A pair of aces
Meanwhile, I have been working as a digital designer for over 14 years and was able to gain experience at both large and small companies. Immediately after my education, I started as a packaging designer, grew into an all-round designer and then also delved into the technical aspects of web design. At that point I had an epiphany about the role I wanted to play in the future: helping companies grow through online communication with a strong focus on usability and user experience. With this vision in mind, I worked - and learned - as a consultant at companies such as Bose, MyShopi and Sodexo. I also helped smaller local companies with the creation of their online channels to increase their influx of customers and improve conversion.
Full House, and still beaten
You would think that I had reached the pinnacle of my career at that point, yet I wasn't lollygagging. It gnawed at me that, as a (self-employed) consultant, I couldn't focus 100% on my passions. Many people in my industry work in salaried jobs for a number of years, and then later become freelancers or self-employed. Well, contrarian that I am, I did the opposite, and went back to "working for a boss." I started at an agency in Hasselt and initially found the peace and focus I needed. Again, I worked for a nice mix of clients in different sectors. For example, Unilever, Proximus, Spar and Gulf.
In addition to work, I began to pick up old hobbies again. In my teens, I was a die hard skater, and thought ... "why not?!". So I started skateboarding again after 10 years. I once again enjoyed the original Star Wars trilogy, went for a game of poker, and even learned some magic tricks. I simply went back to enjoying the banal things in life more. BUT...
... at work, there I felt increasingly out of place. Although this job was my passion on paper, practice proved otherwise. We were doing what the customer asked, not what the customer actually needed. I got the feeling of being pushed into a subservient role, and I doubted my added value... I began to doubt everything, and even took a career counseling course to see if I shouldn't take another direction.
Royal Flush
The conclusion of that career guidance? I am passionate about my profession, very good at my job, and so I definitely should not go in any other direction. But I could do better to look for a company whose vision is more in line with my own. Enter Digitong!
On the website, I read "data-driven." Check!
During the first interview, I heard "quality over quantity." Check!
Since I joined the team, we have effectively added value for our clients. Triple check!
Could your company also use some digital value-add?
Let me know!
