12 October 2023
Following your heart, being passionate about your profession and inspiring others: Jeroen van der Sommen's story encompasses it all. He faces the challenges of the future with a positive outlook and this only drives his ambition further. For this technical service hero, no project is too challenging.
"I love challenges. It's kind of a life motto for me," Jeroen says with a smile on his face after recounting the complexity of his job. "In technical services, you are involved in everything from wiring inside machines to adjustments and repairs to robotic arms. When I talk about this to friends or people outside the field, they are often surprised. I then think: this is just a normal working day; you should know what else I am working on. For instance, we are working on new machines, expanding the clean room, and setting up new washing lines. So you can imagine that there are plenty of challenges in the technical department."
Despite the fact that big challenges are quite normal for Jeroen, there are still projects he finds exciting. "Although I get motivated by challenges, I definitely still see projects that make me shiver. Especially the ambitious projects, such as the arrival of a new building for AAE. There is so much work involved in building this building; sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but it suits my ambitions. I don't let it stop me either, just go for it 100%. In the end, it only makes you better and more experienced."
Being in a good place
Working with such passion on such large-scale projects requires the necessary motivation. Fortunately, Jeroen has no lack of motivation. "I do this mainly because I really feel in my place here at AAE and that motivates me. Having gained experience at other employers and in different fields, I know what I want and what I don't want. I find the freedom I experience at AAE invaluable, as it allows me to fulfil my ambition in my work. And that makes it no problem at all for me to work extra hours."
Yet for Jeroen, always being in the right place is not a given. "As a child, I always had two hobbies: crafts and computers. I decided to make the latter my profession and went into ICT. After a few years, however, I realised that I would not find my workplace happiness here. In the end, I chose engineering because I enjoy creating physical things. And I don't regret that decision; I have been working in engineering for ten years now and still enjoy it every day. I continue to enjoy going to work, especially at AAE."
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