Wendy Kerstens: Project Assistant
The 51-year-old Wendy Kerstens works as a Project Assistant at Omexom. In her role, she assists the site manager and project manager on large projects, both administratively and in terms of coordination. On a day-to-day basis, this means she ensures that everything is on site on time. She is also responsible for administrative preparation and processing.
“I am still very happy with my transition from the social sector to the technical field.”
- Name: Wendy Kerstens
- Age: 51
- Studies: Educator/study guidance (Kardinaal Van Roey Institute in Vorselaar)
- Function: Project Assistant
- Hobbies: Spending time with her dogs, going out with friends and attending festivals in the summer
How did you end up in the technical sector?
Wendy: I’m a trained educator and worked in the social sector for a few years. Through a friend, I ended up at a research agency where I started working at reception. That is how my interest in technology and the construction sector grew. I eventually started working for a construction company and then moved on to Omexom. Again, this happened through a friend who was working in the residential department and told me how enjoyable the working environment and atmosphere were. When I applied for a receptionist position, they saw my experience and immediately offered me a different job. They had just set up a new department and I found it interesting to help figure out how best to organize different aspects. That is the great thing about my job: you get a lot of responsibility and room to take initiative.
What keeps you motivated in your job?
Wendy: It is a job with a lot of variety. No two projects are the same and the way we work is constantly changing. When I started here, I was mainly involved in tracking orders and deliveries, but my role has since become much broader. I have more responsibility, contribute more ideas about processes and feel that my experience really counts. Omexom also gives me the opportunity to continue learning. I have obtained my VCA certificate, am taking courses on safety and will soon be taking one on social legislation. I use this knowledge every day on the construction site, which I now visit regularly. Recently, for example, I had the opportunity to carry out a project on a construction site. For about six months, I worked on site at the Indaver Hooge Maey site in Antwerp, which is something I am very proud of and taught me a great deal about how things work in practice. It was a unique experience to be so close to the project and actively involved in its day-to-day operations. I also appreciate the emphasis on maintaining a good work-life balance: I work from home one day a week which allows me to concentrate on catching up on emails. This flexibility and mutual respect mean that I still enjoy my job.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career?
Wendy: I always say: stay calm and take it step by step. Try to think logically and ask questions if you do not know something. When I was younger, I often wanted to do everything at once, but now I know you make more progress by working in a structured way. And above all: believe in yourself. You do not have to be able to do everything right away, you will learn as you go.
