- 30.09.2021

“I immediately felt part of the team, which enabled me to learn a lot and quickly”

At the end of 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, Bas started at BNP Paribas Fortis as a Java developer in the Log-on squad. How did he experience digital onboarding and team spirit from a distance? And how does he envision his future at his new employer?

Good contact from the start

Bas experienced onboarding and his first few months as an IT expert at BNP Paribas Fortis from home. How did this period go? “We were two developers who started at the same time. For the first three weeks, our chapter lead accompanied us for five hours each time. We were given all the information about human resources and what goes on behind the scenes. But we also got explanations about fraud and terrorism, for example. It was really an in-depth onboarding compared to the ones I had received at other employers.”

Thanks to this in-depth onboarding, Bas immediately had a good rapport with his chapter lead. “I feel like we already know each other well, and I know I can always count on him if I have any questions. We have a face-to-face meeting every two weeks to see how things are going and how I feel in my squad. He is very concerned about our needs and our well-being in the team.”

Exhausting, but so enriching!

Your first month at BNP Paribas Fortis? “It was an exhausting month!” Bas exclaims with a laugh. “I received a huge amount of information... I filled entire notebooks! I also felt a great team spirit. My squad immediately involved me in all their activities. And I was able to follow and listen to everything that was happening, which allowed me to learn a lot in a short space of time.”

Has he already achieved some initial results? “One of my first missions was to develop something for the BNP Paribas Fortis app. When a customer installs the app and logs in, they need to receive a security alert via SMS. I was able to implement this function, I was successful and it is already being used. The fact that this small success was communicated during a ‘release meeting’, and that it was appreciated, even by management, made me proud.”

Looking forward to finally organising a ‘pizza party’

Are you eager to meet your colleagues in person for the first time? “Absolutely! The office is very nice: it is bright and spacious, and offers a view of the rooftops of Brussels. A first meeting is always exciting, even if my colleagues already make me feel like I am part of the team. I never had the impression of being ‘the new kid’. We have already organised a few virtual drinks with the team, but it’s not quite the same. We have been dreaming about our next ‘pizza party’ for months.” (laughs)

Is speaking English all day a challenge for you? “The fact that English is the working language is not an obstacle for me. Given that our team consists of Dutch, French and English-speaking colleagues, it is logical that we speak English in meetings.”

What else do you like about your new employer? “I appreciate that our ‘thirteenth month’ is paid in units throughout the year. These units allow us, for example, to buy a GSM or a laptop, or to lease a car. It is also possible to convert the units into holiday or cash. This is a much more interesting system than if we were given a company car or GSM by default. Personally, I am affiliated with a ‘car-sharing’ system; I therefore do not need a car. And my private GSM is still brand new. I will therefore opt for other benefits.”

Want to follow in Bas’s footsteps? Discover our jobs and apply! 

Source: Amon

This article was written as part of our partnership with Amon for the organisation of the event “This is IT”.