1. Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Wouter, I am 21 years old and am currently writing my bachelor’s thesis in Communication and Information Sciences. At Flow, I have been active in several committees and I have been a member of the XIXth Daily Board.
2. Can you tell something about the side job you do/have done?
I am a student employee at Tilburg University in the Marketing & Communications Devision, Department of Marketing & Recruitment, Team Events. In short, this means that I support the team that organizes all events aimed at showing the university to prospective students! Examples are open days, student-for-a-day events, Campus Experience Days or webinars about choosing a study.
3. How did you end up doing this and with what motivation? Did you need work experience or prior knowledge?
I used to work for what was then called the Student Pool; a group of students who provided information at secondary schools about Tilburg University’s studies and helped out on the open days and student-for-a-day events. After my board year I took on a more coordinating role. Prior knowledge and work experience within the Event Crew or with the Student Recruiters could always be an advantage, although I would not say that it is really a requirement.
3. Approximately how much time are you spending in the week? Have you suffered any study delays as a result?
On average I spend 8-12 hours a week on this job, although this varies in intensity; for example, I spend more time on my duties in the run-up to open days and student-for-a-day events. The advantage is that these days are planned around the exams, so you have plenty of time to focus on your subjects during the exams. As a result, your studies will not be delayed any time soon.
5. Do you think this side job will add value for you when you enter the job market later?
In this job, you are drafting sales copy in a fairly hands-on way, especially an aspect of event management and planning is already involved. You’ll work on your excel skills and quickly learn to take on a multi-faceted role independently. All in all, this gives you a nice set of skills that you can develop alongside your studies, which will definitely come in handy for me if I ever start looking for a job!
