Interview | Max Heijmans, Working Student Data & Analytics at Deloitte

Reading time: 6 minutes

Working in data and tech offers a wide range of opportunities, but navigating the complex realm can be challenging. What motivates professionals at Deloitte? And what journey did their career take them on? In this interview, Max Heijmans, a Working Student from Deloitte’s Data & Analytics team is introduced.’ Max provides insights into his academic background, transitioning from intern to working student. He shares his experiences, emphasizing the collaborative nature of his role and the inclusive work culture at Deloitte. Explore the dynamic realm of data and analytics at Deloitte through Max’s journey, offering inspiration to those considering a similar path.

What did you do before starting at Deloitte?

Before starting as an intern at Deloitte, I did my Bachelors in International Business at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, of which I obtained my diploma in July 2023. Deloitte was my very first experience in the ‘real’ corporate world as before, I had some (student) side jobs. However, due to my Bachelors and experience in leadership and management I gained from being involved in the Programme Committee and various study projects, I felt very well equipped to start my journey within Deloitte.

How are you experiencing your role so far?

I am very happy with my work at this moment. I joined this new Data & Analytics team on August 1st of 2023, and I received a very warm welcome. It was a different step from the team I had been in previously, namely Recruitment. My tasks within recruitment involved CV screening, interviews, and regular update calls with my stakeholders. My role now aligns better with my Master programme, which is in Digital Driven Business; I learn about the same things we do currently within the Data & Analytics team, such as data modeling, visualization and database management.

In more detail, on a day to day basis, me and my team work on the various data related needs of the internal organization. Think about the profit and loss statement of Finance, or even creating a dashboard for the occupancy of the different Deloitte offices for Workplace Services. Each day is challenging with both technicalities and client wishes.

What I also really enjoy is that my team collaborates with other teams, for example, Risk Reputation and Leadership recently requested to build a dashboard that creates an overview of client engagements and aspects like revenue, hours written, and risk factor. This dashboard simplifies their processes and enables them to make data-driven decisions.’

What is your experience in working for Deloitte?

In both teams, Recruitment and Data & Analytics, I have felt involved from the very beginning. At Deloitte you get to work alongside professionals who have been working there for much longer, and in that way you get to learn the ins and outs of the industry, as well as the company itself. Even as an intern and working student, you get to work on projects and deliverables that your senior colleagues work on. It is also reassuring to know that your colleagues know that you are an intern or working student, which means that they take their time in teaching you new things, and take into account your working hours- because you might not work the full 40 hours in a week, or your class schedule might change from time to time.

What’s more is that you get to enjoy different events and other fun activities. I have joined several team ‘borrels’ and teambuilding events, a Christmas celebration and Diversity lunches!

What had you wanted to know before you started working as a Working student Data & Analytics?

Something to always keep in mind is the (steep) learning curve. I was fortunate enough to go from one team to another inside Deloitte, but I could imagine as a new joiner – especially in a Data & Analytics team – the way of working could be very different from what you might expect. For example, the different systems used can also be a challenge, Deloitte is a Microsoft-based company (Outlook, Excel, Microsoft Teams, etc.) which is different from Google-based companies (Gmail, Google Spreadsheets, Google Meet, etc.). Furthermore, especially in Data & Analytics teams where daily or weekly stand-ups and sprint reviews are common, I was surprised to see my colleagues had a lot of interest in what I was currently working on and asked if they could help me in any way.

All in all, the different ways of working should not scare away any prospective student or candidate trying to get a position at Deloitte. I always tell students that a lot is a lot possible, if they just ask.

Do you want to know more about the opportunities at Deloitte and stay up to date? Connect easily with Deloitte on Magnet.me via this link.