I can broaden my horizons here, pick up on all kinds of things and learn, which I was more than ready for.
Niek Hessels joined VIRO’s Beverwijk branch in September 2022 as a junior mechanical engineer. We thought it was high time to really dig down into what makes him tick...
Niek, great to speak to you for the first time! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, I'm Niek, 30 years old, and I’m from Zaandam.
In terms of career, I followed a VWO pre-university course while I was already working part-time at a DIY store with a carpentry workshop. We turned out products such as cupboards, doors, kitchens, furniture, walls – basically anything related to wood. After I completed my VWO course, I started working there full-time.
I carried on until I reached the age of 30, with the intention of eventually taking over the business. But, despite everything, I decided that I would change direction and seek a whole new challenge in a career based on technology.
That's how I ended up at VIRO.
Why did you decide to change career? Were you fed up with your previous job?
Yes, I honestly couldn’t see any more challenges. After working in one place for so long, some of my tasks were becoming tiresome, such as dealing with less pleasant customers. My favourite activity was building and doing odd jobs, without distractions.
That’s why I decided it was time for a change. I started a part-time Bachelor’s (HBO) in mechanical engineering, and work at that same time at the VIRO branch in Beverwijk. Here, I can broaden my horizons, pick up on all kinds of things and learn, which I was more than ready for.
So you left something safe behind yet still had the courage to step into the unknown!
It was indeed a step into the unknown; after all, I left my second home behind. And now I'm here, without a lot of experience. Sometimes I have no idea what's going on or what colleagues are talking about [laughs], but I’m gradually getting the hang of things.
That step into the unknown certainly took you into a welcoming environment.
What were the first things you noticed at VIRO?
The friendly atmosphere, and that so many things are so well organised. I really have found myself in a welcoming environment. Everyone is pleasant and helpful. There aren’t that many people working in the Beverwijk branch, so you get to know each other well pretty quickly. In the beginning there were only four of us, but that number has already grown to nine. Exponential growth.
Another nice aspect is the support from the other branches!
Does what you’re studying at school match your job at VIRO?
Not really. The course is still pretty basic, and what I do for VIRO goes a lot further. For example, Solid Works 3D software is only now being introduced in my course, but I’ve already had the opportunity to practice with it at VIRO.
If a job comes in that involves wood, are you the first to volunteer, or have you had enough of working with this material?
I'll put myself forward; I still enjoy it.
Some interventions are being carried out on the new building in Beverwijk, and coincidentally my old boss allowed me to make a quote for various parts.
I still have a good relationship with my old boss, and I sometimes help him with a few hours of carpentry at the weekend. It still interests me; wood is such an amazing product.
I’ve already been working at VIRO for 18 months, and I’ve helped out with a wide variety of jobs. These vary from a large extraction duct on the roof at one of our clients to setting up a PLM system at another. I’m currently working for a client who builds incredibly beautiful boats. These are fantastic, diverse projects that take me to all kinds of different places and teach me a lot.
