Some of our colleagues have been here from the very beginning, like Hans for example! He showed up at our doorstep as an intern, when we were still a humble startup. And he never left, which makes us incredibly proud of course. Curious to find out how he experienced our growth? And how much he likes working at Arxus?
Thu, 27 June 2024
From a young age, Hans has always been interested in everything computers and technology. So, it comes as no surprise that he decided to study computer sciences. And when he had to choose an internship, both he and
“I do recall finding the offer really interesting, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you what it exactly was anymore. What I do remember is that we were able to do a whole lot more than the internship described”, Hans laughs. It must have been quite interesting indeed. Because even after all these years, Hans is still working with us as a Cloud Solutions Architect!
When Hans started, we only had our own datacenter and a basic Microsoft platform at Arxus. But that changed a lot throughout the years, especially in the last 7 – 8 years. Because, with the arrival of Microsoft Office 365, we started focusing more and more on migrating IT infrastructures to Azure.
And that’s where Hans comes in: “I started with Windows Server technology stack back in the day, and other things that are more in the domain of the Hybrid Cloud Team nowadays. However, I joined the Cloud Custodian Team, because that’s where Microsoft’s biggest developments are, in my opinion. That being said, I still provide operational support from time to time, especially to customers I’ve previously helped with their IT migration projects.”
Our customers can choose both Azure and a private cloud. But Hans helps them out either way. Together, they investigate the best solutions for the customer and get the job done.
Hans is a Technical Lead. And that means he regularly makes status calls with the customer and operates as their technical person of contact. But that’s mainly a natural consequence of his years of experience, he says. Because, when we asked him to assume the role of Tribe Lead, he hesitated. That’s why we offered him job coaching, allowing him to investigate his drivers and ambitions. But he soon discovered that being a Tribe Lead was not his thing.
“I’ll forever be grateful for those job coaching sessions, because they gave me the necessary insights to progress, both in my work and private life”, Hans states. “The coaching focused on you as a person, and on what motivates you. And by reading some more books on the subject, I delved deeper into the matter. But after completing the track, it became really clear that being a Tribe Lead wasn’t something I wanted to pursue in my career. It goes to show that taking the opportunities that are handed to you, pays off. Taking ownership is a big deal here at Arxus.”
“Back in 2011, it was just the five of us. And we were still working in a tiny office. But gradually more and more interns joined our ranks, just like Tim and I”, Hans mentions. Today, we’re still in a similar situation: newcomers usually start in a first line capacity and then find their way to new endeavors in the organization. “Of course, we paved the way a bit, but I look back on it with positive feelings. We learned so much from those early stages”, Hans says. “Having been here from the start, I have a unique perspective on the matter. I don’t suppose many people can say they’ve seen their organization evolve from 5 to 200+ people.”
Hans didn’t only witness our enormous transformation, but also experienced the drastic changes within the IT sector throughout the years. “Microsoft Azure has been the biggest change for me, but really, almost everything’s different. To give an example: we used to have our own Exchange Server, but we swapped it for a simple subscription from Microsoft”, he explains. “So, yes, products change, complexities disappear, and boring jobs are automated. It can be challenging, because the pace at which things change is way quicker than before.”
Again, our tribes play a crucial role in that regard. “They each have their own specialization, making it easier for Arxus to stay up to date on all kinds of different technologies at the same time”, Hans clarifies. “Each tribe has its own portfolio and actually forms a sort of mini organization within the bigger picture. That’s how we stay on top of our competitors.”
When people apply for job openings, they all get to hear the same thing at some point: true friendships are formed here at Arxus. And Hans talks about that all too often! As soon as we start discussing our community, he’s more than enthusiastic about his colleagues. Or better: his pals. “I really appreciate the effort Arxus puts into bringing us all together on teambuilding events and such. I’ve known most of the colleagues for several years now. And I know that I can count on them, and vice versa.”
"I’d welcome any doubtful applicant to come here and get a whiff of the atmosphere within our company. You’ll immediately know what I mean”, Hans concludes with a warm smile on his face.
Take a quick look at our vacancy page. And, hopefully, we’ll get to meet you soon!
Technologie sijpelt werkelijk op alle vlakken van Dieters leven door. Dat is al zo van jongs af aan: toen schreef hij reeds tools met C#, testte hij operating systems als Ubuntu en ging hij zodra het kon informatica studeren. Intussen schopte hij het niet alleen tot een gevestigde expert bij Arxus, maar ook tot Microsoft MVP. Ook in zijn vrije tijd blijft hij vrolijk en vooral technologisch bezig. We stellen hem uitgebreid aan je voor!
Bij Arxus zetten we onze mensen graag in de spotlight. Daarom vertellen we je graag het straffe verhaal van Tim Wolfers! Sinds zijn start bij Arxus in 2011, toen we nog een kleine startup waren, heeft hij ons van dichtbij zien groeien. Het is mede dankzij Tims inzet en toewijding dat onze organisatie staat waar ze nu staat. En het maakt ons natuurlijk enorm trots dat hij, na al die jaren, nog steeds in ons team zit!
