Functional consultant Jordy
When I completed my Biomedical Sciences studies 1.5 years ago, I already knew I wanted to do something completely different. That's why I posted a message on LinkedIn, expressing my search for an interesting job.
One of the responses came from Decos' recruiter. I got excited about what she told me about the Digital Professional role; it seemed very interesting to me to apply my analytical skills and engage in problem-solving puzzles.
“The atmosphere is excellent. Whenever I have a question, every colleague genuinely makes an effort to assist me, even if I've never spoken to them before."
Analyzing and solving
The backgrounds of my colleagues are very diverse. It's mostly about being proactive and having analytical thinking skills. Biomedical sciences and consultancy at an IT company may sound like two completely different things, but there is indeed an overlap. In my studies, I learned to analyze and solve problems, which I'm doing now as well. There are multiple ways to tackle a problem, but the best approach depends on the situation, the organization, and the people involved. I enjoy delving into that and charting the best course.
Focus on development
After my application, I was paired with Willem, Product Owner Services at Doclogic (a Decos entity). Together, we created a development plan. While gaining experience as a Digital Professional seemed exciting to me, I also expressed my interest in progressing to a Functional Consultant role.
In addition to accumulating experience as a Digital Professional, we also focused on what it takes to transition to a Functional Consultant role. There are certain tasks crucial for a Functional Consultant that you wouldn't typically encounter as a Digital Professional. To bridge this gap, I shadowed experienced consultants for a while to learn these tasks. I also underwent training in IT security. With this comprehensive preparation, after 1 year and 2 months, I felt confident to transition to the role of Functional Consultant.
DIGITAL PROFESSIONAL OR FUNCTIONAL CONSULTANT: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Both roles involve client interactions, but the main distinction lies in the duration of engagements. As a Digital Professional, I typically spent much longer periods with a single organization. During my time in this role, I undertook two long-term assignments. Both organizations required an application administrator for JOIN, which meant ensuring smooth operations of JOIN for their employees on a daily basis. Most of my tasks were managed through a ticketing system: addressing queries or resolving issues reported by employees. I collaborated closely with the client's IT advisors, almost feeling like part of their permanent team.
Through these experiences, along with training and support from Decos, I gained a deep understanding of JOIN and honed my consulting skills. As a Functional Consultant, my assignments are shorter and more focused, such as data migrations or implementing new solutions. What I enjoy most now is configuring processes within JOIN based on client requirements. Additionally, working on diverse projects allows me to encounter various individuals, accelerating my personal development.
Discover more
Customer Support Consultant Roy
Productowner IT & Security Jan
