Make yourself known

Claudia van der Veer is an interim professional at Randstad Digital. As the winner of the 2023 RightBrains Awards Digital Talent award, she believes women should not only take space – but also give space to other young talent.

Data is something that energises Claudia. To her, data is like a maze; you find structures, insights, and a plethora of possibilities – as long as you ask the right questions. And to Claudia, discovering what those questions are can be an incredibly adventurous and rewarding process. She studied international business at Groningen, and it was during her research master’s courses that she was introduced to the world of data. “I did not care so much for the writing of my research; rather, I liked finding new things, testing different hypotheses, and tweaking a bit here or there. That is how I got into data. It’s all little puzzles you need to solve.”

Dreaming big

Even though Claudia is confident in her field of work, she is still unsure about what she wants her ideal role to be. “Data, IT, AI and innovation – it all excites me. I’m still considering options and dreaming about possibilities for my career. My future job might not even exist yet!” Claudia has worked as a data analyst, a project manager and now a business analyst where she translates the business needs to the IT team. She admits she gets restless easily, and that has been her greatest struggle. “I need to be challenged, and that is not always possible. So sometimes, I will procrastinate on some tasks until I find the motivation to focus on the bigger picture. I’m working on that: to challenge myself and come up with fresh ideas and initiatives. And also, to communicate better with my managers if I’m stuck. I have to remind myself that managers are there to help, and that they won’t be disappointed if you come across a challenge that you need support with.”

Don’t sit in the corner

Claudia believes you should put yourself out there and show your superiors what you want and are capable of. “I like finding new things and smart ways to make work easier. In one of my previous jobs, I automated a monotonous monthly task. Not because anyone asked me to, but because I saw a possibility to improve while learning something new myself. It is so rewarding to see it still being used today.”

According to Claudia, it is important to not only share your knowledge, but your life experiences with those around you; even more so to female talent starting out their careers and who are still finding their feet. “I’ve had female managers whom I’ve looked up to, and it’s been a great help to have open conversations with them. It means a lot that they have found the time to help me navigate some issues. That is something that I would want to do when I’m in one of those positions.” Claudia advises that not only should you take space for yourself, but you should help carve out safe spaces for others. “I would like to be a mentor, and help someone else to develop their full potential, and ask questions like ‘Why are you holding yourself back? Because you can do it if you try!’ Sometimes, you just need a different perspective.”

Advice to careers starters

Having an employer who understands you, is great for young talent to be developed further; and Claudia has experienced this first-hand during her time at Yacht. She urges others to take care when choosing the companies they want to join. “I suggest you visit their offices, because then you can see how the employees operate and interact. Diversity is important; young and old, different genders and races. Another important thing to find out is if the employer is willing to invest in you. You should not only go in and do your job, but dream about the possibilities for your role in the future. Your employer should be open to change, especially when this can benefit both of you.” Claudia is, however conscious that some people are task-orientated, and might prefer a defined role – and she emphasises that it’s also a worthy path to follow. “The trick is to pursue what gives YOU energy within your role, especially as you find your feet.”

Developing confidence

Over the course of her career to date, Claudia has noted that women don’t always have the confidence to challenge the norms and that they (wrongly) feel they first need to know everything before they can do it. “I never know what I get into,” she laughs. “I have changed my job three times already. I have not mastered all the skills. So, in job interviews when they ask me if I know a coding language, and I don’t, I tell them I know the way of thinking of programming, and that I'll be able to figure out that language along the way. I also tell my potential employer that even though I have little experience in the skill they are asking for, I’m keen to develop that skill to a further degree. That shows eagerness to learn. We all have to take on fresh challenges when we start a new job. You can learn anything, as long as you are willing.” Claudia also encourages career starters to share their ideas with their team members, other employees and higher-ups. “You never know when something pops up in a different team, and they think of you and your idea. Make yourself known.”

This article was originally published in the RightBrains DIGIDIVA Magazine. Check out this year's issue for more inspiration or to get involved!