Cliché breakers Ruth and Dulce

How long have you been working at DNS Belgium?

Ruth: "That will be almost nine years."

Dulce: "If I include my internship, a year and a half.”

How do you like it?

Ruth: "I still like it a lot. I get all the space I need to learn and keep growing."

Dulce: "I really enjoy going to work. The atmosphere among colleagues is definitely part of that."

What exactly do you do? 

Ruth: "I combine different roles. It's a mix between a lot of test work, managing the team and monitoring the schedule."

Dulce: "I develop web applications. Of course, I don't do that all on my own. Every day, we sit together with the whole team and help each other where necessary.

What do you find exciting about your job?

Ruth: "That we can work as a team so much. It's not a lonely job."

Dulce: “I’ve loved working with computers, ever since I was a child. Here, I find a lot of challenge.”

What did you study?

Ruth: "Industrial engineer in biochemistry. It is a misconception that you have to study Computer Science to work in this sector. At DNS Belgium, there are also several historians around, for example."

Dulce: "I first studied Graphic Design, and then I took a course in Programming."

How did you end up in the IT sector?

Ruth: "Quite by chance. I had actually applied for another position at my previous job. I had never heard of Test Engineer before but ended up staying."

Dulce: "Working in the IT sector had always been my dream. After my internship, I stayed on here."

Does the cliché that few women work in IT ring true?

Ruth: "I would say so. In fact, until recently, I was the only woman on the Engineering Team."”

Dulce: "Absolutely. I would love to have more female colleagues in due course."

How did those around you react?

Ruth: "I ran up against a number of prejudices. Many think IT is a tough world. Or that IT people are anti-social individuals. That is not so. We have a very nice team where everyone gets along very well."

Dulce: "Some students think the IT world is not for them. Or that it's difficult to crack. I've never felt that way. You just have to take your chance."

Do you feel you have to prove yourself extra hard?

Ruth: "There is equal opportunity for everyone here at DNS Belgium. So, quite the contrary. I actually got a lot of opportunities to develop and try new things."

Dulce: "I don't think so. It never entered my mind, in any event.”

What is the atmosphere like in the office?

Ruth: "All colleagues are on the same page. We have a good connection between us. There is also very little turnover."

Dulce: "On the Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, an important Mexican holiday, I cooked for the whole office. Then another colleague organised something for Hanukkah. That says a lot about the atmosphere, I think.

Do you have any tips for job applicants?

Ruth: "Try to be yourself. At DNS Belgium, they look at your personality and fit within the team first, and only then at what you can do."
    
Dulce: "Take the plunge! The IT sector scares some people off, but there's no need for that. Once you start to work here, you will see that we are just ordinary people too."