Cliché breakers Raf, Timur and Arnaud

What studies did you pursue and why?

Raf: ‘Physiotherapy. Originally, I wanted to do Computer Science.

After finishing Latin Sciences, I did a sort of preparatory year of Mathematics at KU Leuven. But once I’d completed that year, I didn’t think it would be a very good idea to study IT any more. I was surrounded by the wrong kind of nerds who were interested more in their calculators than in each other. In the meantime, I had got to know some physio students and I thought that seemed a more meaningful course for me, with some exciting subjects.’

Arnaud: ‘I studied history out of pure passion.

In secondary school, I took Mathematical Science and my peers were all architects and engineers. But it was an inspiring teacher who taught me 19th and 20th-century history with such great passion and who loved historical novels who led me to History.’

Timur: ‘It was passion for me, too. I am a historian by education.

History has always fascinated me – and still does. But I came to realise pretty quickly that in Toulouse, where I was living at the time, you can’t do much with a History degree. Far more than they do here, employers in France take the subject you studied into account when they look at you. Also, Airbus is located in Toulouse. Everything was about Airbus. And everyone seemed to be an engineer.’

So, how did you end up in IT and at DNS Belgium?

Raf: ‘When I graduated, there was a very high output of qualified physiotherapists. Which meant too little work for too many graduates. I was an average student and all the interesting vacancies were filled quickly by the high-flyers – people who had already made an impression during their work placements. So I did some system and network management courses at Cevora. Then I studied Computer Science for another year and did an internship. I’ve always worked in IT and applied for a job with DNS Belgium through a colleague at Proximus.’

Arnaud: ‘While I was studying, I already became involved with the Internet and technology. I set up a club in the Arts faculty that aimed to make the Internet accessible for students. At that time, the Internet was very much hot and happening. After I graduated, I joined a small Internet start-up company while I was looking for a job as a historian. The company grew and at the beginning of the century, I was responsible for managing domain names. Back at the time I had already had contact with DNS Belgium. Since then, I have always worked for tech companies in the Netherlands and Belgium. So DNS Belgium was a logical next step for me.’

Timur: ‘While I was still studying, I did various lengthy work placements with communication agencies and events organisers, because I knew then that this was the sector I wanted to work in. I graduated in 2018 and relocated from Toulouse to Brussels, where I worked in the communication department at a film production company. That sector was hit particularly hard by the effects of Covid, so in May 2021, I ended up at DNS Belgium.’

What role has DNS Belgium played in your personal development or growth? And have you been able to ‘shape’ your job yourself?

Raf: ‘When I began working at DNS Belgium, I already had a few years’ experience as a developer. When I came here, I found myself in an environment in which I could take on more diverse tasks and responsibilities if I felt called on to do so. I find it enriching to be carrying out more operational IT tasks or to contribute to the organisation outside my own team or department. This gives me the feeling that my contribution is greater than just the lines of code I write.’

Arnaud: ‘The sustainability strategy implemented by DNS Belgium has become more mature in terms of my own thinking on sustainability. By working on sustainability, I now see the world around me in a different light. Because I know what to look out for, I can see the effects that digital exclusion, the digital divide, cyber (in)security and climate change are having all around me on a daily basis. This gives me the strength to do something about it, both as a company and as a person.

Timur: ‘At DNS Belgium, I continue to develop my communication skills. I’m also working more in Dutch, whereas previously I communicated mainly in French and English.’

Knowing what you know now, would you have studied something different?

Raf: ‘I don’t regret it at all, because it was a highly educational period for me back then. It’s a great discipline. In the beginning, I had the feeling that I lacked some background in terms of being an engineer. I still have that feeling, but for another reason. As a result of my visual disability, I find that I can’t read very quickly and I am aware that it takes me longer to search for things on the Internet, for example, than directly with colleagues. Professionally speaking, it might have been smarter to have studied Computer Science. But from a human point of view, I made the right choice.’

Arnaud: ‘No. I wanted to study a subject with proper content. I would do history again in a heartbeat and perhaps combine it with Political Science. By studying on my own and working I have learnt a lot about marketing and programming. It’s not rocket science; it’s something you can learn. The view you get as a historian to search for the bigger picture and tell the bigger story makes a lot of sense. Even in IT, they can use historians to get the story told. 

Timur: ‘Not really. I thought it was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. I have noticed that people who studied communication know the theory better, but that doesn’t mean they’re better at their job. They may have had a small lead over me in the beginning, but I soon caught up through placements and work experience, etc.’ 

What ambitions do you cherish?

Raf: ‘I want to become better in my work and stay relevant for the organisation. That may not sound enormously ambitious, but in a constantly changing IT world, there’s a lot for me to do.’

Arnaud: ‘Becoming an SDG ambassador for DNS Belgium, involving our stakeholders more in our policy on sustainability and being an inspiring example for other organisations. All this in the hope of bringing about real change.’ 

Timur: ‘My ambition is to become more politically active. Having good communication skills can certainly help me to achieve that.’

What does a typical working day at DNS Belgium look like? Which bits do you enjoy? What’s the atmosphere like?

Raf: ‘My working day begins with a short stroll for home to the office through Park Abbey and ends in the same way in the opposite direction. Between these two walks, there’s a whole range of challenges to keep me busy for hours. And, of course, there’s also the delicious coffee, meetings big and small, chats with colleagues and always something tasty.’

Arnaud: ‘I take a short but tough bike ride over a bumpy cobblestone track to Leuven. Then I dry out over a coffee and have a cosy chat before getting down to work. And, of course, it’s the same thing home in the evening. It’s more fun then because I can ride up on the cobbles. It enables me to totally empty my head.’

Timur: ‘We generally start the day with a stand-up meeting at which we ask how the previous day went and what new things are on the schedule. We work on our projects and help each other where it’s necessary or of value. I always find the atmosphere very friendly. And when you need something, you can ask anyone to help you.’

What is your tip for students with doubts about which subject to do, or who have an unusual qualification, but still want to work in a particular sector?

Raf: ‘Making the right choice of subject is and remains very important, but it doesn’t define the course of your whole life. Your studies may shape the start of your career, but not what happens in the future. I know so many people whose job has nothing to do with what they studied. My wife is a civil engineer and works now as a kindergarten teacher with cognitively gifted children. And she loves her job.’ 

Arnaud: ‘Follow your passion. Doing something that you don’t want to do doesn’t work, at least not for me. If you do something that you enjoy doing for an interesting organisation with nice people, then working is actually quite easy.’

Timur: ‘Don’t worry too much about your degree. Just try to gain as much experience as possible, wherever you can. It doesn’t matter if it’s at a festival, in a department store or with a start-up, etc. You learn more in a six-month work placement than in a year of studying, regardless of what you’re doing.’