Mirjam has been working at TailorMinds as a Management Assistant since April 2022. This month she celebrates three years of working at the company. Time for an interview in which she looks back on her studies and career. She tells us what her job entails, what she likes most about her job and what the challenges are.
Background to Mirjam’s career
I studied medicine at Leiden University. After obtaining my doctorate, I had to wait a year before I could start my residency. During that year, I worked at the Ministry of Education, where I had already been employed for four years prior to my studies in medicine. After my children were born, I started teaching anatomy and pathology to nurses and assistant doctors in training at both secondary and higher vocational education levels. After about five years, my husband started his own company, Miniplants, an engineering firm in the pharmaceutical industry, which later added a construction hall. I took over the administration and became office manager. After selling the company, we lived in Antwerp and Düsseldorf. In Antwerp, I taught toddlers in a classroom. After more than five years, we returned to Zoetermeer because my husband went to work in The Hague. My husband knows Arjan well. When Arjan was looking for a management assistant for TailorMinds, I ended up at TailorMinds through a recommendation.
What are your responsibilities in your role as Management Assistant?
As the linchpin of the organisation, I am responsible for a wide range of tasks that ensure the smooth running of day-to-day operations. An important part of my role is coordinating the RI&E procedures. This means that employees periodically fill in specific forms when changing positions, projects or locations. For female employees, I also take the time to personally discuss their work experience and any points of concern. I include my findings in a report, which I then discuss with our consultant and register.
I also plan and coordinate meetings and team outings, for which I ensure good preparation and flawless organisation. During meetings, I take care of clear and structured minutes that serve as a basis for follow-up and decision-making. In addition to these organisational tasks, I offer support to the financial administration and I am the constant support and mainstay of the management. This last role – supporting the management team – is actually the heart of my job: thinking along, anticipating and relieving them of their worries where possible, so they can focus on the organisation’s strategic course.
Which skills do you think are indispensable in your job and what do you find difficult?
What I find most difficult is planning a date for meetings. I prefer to have personal contact. Compared to previous years, I am starting earlier now. A yearly calendar helps me with this. I personally think it is important that you have a reasonable knowledge of the organisation and the sector in which you work. You also need to be a good organiser, stay calm, be flexible, have a good overview and be able to switch gears. By conducting the RI&E interviews with employees, which I really enjoy, I hope to be easier for them to approach when something is bothering them. Being a people person makes the job a lot easier.
Interested?
Have you become interested in the possibilities at TailorMinds? Feel free to get in touch with us to discuss the possibilities together.
