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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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…
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 […]
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.
Meet Dries: Technical Analyst, sports enthusiast and music lover. He builds bridges between IT-professionals, clients and partners at Baloise.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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
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…
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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?
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!
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?
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.
“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.”
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No machine in the history of mankind has a learning capacity comparable to the human brain. Not yet. But things are changing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.