished a 3-month data traineeship in London that we organised together with DTSQUARED.

Why personal development is so much more valuable than a fancy company car 5 June 2023

Especially in the earlier stages of your career, looking for personal development opportunities should be your priority over the actual money you’re making, the perks you’re receiving or the company car you’re driving. Try to look at it as an investment in future you. Trust us, the ROI will be worth it!

Podcast: “We tend to focus on hard skills, but in reality soft skills have more impact.” 29 May 2023

For this episode of our podcast Exellys Talks, we’ve invited Exellys alumna Svetlana Arutunyan. Svetlana is an expert by experience, since she has already completed her 2 year Start Smart programme at Exellys. Now, she has integrated at Belfius Bank where she’s working as a Functional Analyst.

Stuck in a Golden Cage? Here’s how to get out! 15 May 2023

Ever heard of the Golden Cage Syndrome? It’s a phenomenon that affects a lot of people at some point in their career. And while it may sound nice, it’s probably best to avoid. Here’s why…

10 tips to succeed at your first job 1 May 2023

It’s natural to have some nervous jitters when starting a new job, especially if it’s your first one. You might find the reality of working doesn’t align with your expectations, and there are always things you weren’t prepared for. In this blog, we give you 10 concrete tips on how to make your first job a success.

Podcast: If you want to attract talented people, do this 24 April 2023

In all Exellys countries, and especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, we continue to face a talent shortage. Finding and retaining talent is hard, and yet there are still a lot of companies who approach recruitment from a position of abundance. In this podcast we’d like to share with you our insights, that come from our years of expertise in attracting, developing and retaining talent. We will share with you 3 things we believe companies should be doing today to be relevant tomorrow, and we’ll give you a few concrete tips so you can improve your hiring strategy right away.

How will cloud computing change your organisation’s way of working? 22 April 2023

In today’s world where data is king, cloud computing is the undisputed reigning queen. It provides access to your company’s data from anywhere on any smart device connected to the internet.

From Communication Scientist to Software Developer 18 April 2023

Thomas Tielens is a communication scientist turned software developer. After Covid disrupted his career – which he wasn’t too bothered about to be honest – he decided to go in a different direction. He took a specialised course in .NET and joined Exellys in the summer of 2022. “When I saw all the promises Exellys made on their website, I was critical. But as it turns out, they really do all that stuff!” Read all about how happy Thomas is in his job now. “I really feel I found my place,” he says.

5 ways ChatGPT will make your life in IT easier 11 April 2023

Have you heard about ChatGPT? It’s the latest innovation that has caused a global buzz, both positive and negative, as all new things tend to do. However, there’s no denying that it’s pretty impressive. At its core, ChatGPT is a tool that can assist us with daily tasks, and it has been disrupting various sectors, including the tech industry. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the IT use cases of ChatGPT, but before we delve into that, let’s catch up those of you who haven’t heard of ChatGPT, you know, those who have been living under a rock.

How to form high performing teams in hybrid enviroments 6 April 2023

Just like every year we had another great edition of Meeting of the Minds. Organized by our very own consultants. During this event, there were a lot of interesting talks, panel discussion and some great opportunities to network. This years panel discussion was all about “how to form high performing teams in a hybrid environment”. We invited Jeff Van Calster(Projectivegroup), Sandrine Murrath(Belfius), Mohamed Ahmed Shallo(Swift) and Marc Gielis(Illumina) to come and talk about this subject. Here are some key takeaways from the panel discussion. 

7 reasons why a good internship programme can help your business thrive 3 April 2023

If you don’t yet offer internships, make it a New Year’s resolution for 2023! If you do have an internship programme, make sure you’re taking full advantage of all its opportunities. In this article, we share 7 reasons why a good internship programme can contribute to the success of your organisation. We also give a few tips on how you can make your interns happy – and ensure your own success.

How can coaching unlock your full potential? 27 March 2023

One of the things that makes Exellys unique, is our emphasis on coaching. But what exactly do we mean by ‘coaching’? What’s the difference between an Exellys coach and other people who claim the title? And most importantly, what can a coach do for your career?

7 office pranks to try out this April Fool’s 26 March 2023

With April Fool’s coming up you might be still looking for some office prank inspiration. Keep on reading for some of the internet’s greatest examples.

7 soft skills you need in today’s business world 20 March 2023

You’ve mastered all the skills and knowledge required to get a degree, but will that be enough to help you land your first job? Probably not. So what are soft skills? Why are they important? And which ones do you need? Those are exactly the questions we’re looking at today!

Why salary isn’t everything – 7 things to consider during your job hunt 13 March 2023

Often times, when it comes to deciding which job to take, gross salary will be the determining factor. You might think that more money equals more happiness and a better quality of life, but that isn’t true. In fact, it might be the exact opposite – when more money means spending 80 hours a week doing something you hate, that’ll hardly be beneficial to your general sense of wellbeing.

The power of your purpose: how to create a meaningful job 7 March 2023

While previous generations valued a stable and reliable income, Millennials and Gen Z value purpose over a paycheck. In fact, according to a survey conducted by BetterUp, 9 out of 10 employees would be willing to accept a pay cut in exchange for a more meaningful job. How about you?

Exellys is nominated for Trends Gazellen 2023 6 March 2023

We’re thrilled to announce that Exellys has yet again been nominated for a Trends Gazellen award in the category ‘large companies’.

You should stop chasing unicorns, and here’s why 27 February 2023

You already know there’s a talent shortage, why should you read another article about the war for talent? Because at Exellys, we’re not talking about a war for talent anymore. We’re talking about a war for people. And we will tell you how to be victorious. To arms!

We’ll meet you in the metaverse 17 February 2023

Key takeaways of an inspirational session by Pieter Van Leugenhagen We recently hosted an inspirational session about the Metaverse for our alumni. In this article, […]

5 reasons why you can achieve more with a coach 13 February 2023

A coach guides people who want to make progress in their personal or professional life. Traditionally, the coachee reaches out to the coach and sets the goals. At Exellys, we go about coaching in a different way. It’s more of a two-way street: of course, consultants can bring up topics or issues to their coach, but the coach will play a more active role in defining ambitions, talents, objectives and key results. That’s why we don’t refer to them as ‘coaches’, we call them ‘Talent Development Managers’ (TDMs). Their mission is to help you develop your talent. Their goal is to help you thrive and set you apart from your peers.

Junior Compliance Officers: a sustainable solution to your recurring challenge 6 February 2023

Many of our clients invest heavily in Risk & Compliance. There’s pressure on financial institutions to be compliant with strict laws and regulations, which are constantly evolving. Keeping up is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s hard work and costs a lot of time and energy – resources you don’t always have in-house. While it might be tempting to just ask for support from an external consultant (which we’re happy to do, by the way), we want to make a case for a more sustainable and shared solution.

“I am living proof that the Exellys model really works” 30 January 2023

Tim Koster is living, breathing proof that the Exellys model works. Transitioning from the academic to the professional world is never easy, but he grabbed on to the training and coaching he got from Exellys, did the work and came out on top. That’s why we invited him for a chat about his Exellys journey so far.

Does size matter? The pros and cons of working for a big company or a small firm 17 January 2023

What’s better: working for a big company or a small firm? The truth is, there is no right answer to that question. It’s all about your personality and what works best for you. Below we give you the (dis)advantages of both, so you can make up your own mind about which type of company suits you best.

7 last minute study tips that actually work 29 December 2022

If you’re a student, January and June 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.

The best ways to attract (and retain) talent in 2023 20 December 2022

The Great Resignation, the Big Quit, the Workers Revolution and many more terms have been coined to describe the current workplace transition. Employees are recalibrating what they expect from their employers. It’s no surprise that recruiting and retaining people is one of the most difficult challenges companies are facing. The competition for talent intensifies. So if you want to kick your HR goals in 2023, you should include these four recruitment and retention tactics in your strategy.

How to engage young talent: 4 tips for a future-proof talent strategy 12 December 2022

The times they are a-changin’, sang Bob Dylan. You better start swimming, or you’ll sink like a stone. It was true nearly 60 years ago, and it’s true today. With the rise of every new generation comes a shift in world views, and the things young people find important in a job change too.

5 awesome last-minute Christmas gifts for your techie friends 9 December 2022

Still wondering what to get your techie friend or loved one this Christmas? Well, stop stressing because we’ve got you covered!

6 tips for getting the most out of your internship 8 December 2022

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.

The possibility to work from home is not enough anymore 29 November 2022

What you need today to attract and retain talent is a hybrid working policy. This isn’t news to you. But did you know that, in order to be competitive, you need to offer more than the mere opportunity to work from home? Say hello to the age of the hub!

5 strategies to succeed fast in your new role 22 November 2022

People nowadays tend to switch roles a lot more frequently than previous generations ever did. Millennials and Gen Z’ers will have on average twelve different jobs throughout their lives. Internal moves are also increasingly common. But those transitions aren’t easy, even if you move to a new role within the same company. A Gartner survey indicates that 49% of people promoted within their own companies are underperforming up to 18 months after the change. That’s surprising, isn’t it? After all, these people know the company, they have the right skills and experience and they’ve been vetted for cultural fit. So why are they performing so poorly?

How young talent helps your organisation thrive 15 November 2022

About six years ago, a global player in the financial services industry reached out to ProjectiveGroup for the roll-out of a Pilot around an innovative service in the correspondent banking landscape. After the successful launch in 2016, this initiative rapidly became the new standard in cross-border payments ensuring that international payments met the industry’s needs for speed, traceability and transparency.

10 questions you should ask during your next job interview 7 November 2022

We live in a time when interviewees, especially if they are skilled in new technologies, have the upper hand. So as a tech graduate, it’s okay for you to be critical of your prospective employer. You should use the interview to your advantage, to learn as much as you can about the company and the role you’re interviewing for.

3 scenarios for work organisation during the hybrid revolution 25 October 2022

In the aftermath of the pandemic, companies need a new vision for the organisation of work. Remote working offers an opportunity to increase employee engagement, productivity, well-being and retention in one fell swoop. How? By organising work around the motivation of workers.

Video: How a Bio Engineer ended up as a Project Manager in Germany 3 October 2022

Meet Luigi, a 27 year-old Bio Engineering graduate and IT Project Manager. In this video, Luigi tells us all about his professional journey so far.

Log4Shell: Securing the Web of Interconnectedness (video) 26 September 2022

At the end of last year, the Log4Shell vulnerability detected in the Apache Log4j library made thousands of companies and security officers around the world grind their teeth in anxiousness. It was a huge problem, and it needed to be addressed immediately.

5 reasons why you should pursue a career in Data Engineering 17 September 2022

We’re just going to come out and say it: Data Engineering kicks Data Science’s ass. But before we dive into the why’s, let’s recap quickly what the difference is between Data Engineers and Data Scientists.

16 technology conferences that you cannot miss 13 September 2022

It might seem like a silly question, but why would you go to a conference? In our busy, online-driven society, it’s easy to forget how important being in a face-to-face, in-person setting is.

Learning about .NET6 and Quantum Computing in Las Vegas – Hendrik’s DevIntersection recap 5 September 2022

In December of last year, Exellyst Hendrik Danau attended the renowned DevIntersection conference in Las Vegas. Let’s dive into the world of .NET6, Quantum Computing and casinos.

Reverse engineering your favourite game: what is it, why do it and how to start 30 August 2022

In his spare time, Exellys alumnus Olivier likes to reverse engineer games. Though it is a very niche subject, his peers at Exellys were curious to know more about it, so during his tribe’s ‘Talk of the Minds’, Olivier gave a presentation on the subject.

5 reasons why you should always take the interview (even if you’re not looking for a job) 22 August 2022

Maybe you’re comfortable where you are and you don’t want to be looking over the proverbial fence. Maybe you’re afraid of change, of stepping out of your comfort zone. These might be reasons not to take an interview. But we’re here to tell you: even if you’re not looking for a new job, it’s always a good idea to go on interviews

TRUE OR FALSE: Statements about working in the financial sector 16 August 2022

What is a job in finance really like? Can you really have a positive impact on society or are you just a small step away from becoming the next Wolf of Wallstreet?

How to balance your head & your gut: 8 tips to help you choose between employers 8 August 2022

In an age where the war for talent has debouched into a war for people, young graduates with technological skills are entering a job market where possibilities are abundant.

Why you should consider a career in Cloud Computing 18 July 2022

Thinking of starting your career in Cloud Computing? Smart choice. As we’re still in the early days of Cloud, the opportunities are endless, always evolving and available across every industry. So, you’re almost guaranteed an exciting and rewarding future.

8 Cloud Roles explained 12 July 2022

Thinking of starting your career in Cloud Computing? Smart choice. As we’re still in the early days of Cloud, the opportunities are endless. So, you’re almost guaranteed an exciting and rewarding future. But what does such a career actually look like?

Beyond buzzwords: why A.I. isn’t always the best solution (video) 6 July 2022

Wim is an Exellyst working as a Business Analyst (in RPA & Data Science) at Umicore, and one of the people in charge of finding new and improved ways of managing repetitive administrative tasks such as logging worked hours. They need a better, more user-friendly tool than the one they currently use, which was around since before Wim was even born. So they got in touch with a scale-up launching a new time management tool and scheduled a meeting.

How Erik’s Master in A.I. landed him a job as a DevOps Engineer 21 June 2022

How does a psychology student end up as a DevOps Engineer? Actually, it’s not as far of a stretch as you might think. Erik Lokhorst told us all about this trajectory and his first experiences as an Exellyst.

Kubernetes: An introduction to high availability (video) 13 June 2022

Meet Jochen Wilms, Exellys almunus & Software Engineer at ProjectiveGroup company The Glue. During one of latest events, he took the stage to give a talk on Kubernetes, or k8s, in short.

It’s a match! Kasper and Lise’s client integration journey (video) 31 May 2022

Kasper Belmans and Lise Willemsens have both been proud Exellysts since 2020 Kasper recently integrated at his client, Corona Direct and Lise is feeling right at home at Belfius Insurance. At one of our recent events, they gave a brief presentation about how they experienced their journey

The case of consultant vs employee (video) 11 May 2022

If you’re unsure whether you’re cut out for consultant life, or whether you’d rather be an internal employee, this panel is an interesting way to spend 40 minutes. In this talk, Patrick Goysens (Belfius Insurance), Koen Ermgodts (Projective), Wido Steenmans (Teal partners) and Jelle Van Langendonck (Pareteum) share and discuss their views on consultancy.

5 reasons why your best talent quits 22 April 2022

From our personal experience with coaching over 300 young and promising talents, there are five common problems in organizations that make young professionals think about quitting.
Remember, you don’t need all five to lose your top talent — one can be enough.

Video: How Denny became a .NET Developer 15 April 2022

Meet Denny, AP Hogeschool graduate (Bachelor in Electronics/ICT) and currently a .NET Development Consultant at Ferranti. In 12 minutes Denny will take you through his entire Exellys experience, covering why he chose for Exellys, the selection procedure, the training and coaching and everything in between.

Why it’s hard to find talent (and how to solve it) 11 April 2022

With only a limited number of yearly graduates with a tech related background, it’s safe to say that tech talent isn’t growing on trees. But why exactly is it so hard to find talent and how can we tackle this?

The do’s and don’ts of office pranks 29 March 2022

How do you make sure that you don’t turn your office prank into a career limiting move? We listed some easy to remember do’s and don’ts, so that your next (or first) office prank won’t get you fired.

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!”

How Tom became a Business Consultant 12 March 2022

Tom Casteelen was one of the very first consultants joining Exellys in the Netherlands. When he was finishing his Master’s, his plan was to start working for a major consultancy firm. But then he got a LinkedIn message from our Talent Scout Bonne van der Laan about an opportunity at HPE.

Exellys is nominated for Trends Gazellen 2022 7 March 2022

We’re thrilled to announce that Exellys has yet again been nominated for a Trends Gazellen award in the category ‘large companies’.

Video: From Business Engineering graduate to Functional Analyst – Meet Lise 22 February 2022

Meet Lise, as a recent graduate in Business Engineering she quickly found her way to Exellys. As a Functional Analyst at Belfius Insurance it’s her (and her team’s) job to translate the business needs into requirements developers can work with. She’ll walk you through the journey that started the moment she graduated.

Daikin created the factory of the future (and you can join them) 10 February 2022

Daikin has been providing high-quality innovative climate management systems for more than 45 years. They can call themselves a Factory of the Future and you can join them!

25 ways to boost your productivity in 2022 28 January 2022

As work productivity resolutions are near the top of most professionals’ lists, we thought we’d offer a helping hand. We’ll discuss 25 ways that you can boost your productivity at work. The best news? There’s no need to wait until the New Year; you can start implementing these ideas right away!

What to look for during your post pandemic job hunt 21 January 2022

You’re not the only one out there looking for a job right now. What are the most important things to look for in this jungle of vacancies and head-scratchingly vague job descriptions? And when you do find a great opportunity, how do you make your application stand out over hundreds of others?

How to survive your first conference 30 October 2021

If you’re about to pop your conference cherry, it’s natural to feel a little anxious. You may be worried about what to wear, feel stressed about presenting your elevator pitch and maybe you’re even a little unsure about how to, you know, crush it. Here are some top tips for making it awesome. Let’s get right to it!

The next generation of talent for HPE 5 October 2021

Exellys has been working together with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) since 2018. Exellysts are active in various teams within HPE, from Networking to Hybrid Cloud. HPE’s open culture really appeals to our consultants and matches well with the values of Exellys. We had a chat with HPE’s Account Services Lead Frederic De Schepper about why Exellys and HPE make such great partners.

How to make the most out of your final year as a student 4 October 2021

How do you find the perfect balance between enjoying the last of your ‘student-life’ as much as possible and making sure that you graduate with the right (soft) skills and competencies? Here are six handy tips that will definitely help you graduate in style.

6 easy ways to make your CV stand out 4 October 2021

Are you graduating this year? Or are you on the lookout for a new challenge? Spoiler alert: Even if you’re being spammed by recruiters on a daily basis, you’re probably going to need a CV.
We decided to make it fun and selected these 6 GIFs to help you get started.

Mindset first, technology second: An interview with Gert Vanhaecht, CIO at Belfius Insurance 1 October 2021

Belfius Insurance and Exellys enjoy a pleasant and mutually beneficial partnership, with loads of Exellysts joining Belfius and integrating on their payroll after their two-year mission is completed. We had a talk with CIO Gert Vanhaecht and asked him what his experience working with Exellys and its consultants is like.

How to adopt the 7 habits of highly effective people 27 July 2021

Do you want to be more successful in life? Are looking for a way to stand out from the herd? If you’re looking for ways to improve yourself, the secret lies in adopting powerful, effective habits. In this post, we’ll show you how to do just that by following Stephen Covey’s influential book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

6 things to do at work before leaving on vacation 5 July 2021

Taking time away from the office is a fantastic way to lower your stress levels, improve your productivity, and boost your mood. But if you aren’t careful, work problems can follow you on vacation and leave you feeling even more stressed than before you left. Here are six things you should do at work before you leave to make your vacation as relaxing as possible.

How Louis became the Business Consultant he always aimed to be (Video) 15 June 2021

During the recent virtual graduation ceremony of his Exellys Start Smart class, Louis and his Talent Development manager Leslie Hemmerechts reflected on his experiences of the past two years and how he benefited from Exellys’ Start Smart Program.

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.

I’m about to graduate. What’s next? 18 May 2021

Almost graduated? If you’re feeling a bit lost about which direction to head in, here are some top tips for starting the next chapter of your life and getting the life you want to!

Scrum in five minutes 15 May 2021

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!

Why most developers don’t (get to) code all day 7 May 2021

Congratulations, you got the job! You’re ready to dive headfirst into your new life as a software developer and write thousands of lines of code. Because that’s your job now, or is it? If you really think developers do nothing but code all day, you’ve probably seen too many movies…

Starting your career during a lockdown: Data Engineer Ine about remote interviews & new ways of working 6 May 2021

Ine Nauwelaerts discovered her passion for data science and data engineering during her master’s degree, and her enthusiasm about everything to do with data is […]

A LinkedIn starter’s guide for graduates 28 April 2021

Over 90% of hiring managers use LinkedIn to look for recruits and the professional networking platform is only gaining in popularity. So when it comes to your career, the potential of LinkedIn is huge. Here’s how you get started with the platform.

Technical Analyst Dries about communicating, self-development & life 21 April 2021

Meet Dries: Technical Analyst, sports enthusiast and music lover. He builds bridges between IT-professionals, clients and partners at Baloise.

News: Belgian Talent Incubator launches NL branch 15 April 2021

Exellys, a Belgian based Tech Talent Incubator, recently launched its Dutch branch. With over 120 IT consultants working at +40 companies in a variety of industries and an internal team of tech talent scouts, talent development managers, (digital) marketeers and account managers, the company has already shown an impressive growth curve since its establishment in 2014.

Pivot your career: When should you switch? 13 April 2021

Feeling unsure about your career is totally normal every once in a while. But when is the time to actually jump and make that change you’re looking for?

Jürgen Ingels’ advice for young professionals (video) 30 March 2021

We invited Jürgen Ingels to talk about his first book ’50 lessen voor ondernemers’. Which of his lessons can easily be implemented as a consultant or employee?

Starting out with home automation: A practical guide (VIDEO) 16 March 2021

Exellys alumnus Jeroen Reinenbergh offers some pointers about how anyone can get started with IoT at home. His talk covered everything from microcontrollers to starter kits, tutorials, and entry-level projects that anyone can explore.

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.

How my life changed after graduating in IT (VIDEO) 23 February 2021

In this interview, Software Engineer Jochen shared his journey from the moment he graduated as an IT student up until today. Some of the topics he discussed were his general career path, what he does and doesn’t miss from his student days, and the impact of Covid-19 on his day-to-day work.

Is our health more important than our privacy? 16 February 2021

We recently invited privacy activist and director at the Ministry of Privacy Matthias Dobbelaere-Welvaert to give our Exellysts an online keynote on tracking applications, their known issues, and the impact they are having on our privacy. Here are some of his thoughts…

What do these people actually do? 17 IT function titles explained 9 February 2021

We get it, the spectrum of IT jobs is a broad one and navigating through this sea of function titles isn’t always easy. So, if you’re looking for a simple way to explain your grandmother what you actually do for a living, this list will definitely help you out!

Organizing talent management in the remote age 20 January 2021

The corona pandemic has forced every organization to rethink the way they work. Almost overnight, homeworking has become the new standard. But what does it mean for your talent management strategy? And how can you successfully implement it for remote teams?

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.

Burrito’s and learning (part 2) 24 November 2020

In our previous ‘Burrito’s and learning’ blog, we discussed some of the basic tips that we’ve picked up in our switch to online training. We’ll continue with some of that prep work in this blog and dive into a practical example.

Burrito’s and learning (part 1) 23 November 2020

We take a lot of pride in our training programs, but just like everyone else, we were forced to switch it up over these last few months. Here’s how we tackled that switch.

5 Career killers you need to avoid 10 November 2020

You have probably worked hard to achieve your current career status. Coming so far, the last thing you want, is to make a mistake that ruins all your progress. In this article we take a closer look at the 5 biggest career killers and, more importantly, how you can avoid them.

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.

7 things no one will tell you about salary negotiation 12 October 2020

How do you ask for a raise and actually get one? Whether you’re starting a new job, are up for a promotion at your current employer, or just don’t feel that the value of what you do is reflected in your current paycheck, you’re bound to have this conversation at one point in your career.

Roadmap for a Digital Future in Belgium 30 September 2020

Belgian companies need help to focus on digitalization. So it’s time to come up with a pragmatic action plan, packed with concrete initiatives to facilitate digital transformation. The kick-off of this initiative was given on the 15th of September, when some of Belgium’s most important digital leaders (full list at the end of the article) got together for an inspiring roundtable discussion.

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.

What I wish someone had told me when I started working 27 September 2020

Jamie Collins, one of our UK Exellysts, says he joined us because he wanted a job that would allow him to work in his preferred field of project management, while receiving ongoing training, coaching and support to continue getting his qualifications. When he left university, he found the transition from student life to working life challenging, but with the support of his coach and the training he received from Exellys, he was able to learn a lot of insights that he wishes to share here.

10 reasons why leaving your comfort zone is good for your career 18 September 2020

When was the last time you did something that scared you? Do you remember what it felt like before and after? Often we need to step out of our comfort zone in order to grow and learn. That’s why it’s so important, even early in your career, to go beyond the safe and familiar so that we can push our boundaries and build our confidence.

12 ways to boost connectivity in the workplace 23 August 2020

We’ve all heard that satisfied employees are more productive, more creative, and more connected to the organisation. But what if we flip that logic? We believe increasing connectivity in the workplace leads to happier, healthier and more productive employees.

Mindshift Festival: it’s all about feedback 23 August 2020

At Exellys, we put great emphasis on feedback. Learning how to give and receive feedback in a constructive way is essential to personal and professional growth. We also take great pride in our events: they’re generally awesome. But we want to practice what we preach, so we always ask for feedback after each event. It turns out our ‘traditional’ Meetings of the Minds weren’t resonating with our consultants anymore, at least not as well as they used to. There was an overload of information, which proved counterproductive. So we took the feedback to heart, put our heads together, and came up with a new concept: our first Mindshift Festival.

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…

How to discover a company’s actual culture 11 August 2020

In order to really get to know a company’s culture, you’re going to have to go beyond the about us-section on their website. The best way to learn more about a certain company’s culture is to get in touch and to openly speak with people who actually work there. Here’s how you get started.

My journey from Industrial Engineering graduate to Chapter Lead 5 August 2020

Meet Lore Donné! After graduating as an Industrial Engineer, she joined Exellys in September of 2018 as a Full Stack Developer. Here, she shared her two-year journey from Groep T graduate to Chapter Lead.

Introducing a talent development strategy in your organization 15 July 2020

Cultivating a thriving learning culture is a delicate balance between formal training and supportive coaching: and employees are what make an enterprise flourish.
With this in mind, talent development may seem pretty easy: training sessions and that’s it, right? Wrong. Here’s how you introduce a talent development strategy in your organization.

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…

Why talent development matters on the job 11 June 2020

As a CEO, 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?

How to handle (exam) stress 8 June 2020

It’s natural to feel overwhelmed with stress every once in a while. But it’s important to remember that everyone’s in the same boat and you certainly aren’t alone! That’s why we wanted to offer you our most effective tips and strategies for coping with stress. These ideas will help get you going and stay cool, calm and focused!

How Business Engineer Viktor became a BI Consultant 5 May 2020

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.

Video: Should you join a startup or a corporate? 3 May 2020

Do you want to work for a start-up? Are you attracted by the drive, the innovation, the flexibility of a small company on its way to greatness? Or would you rather work for a big company, which has already proven its validity and expertise, where you can enjoy stability and security? During the Talk of the Minds Gathering in March, we invited four panel members to discuss the differences between start-ups and corporates.

If you don’t give your employees a chance, they will go look for it elsewhere 27 April 2020

Even if you don’t see them immediately, there are several valid reasons why it’s often better to promote from within, instead of relying on external hires. We listed five reasons why you should give your employees a chance and stop them from looking elsewhere.

5 learning platforms to sharpen your skills while staying at home 20 April 2020

“Never waste a good crisis”, a saying you probably heard more than once since the coronavirus outbreak started. But wasting away your time with Netflix probably isn’t the best way to tackle your quarantine. Why not boost your skills and qualifications? We listed some of our favorite technology skills platforms you can use to get ahead.

How to find a job during a pandemic 15 April 2020

If you’re approaching graduation or are on the lookout for a new challenge, the coronavirus pandemic may have got you wondering, “Should I even bother looking for a job with all of this going on?” You should! We’ll show you how to jumpstart your career in these uncertain times and give you our ultimate job-hunting tips for landing a job during a pandemic.

From engineering student to technical consultant – Meet Casper 6 April 2020

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.

Salary vs. Job satisfaction: what’s more important? 4 April 2020

A coach helps you to figure out what you need to be happy at work, and also makes you better at your job, which in turn may result in a pay raise!

Tech-related tv-shows to binge watch 17 March 2020

You did your absolute best to postpone this for as long as possible, but you can’t take it anymore. It’s time to binge-watch your way through this covid-19 quarantine. Well, don’t worry because we made a list of tech related tv-shows and movies that will keep you entertained between the four walls of your living room.

How to prepare for a job interview through Skype 16 March 2020

Whatever the reason, you received an invitation for a job interview. But then the Corona virus happens, nobody’s shaking hands anymore and the job interview you have been looking forward to becomes a Skype call. But how do you prepare yourself for an online job interview? Here are some pro tips.

How to work from home more efficiently 11 March 2020

Chances are your employer recently asked you to start working from home. Whether you work from home fulltime, once a week, or just every once in a while because of a virus outbreak, here’s how to be as productive at home as in the office.

Why you need to start thinking exponentially 10 March 2020

The ability to think exponentially is one of the most important skills for those looking to succeed in today’s tough economic climate. We need to challenge ourselves to shift our mindsets to ‘see ahead of curve’ in order to make the right decisions for future success.

How to survive as a woman in tech 6 March 2020

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.

Google Hash Code 2020: The Exellys edition 24 February 2020

Since we’re always in the mood for a challenge, we registered our office bar as one of the more than 700 official hashcode hubs.

The art of making a job fair worthwhile 18 February 2020

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.

Projective acquires majority stake in Exellys 23 January 2020

Projective acquires the majority of the shares of Exellys. Raf Seymus, current CEO and founder of Exellys, joins the board of Projective and becomes managing partner of Stellar Labs. Together, the group has more than 300 consultants and a turnover of more than 45 million euros.

7 (tech) conferences we’re looking forward to in 2020 20 January 2020

If you want to improve yourself, attending a conference every now and then can make a difference for your business and career. We’re anticipating quite a few this year. Here’s a short list of conferences we’re looking forward to in 2020…

I spent over an hour dangling from a cliff, and this is what I learned about leadership 6 January 2020

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to join one of our Grow Smart kickoff weekends? Well, our digital growth marketeer Pieter Mijnendonckx recently found out first hand. He shared his key take aways right here… 

An Exellys Intern story: How a taste of ‘company life’ can make an impact 25 November 2019

Exellys matches the finest tech talent with ambitious companies. Not only for recent graduates and young professionals but students as well. This Summer, 8 motivated students completed an internship at our clients. We had a quick chat with Atsuki Kojima, an international student from Japan who completed an internship at e-commerce pioneer Veepee in Brussels.

Web Summit 2019: Our key take aways (Part 2) 11 November 2019

It’s a wrap! After a spending a couple of days in Portugal for Web Summit 2019, this is what several of our consultants will remember…

Web Summit 2019: Our key take aways (Part 1) 11 November 2019

It’s a wrap! After a spending a couple of days in Portugal for Web Summit 2019, this is what several of our board members, key clients and trusted partners will remember…

10 ways to become better at presenting 6 November 2019

You may not be the world’s best public speaker, but the following ten tips will help you improve the quality of your presentations, whether you are presenting yourself during an interview, demoing a product, or trying to land that all-important promotion.

Exellys is Antwerp’s most promising SME of the year 28 October 2019

Last week Unizo selected Exellys as Antwerp’s most promising SME of the year. We’re very happy with this recognition and extremely proud of the entire Exellys team but we’re not stopping there…

How to give feedback to your manager 14 October 2019

If you’re fresh from school and new on the job, you may feel insecure about giving feedback. If something’s bothering you, you may not know the best course of action to take. Being able to provide feedback to others without causing offense is just as important as being able to accept feedback about yourself

Why you should focus on sharpening your presentation skills 8 October 2019

Whether you’re presenting your ideas to a prospect or pitching a new app in the boardroom, strong presentation skills are a must for both sales reps and developers (and all function titles in between). Here’s 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.

3 Rules for scaling your team for greatness 24 September 2019

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 & Engineering teams. How do you find the most suitable employees from the available talent pool? Here are three rules for scaling your team for greatness.

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!

Rutger: From computer science graduate to technical consultant 20 September 2019

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.

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 build a great(er) team 10 September 2019

As a manager, you know first-hand how crucial, yet difficult, it is to foster and promote great teamwork among a group of professionals. Teamwork doesn’t just happen by accident; it needs to be nurtured and crafted over time. But no team members are perfect in every way, they each have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. So how can you, as a manager, lead your team to greatness?

Bridging the generation gap in your workplace 30 August 2019

For the first time in history, four generations can be found around the meeting table. Each with their own style and preferences, their collaboration poses an entirely new challenge to employers that want to on-board and integrate tech talent. The stakes are high; miscommunication and frustration can lead to lower productivity and even conflict. But for managers who succeed, the rewards are great. This is how you bridge the generation gap in your workplace.

Glass ceilings are made to be broken 26 August 2019

A few weeks ago, Exellys and CIOnet joined forces and organized a ‘Women in Tech’ event. 4 business savvy women shared their stories on the battles and triumphs they encountered during their way to the C-suite. Based on their insights and stories, we’ve captured some lessons learned for the tech industry.

Spotify’s Engineering Culture: An introduction 20 August 2019

Since its launch in 2008, Spotify has grown exponentially to account for an estimated 40 percent of the global music streaming market. To reach over 180 million active listeners and 83 million paid subscribers, Spotify developed a unique Agile methodology. Let’s have a closer look at their engineering culture.

How to future proof your business using Horizon Scanning 8 August 2019

Given the scale and scope of current changes, how can future leaders thrive and prosper in the coming years? That was the question that futurist Keith Coats recently answered for us. When talking about some of the crucial skills for future fit digital leaders, he introduced us to the concept of ‘Horizon Scanning’ and explained how to master this skill through a framework called the TIDES model.

Netflix’s The Great Hack: A Modern Day Horror Story 1 August 2019

Even if you’re very familiar with data tracking, it’s hard to find Netflix’s new documentary The Great Hack anything short of terrifying. Like a horror story for the digital age, the documentary features the twin villains of Cambridge Analytica and Facebook and shows how they used people’s own data to weave a dystopian web of deceit and distrust.

Glickman and Exellys: a good match right off the bat 24 July 2019

“We’re 9 months along and our first impression has been fully confirmed. The consultants at Glickman are a perfect fit.”

Why this is the book you should read on your next holiday 23 July 2019

If you’re starting to think about which books to take to the beach this year, we suggest 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari. In this blogpost, we’ll discuss four of its most crucial lessons and show you exactly why it deserves a spot on your summer reading list!

Video: The unexpected career path of a bachelor in IT 29 June 2019

When it comes to a career, there’s no such thing as a straight line. Just ask Stijn, a bachelor in IT who joined Exellys as a Business Analyst a while ago.

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!

Does the money even matter? What makes developers stay (Podcast) 10 June 2019

Joren Verspeelt, one of Exellys’ full-stack developers recently got invited to the Lazy People Podcast a while ago. In the one hour talk he focused on the problem of talent retention within IT companies. Why are well-paying and cushy jobs being abandoned? And more importantly, what can companies do about it?

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.

Exellys’ Company Culture 11 May 2019

We aim to foster a tight-knit company culture where young and like-minded peers share common ground. Our culture is open, hardworking and lots of fun. Even though our Exellysts don’t all work for the same customers, we can still proudly call ourselves a community.

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.

SingularityU Spain Summit: Our Founder’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.

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…

Exellys is nominated for Trends Gazellen 2021 9 February 2019

We’re very excited to share that Exellys has been nominated for Trends Gazellen 2021 in the category large companies.

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.

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.

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?

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!

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

“We especially appreciate the matchmaking between candidates and our organisation, the time gains throughout the process and the continued training and coaching efforts.”

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?

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.”

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 in Mauritius 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!

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.

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.

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.”

18 job interview tips by Mathilde, an Exellys Tech Talent Scout 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.

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.

7 videos to show you what working at Exellys is like 27 February 2018

You can keep reading about what it is we do exactly but why do that if you can just see it? We selected 7 video’s from our YouTube channel to give you a quick impression of the life of an Exellys consultant.

Weathering the financial crisis and beyond 15 February 2018

“Attracting tech talent via Exellys guarantees that both candidates and our company can really get to know each other.”

How to find your dream internship 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.

5 must see talks (according to our presentation skills trainer) 29 January 2018

For this blogpost, we had a small chat with Cris van Cleemput – Founder and owner of Cyres and Exellys’ longtime presentation skills trainer. He listed some of his all-time favorite talks which we boiled down in this short list.

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 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.

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.

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”.

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.