"A typical working week definitely depends on my current project work."
Release Date: 02 December 2021
"What I really like about zeb is that it provides numerous opportunities to engage in activities beyond project work."
In his testimonial, Markus will reveal what it was like to start his professional career as a consultant during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, he will provide insights into his current work and explain why zeb is exceptional in his view.
Why did you decide to apply at zeb?
After I completed my Master’s degree in Rotterdam, I first came into contact with zeb. Above all, I was fascinated by the combination of business and technical issues at zeb.
In retrospect, the application process was straightforward and pretty rapid. One day after I had submitted my application, I received an invitation for an initial interview with the recruiting staff. Subsequently, a date was arranged for the specialist interviews with Senior Managers and Partners. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the interviews were held online, but this didn't affect the process or organization. In total, I had one interview with a Recruiting Manager and three with colleagues from my field of expertise who also provided first insights into the project assignments and topics. After the successful interviews, I once again received a positive response within one day. On the whole, I really have to praise the Recruiting team who worked fast and ensured a great degree of transparency during the six-week application process.
What does your typical week look like?
A typical working week definitely depends on my current project work. During my first project, Monday to Thursday were normally devoted to project work. On Fridays, I developed internal topics and attended training sessions. The continued development of topics in my Practice Group offered a welcome change to my project work and provided me with the opportunity to develop my skills in more technical areas.
Right now, however, my typical working week looks completely different. I work on projects from Monday to Friday and distribute other tasks – such as support in acquisition processes and pitches – over the week. As is evident from this description, a consultant’s everyday life is very varied and there are often new topics and tasks.
Since I started to work at zeb in October 2020, I have been working from home. Remote work has caused no problems at all for me, and it was excellently organized from the beginning. Nevertheless, I really look forward to working from the zeb office once the pandemic is over.
What do you like most about your position as a consultant?
The decisive reason for me to become a consultant was and still is the fact that project assignments vary constantly. As a consultant, you will not only deal with a great variety of different topics, but you will also have the opportunity to work with new colleagues and to get to know new clients. This diversity means that you will experience a steep learning curve and have the chance to attend professional training courses according to your individual requirements. At zeb, individually-tailored training courses and continuing education are given a high priority, as it is essential that these programs match with the personal development goals of each employee.
How would you describe the atmosphere at zeb?
As a consultant, I was an equal member of the project team right from the start. At the beginning, I was directly assigned to a project and had my own areas of responsibility. Therefore, I carried responsibility from my very first day. I provided input and exchanged ideas with colleagues across all hierarchies. Owing to the “flat” hierarchy and the friendly and personal atmosphere, team work is always pleasant and simple at zeb.
What surprised you most about zeb
I was most surprised by the fact that I was at once involved in a project. On my very first day at work, I already participated in a client meeting and therefore experienced my own project kickoff. I immediately had the feeling of being an important member of the team. The diversity of my project assignments is another crucial aspect. Even though I have only been at zeb for a short time, I have gained detailed insights into different areas of financial services, e.g. into banks, specialist banks, and insurance companies. The project teams are made up of very diverse people. Consequently, there are always many different opinions, and problems are discussed from a great variety of perspectives and solved accordingly.
What makes zeb special in your opinion?
What I really like about zeb is that it provides numerous opportunities to engage in activities beyond project work. For instance, I can get involved in the development of topics, in recruiting, especially in graduate recruiting, and have become active in my Practice Group (PG). The specialized PGs allow you to develop and expand your own interests and skills beyond your current project assignment or professional background.
