Where do you work and what position do you hold there?
I currently work at Furore Conclusion as a data consultant. At Furore, we have three departments: software development, data, and implementations. In the data department, we focus on setting up data systems for healthcare institutions. The implementation side focuses more on the front end, which includes electronic patient records (EPRs). An EPR is a program that doctors and nurses use to record everything about a patient. So, the implementation side helps to solidify the front end. I'm part of the data team, where we focus on setting up databases, structuring data, and related tasks.

Could you elaborate more on what your work involves?
It's quite diverse. Furore assigns us to projects based on client needs. We either reach out to our existing clients or new clients approach us with a new project. In the data department, the projects can vary because different clients have different needs. The project I'm currently working on involves setting up dashboards for the client using Power BI (a sort of enhanced version of Excel). With these dashboards, insights can be derived from hospital data, such as graphs depicting various metrics. For instance, a hospital might want insights into how their outpatient clinics are performing or how many beds are available. So, we enable them to visualize their data in a certain way. My title says I'm a consultant, but I'm not someone who provides advice. I'm more involved in creating and preparing things rather than offering the expected advisory role.

Do you have direct contact with clients, or is there an intermediary?
It depends on the project. Projects can be located throughout the country. If it's far away, it's not practical to go there every day. It's useful to be present at the client site during busy periods or towards the end of a project, and sometimes stay overnight in a hotel. However, much of the communication can be done online, offering flexibility. If it's nearby, I often work directly at the client's location. Eventually, you become seen as part of their team.

Do you work with colleagues on-site, or are you alone on a project?
Since I'm new, I lack experience, so I'm glad to be working with another colleague on this project.  They always try to get you to work with a colleague in the beginning. So, while you're thrown into the deep end, you have people to collaborate with and ask questions.

Did you take any specific courses during your Master's in Neurosciences that you find useful in your current job?
I combined both the Fundamental and Clinical tracks during my Master's to explore different areas. I aimed to keep it broad, but I already leaned towards the more technical aspects. That always interested me. As I found the technical side intriguing, I also did a year of computer science during my bachelor's. During our Master's, we had courses where we learned to use R, which led to having skills that are  still beneficial now.

Are there any skills required for this job?
I completed Datacamp courses to learn additional programming languages, which eventually led me to do courses in Python, R, Power BI, and SQL. These were essential for getting into this field. You can also learn these skills after or during your studies.

How did you apply for this job, and how did you come across this vacancy?
After my Master's, I worked for a year as a student assistant at the VU. From there, I gradually started exploring what I needed and what I wanted. I wanted to stay involved in healthcare, so I began looking into the possibilities. I joined LinkedIn groups for beginners. You need to search for companies in your sector and see if there are any vacancies. I looked for junior positions since I had just graduated. That's how I came across consultancy jobs. However, I found this vacancy through my brother-in-law, who's also a consultant, and knew I was looking for a job.

Did it take you long to find a job?
Not that long, I worked as a student assistant for a year. I initially wanted to find a full-time job sooner, but it got delayed. I think I spent about two months searching and applying for jobs.

What do you think about your work environment?
It was a bit of an adjustment initially, coming from the academic or hospital world, where I was previously. This environment is more business-oriented, focused on profit and self-development. However, I adapted quite naturally. I work in a great team of about 100 people. It's a medium-sized company, so you quickly get to know everyone. You recognize everyone's face, at least. It's a motivating atmosphere to work in. I'm currently working for a client in a hospital, which adds diversity to the job. Plus, you have quite a bit of flexibility as this work can be done remotely.

What are the career advancement opportunities?
You can progress to a mid-level and then to a senior level. As a junior, you're more focused on the technical aspects, understanding how everything works, and improving your skills. Eventually, that balance shifts a bit. You contribute more to the company, and less to your own development because you've likely developed those skills by then.

What do you enjoy most about your job? What stands out for you?
For me, it's the ability to deliver something, especially in the healthcare sector. I deliver something that people can benefit from. For example, currently, I'm creating dashboards. I provide tools that people can use and act upon. Ultimately, this benefits the patients. The data will be used to reduce waiting times or address similar issues.

Are there any aspects of your job that you find challenging or less enjoyable?
It was a leap into the unknown for me, which was difficult. Especially with the first client. You're faced with a lot of new things, and you have to adapt quickly. It always takes time to settle into something new. So far, that has been the most challenging aspect, adapting to these changes.

Did the expectations when you applied align with the tasks you're performing now?
It was quite challenging because it's something completely different. It's just different from what I was used to, so I didn't have specific expectations. For example, I knew I would be using SQL skills or Power BI, but that also depends on the project. Most of the time, the first two months you are waiting until you get your first assignment. It depends a bit on how quickly that comes in. At that time you're busier with internal assignments: things that are still pending for the company or things that are interesting to look at. So those are more like little assignments that you can't really prepare for.

How did you prepare for the interview?
To enhance my skills, I took additional courses. For the interview itself, I researched the company - what they do, their values, and their message. What do they stand for, and what do they expect from their employees? These things usually come up in the initial interviews. Of course, you can also ask for more details about that if you want. It's more of a conversation that you have to engage in. I also went through my CV thoroughly. I sent a cover letter and discussed it during the interview.

How many interviews did you have?
First, there was a phone call for an initial introduction. They asked about my background and experience. But it was quite casual, nothing to stress about. Then, there was a face-to-face interview at the company's location with the recruiter and someone else from the company. After that, there was a second interview.

Do you have any tips for our classmates to prepare for the job market and interviews?
At the beginning of my job search, I focused too much on what I had learned. It was difficult for me to determine my qualities. I often thought, "Oh, I can't do that because I haven't learned those skills." My tip is to try to let go of that mindset. Maybe take a course if necessary. From there, you can find many jobs that you find interesting and that somewhat align with your skills. Often, you just need an interest in a field. If you're passionate about it, you'll come across as enthusiastic. The hard skills you need can often be learned on the job. So, I would take that as a tip - don't hold onto it, or at least don't be too afraid that you can't do things well enough to get into a job.

Contact info: m.dewit@furore.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wit-de-marijn