The story of Sophie Vulink

I wanted to work for an engineering firm as soon as I graduated. Witteveen+Bos made this a reality. After completing my bachelor’s degree in Architecture and my master’s degree in Construction Management & Engineering at Delft University of Technology, I started my first real job at Witteveen+Bos in 2015.

I’ve been able to work on lots of great projects over the past four years. Most of the projects I’m involved in are long-term ones. My role as an advisor in contract and project management lets me work on a project throughout its entire duration: from initiative to delivery. These are often roles you won’t spend your entire working week on. And that suits me, because it means you always have several projects running, working alongside a range of colleagues.

At Witteveen+Bos you can also grow in your role within projects. I had only been in service for two months when I found myself taking the job of project officer. My responsibility was to draw up the contract and tender documents for a road reconstruction (within a larger municipal programme). The project’s tender started after drawing up these documents, and a contractor was selected to carry out the work. In the project’s execution I was involved in managing the contract with the contractor, under the wing of a colleague occupying the contract manager position. That project has now been completed, and we’re working on the next sub-project in the same programme. Here I’m taking the role of project leader in this follow-up, with the contract manager responsibilities gradually transferring to me. This project made it possible for me to take on new tasks and responsibilities continually, within a safe environment. Senior colleagues were always involved in the project, for me to rely on whenever needed.

That you can work on great projects with teams of enthusiastic colleagues at Witteveen+Bos, contributing your expertise, isn’t the organisation’s only selling point for me. There’s an open company culture, and colleagues are always willing to work with you using their expertise, helping you along. There’s also a range of informal activities, along with opportunities to put your own initiatives into practice.

If I could offer one tip: choose a position that makes your heart beat faster. But perhaps even more important is the team you’ll end up in, and the people you’ll work with. At the end of the day it’s all about the enjoyment you derive from your work. With enthusiasm and a proactive attitude there are plenty of opportunities to keep developing within Witteveen+Bos. A job profile isn’t a clearly defined framework you have to colour-in, but rather a base from which you can colour outside the lines towards your ambition!