The first thing Kim had planned after completing her master's degree in Industrial Engineering and Management in 2018 was a trip to New Zealand. After that, there would be enough time to look for a new job. During her studies she didn't know exactly what she wanted. A case day was organized at CAPE Groep during which students were introduced to the company. She was invited and this day was a success. She has been part of CAPE for 4 years now.
How Kim came into contact with CAPE Groep
As a bachelor, Kim studied International Business Administration. This is the Business Administration study, but in English. She soon found out that this was a very theoretical study. She found it difficult to hand things over when she had devised processes and therefore missed a bit of practice. In order to ensure that a practical job was still possible in the future, she chose the Master's degree in Industrial Engineering and Management after her bachelor's degree. Two broad studies with endless possibilities on the labor market and 6 years to find out exactly what she wanted after graduating.
During her master's degree she was approached by CAPE with the question if she wanted to participate in the 'Incompany Days'. These are Company Days where students get to know the company internally by means of a case. This day made an impression on Kim, but as she was still in the early stages of graduation, she decided to reconnect with CAPE once she had completed her master's degree. She had these conversations with the Hiring Manager Geert. These were nice and funny conversations, but because Kim didn't know what she wanted at all, Geert sent her home. “Go on holiday first and then decide what you want,” he is said to have said. In addition to the conversations she had with Geert, Kim came into contact with employees internally. She was mainly looking for an educational and fun environment and because Kim was far from finished learning, she was open to a traineeship.
In the end, she made the choice to start as a Trainee Business Consultant after graduation and her journey at CAPE. Her friend with whom she was going to make the trip graduated two months later, so Kim had to bridge that time. CAPE came up with the idea to hire her as a full-time DF employee with a zero-hour contract. After her trip, this contract would be converted into an annual contract. Thanks to this full-time job, she saved the entire trip to New Zealand within 0 months.
Working as a consultant at CAPE Groep
Kim has now worked for CAPE Groep for more than 4 years and has developed herself into a Medior Business Consultant and Hiring Manager. The difference between a Trainee and a Medior Business Consultant is that the work is prepared for a trainee and taken on together with team members. The trainee is expected to have a critical attitude. When promoted to Junior and later to Medior, the Business Consultant is given responsibility for several projects, is involved in the roadmap sessions and is given the opportunity to take on additional positions.
Until recently, Kim started to delve into supervising students with a side job or graduation assignment within CAPE, they are part of the Digital Factory. Tasks related to this extra position are: recruitment, organizing case days, looking for graduation assignments at companies and supervising the students. An important reason why she works at CAPE are the career opportunities, customer contact and the atmosphere at the office. “The atmosphere at the office is dynamic and that gives people energy. There are also opportunities to take up fun sporting activities with colleagues after work.”
The tip for graduates
According to Kim, students who will soon graduate and are looking for a job should ask themselves what they are actually looking for. “CAPE is a down-to-earth environment with, if you indicate this yourself, a lot of space and opportunities to develop yourself. Think carefully about where you want to go with your career, for example ask yourself what gives you energy.” She likes to be a team lead and to be involved in the development of her colleagues. The team she now works for focuses on small projects, which means that she sometimes sits down with the entire team of a company to brainstorm about the possibilities.
Are you a student yourself and are you curious about the possibilities within CAPE? Please contact our recruiter Bram Alink via telephone number +31 6 39 003 896, email address b.alink@capegroep.nl or send a message via LinkedIn.
