Lukas Rooseleers hadn't taken a single economics course in his life, and now he's responsible for budgeting and forecasting at a prominent global organisation. During the two-year Grow Smart programme, he honed those technical skills but also learned to take a step back and focus on himself. "After leaving Projective Talent, I will continue my self-reflection," he says.
When Lukas Rooseleers signed up for Projective Talent's Grow Smart programme two years ago, it was a big career change for him. "I studied biomedical sciences. I've never taken a single economics course in my life... And now I work for the IT department of a global resource technology and materials company. I'm a Business Analyst for the Enterprise Performance Management team, supporting business decisions with budgets and forecasts," he says. In fact, it was a double move for Lukas: from the medical sector to IT and also to finance. "At first I wasn't sure if I would be successful. I wondered if I'd have to go back to the hospital in Leuven with my tail between my legs. But as it turns out, those doubts weren't necessary because I'm now on the verge of integration with my client."
When asked to sum up his entire Grow Smart experience in just one word, he uses the term 'springboard'. That's what the Projective Talent programme has been for him: a springboard to a thriving new career. "In the Grow Smart track, there are fewer mandatory trainings than there are in the Start Smart track. You have more freedom to spend your training budget on what you need - training from the extensive catalogue, but also conferences, for example. Or you can even propose your own training. That's the great thing about the people at Projective Talent: they're always open to suggestions.
That's the great thing about the people at Projective Talent: they're always open to suggestions.
Thanks to these valuable courses, Lukas gained the technical skills he needed. But perhaps more importantly, he was given the opportunity for self-reflection and self-improvement. "In day-to-day business, you spend five days out of seven just making sure the work goes well. With the ‘2000 Week’ training by BlueCliff or the Outward Bound training, we were able to step away from the client and focus on ourselves. It made me think about whether I was doing the right things, in the right way, or if there were things that needed to change. This self-reflection is something I will continue to focus on after I leave Projective Talent."
One of the things Lukas appreciated most about Projective Talent’s approach was its flexibility. "If a project doesn't suit you, they will try to find something that does. Having that assurance was a huge bonus for me," he says. The Projective Group network was also a plus. "There is a large community of fellow Projective Group’ers at my client.
Professionally, it made it easier to approach people. But it was also nice personally. We'd have a chat or go out for a drink at the end of the day. I even share a flat with two guys who are also Projective Group’ers. We're all graduating this year, so it's nice to share that experience as well."
We asked Lukas for his ultimate advice for future trainees. "Use the resources available to you. At Projective Talent, you get a wide range of training and budgets that you can use to further your career. Don't let an opportunity like this go to waste - make the most of it while you have the chance."
At Projective Talent, you get a wide range of training and budgets that you can use to further your career.
Als onderdeel van Projective Group verbindt Projective Talent ambitieuze professionals met toonaangevende bedrijven in de financiële dienstverlening en opent zo deuren naar carrièrebepalende mogelijkheden. Of het nu gaat om traineeships die uitmonden in langetermijnfuncties bij onze klanten of missies die flexibele opdrachten bieden, wij zorgen voor de juiste fit voor zowel kandidaten als bedrijven.
Met toegang tot A+ klanten, deskundige coaching en een sterk professioneel netwerk helpen we talent en bedrijven om samen te groeien en zo carrières, innovatie en succes op de lange termijn te stimuleren.
