Computer science students, Dylan Blockx (31) and Yannick Van Damme (23) chose an internship at Teal Partners to put their passion for computer science into practice. For three months, they worked alongside the team on various applications. How was their introduction to the job of a software developer? What lessons did they learn? Discover the insights they gained about themselves and their future careers through their experience on our work floor.
Yannick: Technology interests me, and I love the logic of programming. It fascinates me how an application is put together and how you can make it work.
Dylan: As a 31-year-old, I'm not your average student. The coronavirus threw my career into disarray. I worked in the port with customers from all over the world. They couldn't travel anymore; my job suddenly no longer existed. It seemed like a good time to figure out what I really wanted. I discovered that through career counseling. If you've worked for ten years, you know that a lot can go wrong on the work floor. Technology improves processes and automates boring tasks. Building that turned out to be my passion.
Dylan: I co-developed a recruitment module for SMEs. The goal of the application is to share information about candidates and the application process among colleagues. Not via email, but in a portal where the information is stored centrally. We are building a proof of concept with which we can show companies how it works.
Yannick: Over the past few months I have been working on a reporting module for SD Worx. It appealed to me because it is a concrete assignment. We investigate how candidates for temporary jobs enter digitally and what return on investment the placement of these candidates yields. In other words: which digital platforms offer the best return on investment? That is a fascinating question to which data provide a clear answer.
Yannick: During my internship I learned to write code that others can build upon. I owe that know-how to my internship supervisor. It's not enough that I alone understand the code, programming is teamwork. In addition, I gained new knowledge about Google Chart through self-study. I was given time to figure it out. Self-study suits me well.
Dylan: During the first weeks I had to familiarize myself with the documentation. That takes a lot of time, because a team of twenty people has been working on that recruitment module for eight years. I felt rather incompetent and useless, but there is no shortcut. I had to learn to find my way in the code. My colleagues were patient and helped me tremendously. Actually, you can't really program when you come from school. You know the basics, but in the professional field it is more complex. You learn to ask for help. I found that very useful.
Yannick: In a professional context, you learn to think long-term. It’s not enough that an app simply works. You have to take into account expandability. For example, I added Belgian and Dutch data to the reporting tool. My colleagues pointed out to me that it is useful to also immediately build in the option to add other countries via a list. At school you see those principles, but it is only in practice that you understand them. Attending meetings was also a fascinating experience for me. How colleagues interact with each other, how they talk to the customer. I didn't actively participate, but it was valuable to witness it. At school we simulate such meetings with the teacher, but that is of course not the same.
Yannick: Teal Partners was on a list of possible internship locations from the university college. After some online research, I became intrigued by the principles of self-management and autonomy, so I wrote an email to introduce myself. After a job interview, I was allowed to start.
Dylan: I met Kelly and Senne from Teal Partners at the university's job fair. I was also fascinated by the way of working: no departments, a flat structure, the self-management principles. That way of working also appealed to me before. I went to listen to a few other companies, but Teal was my favorite. I was glad I was hired after the job interview.
Yannick: I consider myself lucky to have had one of the most fascinating internships of my year, that's how it feels. Building a large, complex assignment where my input really counts, and where I was allowed to participate on all fronts, from concept to customer meeting, that was exactly what I was looking for. The atmosphere at Teal Partners is friendly. Not too formal, with room for everyone's opinion. Your ideas, even as an intern, are appreciated. You work autonomously, but you can count on your colleagues for help when you get stuck. Everyone is highly committed to their work. It is anything but simply executing tickets, as in some other IT workplaces. Now I still have to make an analysis of the work I did for school. Typing out documentation, making a report and presenting it. That is the less fun aspect of the internship (laughs).
Dylan: Now that I'm back at work, I notice how much I missed working life. I can't wait to graduate and restart my career. I hope it will be at a company like Teal Partners: a warm, small group of nice, talented people. With them I can be completely myself. There are no barriers. You really have ownership over your projects. It is expected that you take initiative. Often with IT assignments the requirements are fixed and you have little creative freedom. That is quite different at Teal Partners.
Dylan: Through my internship at Teal Partners, I discovered how broad the IT field is. Before, I was convinced that I wanted to become a business analyst. Business interests me, and I saw myself functioning well in the role between client and IT. But now I've discovered that mere development also suits me tremendously well. I never thought I could focus so much on that aspect. Maybe I underestimated myself. At university I was surrounded by eighteen-year-old whiz kids who were into programming day in and day out. I thought I could never make a difference in that. While in practice it does turn out to be my thing. Programming is a bit like constantly solving problems. You are left with a tangible result and you make things better. I like that. I am proud of what we have delivered. During this internship I have therefore learned to explore broader possibilities. That insight is worth its weight in gold. The downside is that it's a bit of a mess in my head now (laughs). Maybe I will choose to immerse myself in a programming language during a boot camp. Maybe it's better if I immerse myself in an industry to have a head start as an analyst. Because I'm already 31, I feel like I need to think extra carefully now. This is already my second chance.
Yannick: I will officially start at Teal Partners in September. That is great. My ambition has always been to work as a software developer and consultant on complex projects like those at Teal Partners. Building simple basic sites is not for me. Programming with a business purpose, that is my passion. Give me data and reporting, or projects with a lot of logic. The internship assignment was right up my alley, mainly because of that complexity. The project was much larger than what I'm used to at school. Through the internship I've acquired a taste for it, and I can't wait to get started at Teal Partners after completing my studies.
