After finishing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a pre-master, consultant Marianne Reussing graduated from the University of Groningen in 2018 with an MSc in Business Administration and Change Management. She joined Solid Professionals in September of that year and has worked here ever since: “I was able and dared to go out and grab onto enormous opportunities here.”
Just graduated and no idea what the future holds
How did you end up at Solid Professionals? Marianne: "At the time I was approached by a recruiter via Magnet.me. I had almost graduated, or not quite graduated yet, and I really had no idea what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I wanted to live and work in Utrecht or Amsterdam. Then I just started some conversations with the people who had sent me a message and that's how I ended up here."
Getting started from scratch
Why did you choose consulting? "Because I find it really fun and interesting to start a project over and over again - and to start working from scratch on a new assignment in an unfamiliar environment. To make something like that my own again and again, so to speak."
Small, but extremely effective
Why did you choose Solid Professionals, a relatively small company? “The personal attention Solid Professional gives its employees could be felt from the first moment I walked through the door. It really appealed to me. I’d already looked at the Big Four, but those agencies are a whole less personable and honestly, the thought of working at such a large agency overwhelmed me. A smaller organisation, such as Solids Professionals, suits me way better.”
Divers projects
Belts through the Lean methodology
A perfect combination
What does Solid Professionals team of consultants offer you? “It’s nice to interchange my assignments, like the one I’m doing for the Volksbank now, with the home that Solid Professionals and its group of consultants offer me. It’s the perfect combination. I feel super comfortable there; we interact in a very relaxed way. In addition, we can go to each other with questions, which is also very chill.”
Want to learn more about personal experiences in consulting? Read the stories of consultants Jisse and Robbert.
Trust, space, reception and responsibility
What does Solid Professionals offer you as an organization? "When I just started, 5 years ago, I really had no idea of 'what it would be like as a working person'. Or what the financial sector was like at all. By doing different assignments, and through the guidance I received in the process, I learned what does or does not energize me and where my talents lie.
The discovery of those talents, combined with the trust, space and responsibilities I was given, also in terms of performance management and through various training courses, enabled me to and dared to take advantage of enormous opportunities."
"And because we have very personal contact within Solid Professionals with, for example, our performance manager, I have always very much been given and felt the confidence to be able to make those great strides. This is how I grew from consultant to senior consultant and managing consultant. I now guide a small group of starting consultants and I could not have done that without the trust, appreciation and opportunities I have received from the organization. I hope I can transfer the same feeling to the consultants I am now manager of."
Energy from dynamism
How do you experience working as a consultant through Solid Professionals? "It brings with it a certain dynamic: On the one hand you are part of the client's team and on the other hand there is Solid Professionals and my colleagues there. So there are always two agendas. I find that a very cool interaction and that combination gives me energy. That is also one of the reasons why I still enjoy working at Solid Professionals."
Unknown playing field
Who would you recommend consultancy to, and what advice do you have for them? “I would recommend that anyone who enjoys working in a complex and ever-changing environment look into consultancy. Be sure to speak to many different parties because it can be difficult to determine exactly what you want, especially after graduating. But the number one piece of advice I can give you is: to follow your gut instinct! That’s what I did, and that’s why I’m in such a great position here at Solid Professionals.”
Above all, follow your gut!
To whom would you recommend consultancy and what tips do you have for them? Marianne: "To anyone who enjoys working in a complex, constantly changing environment. In particular, I would engage with many different parties. Also because it can be very difficult to decide what to go for when you're just graduating or about to graduate. But the best tip I can give is: Follow your gut! That's what I did and that's partly why I feel so comfortable with Solid Professionals."
Is consultancy the right fit for you?
Then check out the junior consultant vacancy or explore the consultancy programme. Prefer to chat with a recruiter to discover what suits you best? Feel free to send us a message!
