“To be honest, I had no real idea what I wanted to do in the maritime industry,” says Vincent Dijkstra as we look back on his traineeship. “But I knew one thing for certain: that was where I wanted to work.”
Through a message on LinkedIn, he encountered the traineeship. At the time, the programme was still relatively small and evolving. That was exactly what appealed to Vincent: not being stuck in one role straight away, but the opportunity to discover what suited him.
That journey started even before he officially became a trainee. He first started as a working student while finishing his thesis. It proved to be the perfect combination. It gave him the structure he needed while finishing his thesis and offered his first real insight into the industry.
“I was struggling with my thesis at the time. Having a job alongside the training programme gave me some much-needed structure.”
Learning by doing
What has stayed with him most is not a single specific assignment, but the collaboration with other trainees. You are not working somewhere on your own at a company; you remain part of a group where you continuously exchange ideas, share experiences and learn from one another. That sense of community is what helps you develop zo quickly.
“You are not just somewhere alone at a company. You remain part of that group. You discuss things, you share ideas, you learn from each other.”
From process optimization to system implementation
During his traineeship, Vincent worked on various projects. His first assignment was at North Sea Port, where he started mapping out processes, work that is often unseen but crucial to how an organization operates. Much of the knowledge existed only in people’s heads, and his role was to bring structure to it.
“A lot of knowledge was stored in people’s heads. My role was to capture that knowledge and turn it into clear, structured processes.”
Later, his focus shifted towards implementation and continuous improvement. At Van de Reijt, he worked on the implementation of a new ERP system. It was a project where people, processes and technology all came together.
“That’s where everything comes together: project management, stakeholder management and IT. It’s complex, but that’s precisely what makes it interesting.”
Digital transformation as a common thread
Digital transformation has become a common thread throughout Vincent’s career. Almost every improvement within an organisation has a digital component, where systems, data and processes all come together. As a Project Specialist, he now works on a wide range of initiatives, from implementing new systems and improving processes to developing dashboards.
“Almost every improvement in an organization these days has a digital component. That’s the area I’d like to continue developing in.”
His focus is on understanding an implementation from start to finish. Not just delivering it, but gaining a real understanding of what works, what does not, and why.
“Anything that’s new to the organisation tends to land on my desk.”
Continuing to learn beyond the traineeship
For Vincent, the end of the traineeship is not the end of his development. If anything, it is just the beginning.
“I want to understand every stage of an implementation, from start to finish. Not just deliver it but really understand what makes it successful and where the challenges lie.”
His ambition is clear: to improve systems and processes while helping organisations move forward.
One piece of advice for future trainees
Looking back on his traineeship, one lesson stands out above all: keep learning from the people around you. Fellow trainees are often just one step ahead, or facing the very same challenges.
“Don’t underestimate how much you can learn from the people around you. I’ve benefited enormously from the support and experience of other trainees, and now I’d like to do the same for those who come after me.”
He is keeping an open mind about what comes next. One thing is certain, however: the experience he has gained during his traineeship will stay with him throughout his career.
