1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend he or she do it?
DSM is Dutch-based, and what we're looking for right now is diversity so we can become much more of a global company. If you look at our history, we started out as a coal-mining company. And then we switched to chemicals. Then we transformed ourselves into a life and materials sciences company. We don't look very narrowly at job or education background but instead what an individual can contribute. We need people with different industry experience, different backgrounds, so emphasize your point of view.
2. What is the best piece of career advice you've ever been given?
Start with what is appealing to you and what you are good at, then jump on the things that come your way. I'm one of those people who joined DSM early in my career, and 20 years later, I'm still around. There's a lot of people like that here. But even though I've been with the same company, if you look at my career, I've been all over. I'm a psychologist by education. I started in HR, then ran logistics operations, then worked in marketing and sales. Later I was entrusted to lead big programs, to be the general manager of an antibiotics facility in Egypt, to do engineering plastics in South America. [In each role] I had to prove that I could deliver.
3. If you were job hunting in this economy, where would you look?
The area of sustainability. You'll see more government involvement. Government will start to demand those types of changes. If you look back on the crisis from whatever year it will be over, the survivors will be those [companies] that have changed, that worked that in to the business they do.
Related Stories: | Topics:Careers, Work/Life, MixMe, Fokko Wientjes, government, sustainability, career advice, DSM, Top Jobs, UN World Food Program, Egypt, South America |
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
Recent Comments | 13 Total
September 4, 2009 at 9:51pm by Acai Berry
Great article.
September 4, 2009 at 9:53pm by Acai Berry
Great article.
-acai
September 8, 2009 at 1:22am by Acai Berry
I am looking to do something really similar to what you did. Just stick with a great company and roll with it. A company that will have me around for many many years and still enjoy my work. Thanks for the post.
-One Step Realty
September 13, 2009 at 8:10pm by Acai Berry
Diversification is so important in today's global market. Getting your product out to as many people as possible is by far the best way to make profits. It is also very clever that you don't look for just one type of person to fill a role - sometimes people can surprise you with the insight they bring to the table.
George - Fashion Stores
September 13, 2009 at 8:11pm by Acai Berry
Diversification is so important in today's global market. Getting your product out to as many people as possible is by far the best way to make profits. It is also very clever that you don't look for just one type of person to fill a role - sometimes people can surprise you with the insight they bring to the table.
George - Fashion Stores
September 13, 2009 at 10:03pm by Acai Berry
Looks like you have been on a satisfiying path for most of your life. At first glamps it seemed like you didnt know what you wanted to do for the rest of your life. Later on it all came clear you were working towards it this whole time. Very good article i absoluty would love to sucseed in what you did for many years
-Thanks online payroll
September 13, 2009 at 10:04pm by Acai Berry
Looks like you have been on a satisfying path for most of your life. At first glimpse it seemed like you didn't know what you wanted to do for the rest of your life. Later on it all came clear you were working towards it this whole time. Very good article i absolutely would love to succeed in what you did for many years
-Thanks online payroll
September 19, 2009 at 7:09pm by Acai Berry
I like your answer for where to find sustainability in the market right now. It's so true that many commercial companies have so much fluctuation right now that hiring for them is not a cost-effective strategy. Most companies only get their monies' worth out of workers after a long time. I have seen more and more government contract work popping up, especially with so many soldiers overseas that would usually take those positions.
Cesar - garden benches
September 22, 2009 at 7:20am by Acai Berry
Nice to see that you have reached your goal in life. It is even better that you enjoy what your doing and can do it for the rest of your life. I am currently working on looking into great companies for the long run. I would want to end up happy like you did. thank you hvac
October 18, 2009 at 1:17pm by ruengsook pompak
I am looking to do something really similar to what you did. Just stick with a great company and roll with it. A company that will have me around for many many years and still enjoy my work. Thanks for the post.
โปรโมทเว็บ
social bookmark
November 4, 2009 at 2:26pm by Acai Berry
Great pieces of advice here. Most companies these days are more worried about what you can offer them then what you have done in the past.
George - George Susini