Trainee Technology
Discover Trainee Technology
Works in Utrecht and from home
Lives in Amsterdam
At VodafoneZiggo since September 2024
Discover Trainee Technology
Works in Utrecht and from home
Lives in Den Bosch
At VodafoneZiggo since March 2025
New technology, complex networks, and an organization where everything is interconnected. In the Discover Traineeship Technology, Agnieszka Turko and You Xu choose their own projects and work on challenges that make a difference for millions of customers.
How does such a large telecom company operate? And where can we make an impact in such a customer-focused organization? With that curiosity, Agnieszka and You started the Discover Traineeship Technology. "I wanted to understand how fixed and mobile networks work," says Agnieszka. "And how everything comes together in a complex telco environment." You was drawn to the fast-paced environment. "Every rotation with a new project brings a fresh context. You learn quickly and need to take the initiative yourself."
The Discover Traineeship Technology consists of three rotations of six months. During that period, trainees often work on two projects at the same time. That means a fast pace and quick transitions. "Technology is so broad," says Agnieszka. "By working on multiple projects, you get to know different teams and ways of working. This helps you gain an overview faster and discover earlier what suits you best."
In her first project, Agnieszka started in two technical teams: the Network Engineering team and the Technology Planning team. Without a telecom background, she dove straight into the world of fixed and mobile networks, suddenly finding herself among network engineers. "Telecom was completely new to me, but I learned quickly. That was also thanks to my colleagues, who took the time to explain everything."
For his first project, You tackled a persistent legacy issue between two internal systems. The labels for the applications contradicted each other, causing confusion. "I investigated the origins of the systems and why they didn’t align," he says. "To do this, I spoke with stakeholders from different tribes and business units. It taught me to critically evaluate information," he explains. "You often hear opinions, but you need to find out what’s really true yourself. In the end, I combined all the insights into a concrete improvement proposal."
For his out-of-comfort project, You immersed himself in sustainability and social impact within the Corporate Affairs department. He worked alongside Liberty Global's international ESG team and other European telecom companies. During an international offsite, they brainstormed ways to collectively reduce the climate impact of products. "It was an amazing opportunity to work on something completely unrelated to technology."
Both trainees also focus on personal development beyond their projects. For example, You completed the Professional Scrum Product Owner training just as the Technology department transitioned to agile working. "That training gave me insight into how teams collaborate and make decisions," he says. "It also helped me better understand my first project and take a clearer look at my own role."
Besides working on their own projects, trainees enjoy connecting with each other. At the Central Office in Utrecht, they often meet when they're not with their teams. Agnieszka and You also see each other there regularly. You shares: "Every two weeks, I have a chat with my buddy, who has already completed the program. We talk about projects, choices, and sometimes even doubts. It helps me grow faster." Agnieszka adds: "When I started, trainees from previous groups helped me find my way more quickly. Now, we do the same for the new group."
For Agnieszka and You, their ambitions have become both sharper and bigger. Agnieszka is about to complete her traineeship. Her interest in data remains strong, though now she knows better which role suits her: a hands-on position, focusing more on execution than planning. You is still in the midst of his traineeship, but he already knows he wants to explore beyond technology. He has a keen interest in the social impact of data. What connects these two trainees? The drive to keep learning and growing. At VodafoneZiggo, they have all the space to do just that.
