Interview with young professional – Alexandra Vanhulle
TIP-IM had a fascinating and refreshing conversation with Alexandra Vanhulle, Junior Reward Consultant at EY and enthusiastic participant in the latest edition of the ADM Goodwill Cup. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from Ghent’s Arteveldehogeschool in International Business, Alexandra also obtained a Master’s degree, International Business Organization -Management, Change & Consultancy from Maastricht University School of Business and Economics. Alexandra was also an exchange Student in Canada (Université du Quebec, Trois Rivières) and did volunteer work in Sri Lanka as an English teacher. A richly filled CV for a young woman!
When we ask her how it feels to be working as a young professional, Alexandra immediately radiates enthusiasm: “in the beginning, it was a bit of a search, but I quickly found my feet. I’m developing myself in a pleasant working atmosphere,” she says very convincing. Alexandra was also all set to embark on a professional career a year ago: “I made the most of my student days. I went abroad, I went on Erasmus, I felt the time had come to step into professional life”.
Alexandra is part of a new generation of professionals who, in response to the pandemic, started working part-time remotely/home. “In the beginning it took some getting used to, but at the same time I find the combination of 1 or 2 days telework and the rest of the week at the office ideal” she stresses.
The young consultant from Ghent values a number of things, which help determine the satisfaction she finds in her work: “Recognition for what I do in my job is very important, as is the variety of my tasks. Getting enough challenges and a working environment of people who help me achieve this as a team”.
Alexandra is also deliberately assertive and dares to ask for feedback. “I really appreciate it that time is made available for this at work”.
As for her sense of “work-life balance”, she also sounds satisfied “At work people are also interested about this. I find this important to connect as a team.”
One of the reasons why trilingual Alexandra is able to settle into her first job so well is the training she followed in Belgium “very practically oriented” and abroad “a very efficient system built around a two-course, six-week system where university seems more feasible. An education with lots of practice, including presentations in front of a group, group work, in short, an ideal preparation for a career”.
Finally, whether she ever aspires to become self-employed, Alexandra responds very serenely “Not at the moment, I definitely want to gain sufficient experience in the business world, but who knows, maybe one day I will do something as a self-employed person in a secondary occupation, in the creative sector, for example”.
Thank you, Alexandra! If you ever change your mind, you know where to find us!
We already wish Alexandra a splendid career!
