Former Discover Trainee Strategy & Partnerships
Joined VodafoneZiggo as a Discover Trainee Strategy & Partnerships in September 2021
Is now a Senior Strategy Analyst
Works in Utrecht and from home
Lives in The Hague
Maarten Schoorl was pleasantly surprised when he found a traineeship in strategy. A field in which you rarely find starter positions. He applied immediately and was accepted. The months that followed exceeded his every expectation. "I was given the opportunity to contribute at the highest level." And he made such an impression that he earned himself a permanent spot on the Strategy team.
As soon as the selection procedure for the traineeship began, Maarten was sure he'd chosen the right company. "It struck me right away that they were looking beyond my skills on paper. They were after my personality, whether VodafoneZiggo was the right place for me to be. The interview was open and very informal. Which is precisely what I had been told to expect of the company culture – that it's such a flat organization. It was really refreshing and left me feeling very positive."
Every Discover Trainee is put on three projects at three different departments. "I was very happy about that from the outset, because I knew it would enable me to see and do much more than a newbie would ordinarily. For example, in my first project, I was tasked with a research assignment into the use of NPS, the Net Promoter Score. This measures customer loyalty based on how likely people are to recommend a company to others. I discussed the results in a series of sessions with about 40 managers and members of the board. It was really exciting. You learn so much on the projects and meet lots of people. It puts you in the position sometimes that you know more about the organisation than people who have worked here much longer. And I was able to leverage all that knowledge in my third project."
"Throughout, by the way, there's always the Trainee community to fall back on – like a safety net to go to for advice. The community offers great opportunities socially, too. We do a lot together. Have drinks after work, for instance. You get to know each other real quick."
Maarten's final project was one for the history books. Through efforts all his own, he landed himself a place on the Corporate Strategy team, where they don't usually have projects suitable for trainees. "It's a team that has huge clout within the organisation, so it seemed to me to be a good idea to become part of it if I could. I went through quite a few rounds of interviews and discussions before I got the place. Those, too, were valuable experience and a fun challenge to take on."
Maarten's ambition was tested from Day One. His team was under significant time pressure to complete the annual Long Range Plan (LRP), which delineates strategy for the forthcoming five years. "It was all hands on deck. At one point, I had to get information from the manager of my previous project real quick. So, I called him and said, 'I need your input on points X and Y within two hours.' It felt really weird, but he didn't mind at all, fortunately. He fully understood the urgency. He was more than happy to take a task from me rather than the other way around."
"To be entrusted to work on the most confidential projects of the company as a trainee is absolutely fantastic. The strategic decisions the team makes for the LRP are very sensitive competitively. So there's very little more I can say beyond the fact that it was great to be a part of the action. The learning curve was steep, the pace high and days long. But the supervision was amazing. My colleagues kept a constant eye, checking I was still feeling positive and optimistic. And every other week I had a progress meeting with my Project Manager and Line Manager. I learned so much in six months, it was unbelievable. And I developed both personally and professionally in many ways."
"After completing my 18-month traineeship, my manager put in a good word for me, as it turned out that the team had never taken on a junior before. But they needed no convincing: the team was pleased with my work and had eyes on me already. I stepped to a permanent role as Strategy Analyst -it was so cool. I was involved in many different projects. From network strategy to Ziggo repricing to ESP contract renewals. I got to look at every corner of VodafoneZiggo. I can say in all honestly that I could not have wished for a better first job."
Looking back, the traineeship was the perfect bridge from studying to working for Maarten. The program gave him the freedom to chase his interests and gain new insights. "I learned that if you want something to happen, you need to take the lead". He also built a strong network, which surely equips him in his current role as Senior Strategy Analyst. "It’s much easier to connect with senior leaders and get their help when they know you and have seen your work before. All these skills and connections have prepared me to succeed in my current role. I feel ready to take on any challenge."
