A message from Ella Hueting (Fontys

Dear students,

Fontys has fully been open for a few weeks at the time of writing this letter. We haven’t noticed much yet as the exams are in progress; however, I hope that the start of the second semester will be buzzing again as normal for both lessons and practicals. This means that you will be back to work on your projects in the Nexus Building, the Brainport Industries Campus, the Automotive Campus and R10.

I hope you’ve had a successful exam period. Kindly keep in mind that we are always available for you if something is bothering or worrying you, and/or if your studies are not going as planned.

At the end of December we said goodbye to the old board. I would sincerely like to thank them once again for everything they did in the past year. Meanwhile, we have also met the new board. It is great to see how much positive energy there is as well. Without a shadow of doubt, it is going to be another great Innovum year.

We are delighted that Innovum can function at full speed again and open its space to you. This is so important since it turns out that students who are members of a study association can generally achieve better results. We are proud that Innovum is the largest study association in Fontys and that you are so active in it. I am totally convinced that the activities of Innovum will have a positive impact on your study time.

Together with Innovum, we will ensure that you have a great time at Fontys.

Ella Hueting Director Fontys School of Engineering

Top 3 tips for an excellent kick-off to your engineering career

Although the staffing shortage isn’t a new topic, nowadays it’s more relevant than ever in the field of engineering. The economy and job market are both booming again after the COVID crisis. The dutch are well known for their innovative technical abilities. Absolute world class. However, it is easy to reach the top but a lot harder to stay up there. A challenging and interesting time indeed!

For sure, this means unlimited job opportunities for young professionals in the engineering business. Which happens to be a situation we, being a job agency in the engineering sector for over 25 years, have already experienced several times. So here are our three pieces of advice to make the best out of these challenging times.

TIM MARCELISSEN

HELLO, ARE YOU A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SPECIALIST AND

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE

NEXT STEP IN YOUR CAREER?

T.MARCELISSEN@CONTINU.NL

06-11705677

Schrijf je in via www.continu.nl/campus

1. Let us do all the work

Do you have a Linkedin profile? If you do, you have certainly noticed the huge ammount of connection requests and job opportunities in your inbox. There are countless jobs waiting for you. So how do you figure out which one suits you best? That’s easy, just leave it up to the experts. At Continu Professionals, we’ve been scouting and mapping the Dutch engineering market since 1995. So maybe even before you were born? We know all the ins and outs about most of the relevant companies around. We know their company cultures, their development opportunities and their working conditions. All you need to do is tell us your conditions, ambitions and dreams and together we will find the right job for you.

2. Show me the money

Just like all economies, the job market is all about supply and demand. Right now, demand is very, very high, which obviously affects prices. So don’t be afraid to ask for an above average salary. However, don’t forget to look around. Yes, you are not the only student are you? Be bold, but never overplay your hand. Aim for a gross starting salary somewhere between € 2500 and € 3000. Don’t worry if the thought of selling yourself scares you. We’ve been there, done that thousands of times and are more than happy to assist you.

3. Use these easy negotiaton tricks

Sure, your starting salary is a very important working condition. So you should never accept the first offer and open the negotiations at 110% of what you’re willing to settle for. However, don’t forget to focus on the total package. What if there is little room to increase your monthly salary, but there are several options for additional holidays, education fees or a company car? Secondary working conditions often have a positive effect on your actual spending money. So, do the math.