“I’ve been working for twenty years, half of that time as a software developer. Before that, I worked in IT support, but because I was missing a challenge, I took the opportunity with my employer at the time to retrain.
As a student, I was a bit lost. Big dreams, few results. In the end, I decided to do something I thought I was good at: ‘something with computers’. Through a VDAB training programme, I was able to start working straight away as an IT support officer.
For the past two years, I’ve been helping to build SD Worx’s Flex Income Plan at Teal Partners, the software that allows employees to manage their own benefits. FIP has more than 100,000 users. I think that’s pretty cool. On top of that, our team has a lot of experience. I can always rely on my colleagues. That’s something I missed in previous jobs. I like working in the office because it makes it easier to bounce ideas around.
As a developer, I look for the balance between speed and perfection. Of course you aim for quality, but simplicity matters too. Improving software step by step: that’s what I believe in, and so do my colleagues.
As a developer at Teal, it’s important to do your own analyses and think about the functional side as well. You need broad front-end and back-end knowledge, and you have to be willing to work directly with the client. That all suits me very well.
When I started at Teal, my youngest daughter had just been born. I deliberately chose a smaller team and a stable project. It’s no problem that I work four-fifths. My daughters are now 2 and 5. Free time is scarce with two small children, but on Friday evenings I play competitive chess. As a chess player, you have to be a bit paranoid. Every move can send you down the wrong path. You have to analyse, think ahead and recognise patterns. Just like in development.”
Pieter (43) has been working at Teal Partners for two years. Also interested in becoming part of our team? We’re looking for developers. Discover our vacancies at www.tealpartners.com/en/careers.
