Shanna (26) loves working with people. That’s why, instead of working in a lab after graduating in Cognitive Neuropsychology, she took a second master in Artificial Intelligence. ‘It’s a technical study, but with elements of psychology and business. A friend of mine already worked at Deloitte. Once I was ready for my first job, she advised me to consider Deloitte. She was convinced it would be a great match. With a sociable, aspirational culture that is focused on growth, I would fit in well. And she was right. Deloitte is a large and professional firm. But there is a strong connection between all professionals. Also, you never get bored here. You’re always being challenged and there is plenty of opportunity when it comes to Learning & Development. Just what I need.’

Learn as much as you can Koen (25) was also looking for a challenge and for learning opportunities when he joined Deloitte. ‘My goal for my first job was: learn as much as you can. As a graduate in Software Engineering I had the right profile for the Cloud Engineering team. But I also wanted to improve my communication skills in client contacts and work in a diverse team. That’s exactly what Deloitte offered me. I already felt a connection during the job interviews. Deloitte is fun, ambitious and focused on well-being. You will never ever feel like you’re just a number. The onboarding process went well, even though it was an online procedure because of the pandemic. During the lockdown we received so many thoughtful presents at home.’

Best of both worlds Shanna and Koen are both Junior Developers at Cloud Engineering. ‘But just because we have the same job title, doesn’t mean our jobs are similar’, Shanna says. ‘We all follow our own path. I work as a low-code developer – software development aimed at the visual development of highly valuable and scalable applications. Every project is a great challenge to develop the ultimate technological solution that fits the client’s desires seamlessly. Next to that, I'm also a scrum master, which means that I give guidance to a development team. For me, that’s the best of both worlds because it means I can be involved in technology as well as in stakeholder management and client relations.’

Part of it all Koen works as a java software engineer. ‘That means programming and building cloud solutions. At the moment, I’m working for a client in the financial services industry. I enjoy keeping in touch with the client and getting to know people from different organisations. We don’t just take the client along in the architecture, but we also guide them. So you need the right communications skills: being clear and polite at the same time. The right tone of voice also depends on the particular culture. For example during my current project I worked a lot with Deloitte Portugal which was a very good experience for a graduate who just started his career. But you learn so much from such an experience. What I like about Deloitte, is that people put their trust in you. Whether you’re a junior or not, you’re involved in all aspects and given a lot of responsibility. Also, within Deloitte there’s always something captivating to do. I’m involved in organising guest lectures and supporting the recruitment department. That’s a great way of getting to know new people within your organisation.’

Collaboration and exchange of knowledge 'Curiosity is continuously stimulated at Deloitte. As the Cloud Engineering team, we get to do really cool projects’, Shanna says. ‘For instance, we developed a mobile application for the Red Cross within six weeks. It allows volunteers to track and trace activities, which is very helpful since the number of volunteers and the demand for help have both grown because of the pandemic. It helps them to save time spent on administrative work, both by volunteers and employees. That time can now be used to offer actual help to people in need. Of course, we are not the only team within Deloitte that is doing wonderful projects like these. That’s why collaboration and exchange of knowledge between teams is fully encouraged. We are constantly looking for ways to initiate or improve collaboration between teams. How can we learn something from this and also develop a great new product for our clients? I like thinking about such challenges.’ Not a minion ‘If you have a specific field of interest, feel free to develop yourself in that direction here. At Deloitte, you’re not a minion that only does what they’re told’, Shanna smiles. ‘In many ways, you’re free to choose your own direction and have an impact on the projects you’re working on. Your ideas are taken seriously and you always get credits for your achievements.’ Koen: ‘Don’t be intimidated by the size of the organisation. We’re all ambitious, but that’s no reason to be shy. Just show them that you want this. There’s no need for perfection from day one, and there’s plenty of room to learn.’

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