Niek studied psychology and now works in the software industry

This article is part of a series called “Twente Leeft!” (Twente Lives!). You can read personal stories here about living and working in Twente. Twente is a nice place to be, according to the talents we meet. The beautiful nature, space, the down-to-earth mentality; they all characterise Twente. There are also plenty of career opportunities! Twente has many innovative, international and future-proof companies that are desperate for staff. Want to know what Twente has to offer? You can find Niek story below.

Niek consciously chose to study Psychology, but he also had an interest in technology. This interest gradually grew more towards software. He wanted to work in an industry where he could impact the work of others through technology. Niek: “Technology is rapidly growing, and this will only increase in the coming years. However, technology only works if people know how to use it effectively. My study taught me that you cannot just change human behaviour, but technology can be adapted to people instead. This is reflected in my position as a Software Tester, where I adapt our applications to the behaviour of customers. I especially enjoy the fact that I can simplify the jobs of hundreds of other people with just one adjustment!”

Niek has fond memories of his time as a student. He liked the campus of the University of Twente, and his study perfectly matched his interests. Niek also helped write two scientific papers during his time as a student. “These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but it was pretty tough. I took some more time for myself after I graduated, and I was well-rested before I started looking for a job. I also like playing board games in my spare time. Enschede has a wonderful shop for all of these games, American comics and Japanese manga. Highly recommended!”

Niek was in the middle of the application process at Sigmax when he was offered a job outside of Twente. This was not an option for him. “I didn’t like the idea of spending a long time in my car every single day. I love living in Twente and being able to cycle to work. Twente is the place to be when you are looking for a technical job. The University of Twentehas great collaborations, start-ups are emerging everywhere, and Kennispark is a great location for working.”

“We at Sigmax create cool applications and software for large companies and governments such as Carglass and hundreds of international municipalities, including Amsterdam. Our software allows professionals to work faster and more efficiently. My job was initially focused on software testing, but I saw an opportunity to combine psychology with technology at Sigmax, and I took it. This was not really what the vacancy was for, but Sigmax saw the advantages and adapted the job to my specialities and interests. We made some great strides in recent years, and many colleagues and customers are positive about the contribution of my work.”

Twente lives

Twente is the ideal place to live and work, according to the talents we meet. Want to know why? Read personal stories about living and making a career in Twente on twente.com/twente-leeft. Want to look for a job immediately? Then take a look at our extensive job site.