With a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a master's degree in Applied Data Science from Utrecht University, Gabriël Shamon faced an important decision last summer: where would he start his career? After a careful search, he chose ICT Group, where he started in September. His office is located in Deventer.
"When I started looking for an job right after my studies, I had a few important criteria," says Gabriël. "I wanted plenty of development opportunities, a competitive salary, and a reasonable commute from Almelo. ICT Group met all of these points and also offered a social company culture and the chance to choose projects that truly align with my interests."
A Warm Welcome
Although Gabriël had no specific expectations for the onboarding process, he was pleasantly surprised. "The introductory days really felt like a warm welcome," he says. "We not only received interesting presentations and training, but also had the chance to meet a lot of colleagues in an informal setting. We even spent a day on the golf course." The personal approach made him feel at home right away. "It was a relaxed way to start working life and it immediately provided a solid foundation within the company."
Freedom and Guidance
At ICT Group, every new employee is assigned an operations manager. This is someone who helps map out your career path within the organization. Gabriel: "My operations manager advised me to get to know as many colleagues and divisions within ICT Group as possible at the beginning. So, I went to visit our offices in Groningen, Eindhoven, and Barendrecht. It really helped me gain insight into the company culture and quickly build a network." ICT Group employees are given plenty of freedom to shape their professional development. "You can really choose your own path." He sees the flexibility as a major advantage.
"It's a social company with plenty of opportunities for continued development and there is also a nice mix of generations within the teams."
Social and Eager to Learn
Gabriël describes himself as social and eager to learn, qualities that align well with the company culture at ICT Group. "It's a social company with plenty of opportunities for continued development," he says. "There is also a nice mix of generations within the teams, which creates interesting collaboration because everyone approaches problems from different perspectives." Gabriël sees the development of soft skills as an important focus in the coming years.
"It can sometimes be a challenge to convey your ideas, especially when working with experienced colleagues. Fortunately, the ICT Academy offers plenty of training to help grow in that area."
-Gabriël Shamon
Future Plans
For now, Gabriël is focusing on further developing his skills and gaining work experience. "I'm still a real junior. In the coming years, I want to learn as much as possible and grow in my field. In a few years, I hope to be an even better Data Scientist, with a solid foundation of experience and expertise," he concludes. He will surely succeed.
