How Charline reshaped her career at Cheops
At Cheops, we create a working environment where employees can develop and find satisfaction in their roles. We understand that interests and career paths may change over time. When you feel you are ready for a new challenge, we are happy to listen to how you see your next step within Cheops. Charline's story is a great example of this. Her move to a new position not only gave her a fresh start, but also the chance to develop new skills and steer her career in a new direction.
A new role with impact
As Project Management Officer, Charline plays a key role in managing and coordinating projects. ‘My duties are very diverse,’ she explains. ‘I am responsible for the intake of new projects, distributing them to Project Managers and monitoring ongoing projects in terms of correctness and completeness. I also coordinate the onboarding processes for customers who use our Managed Services or customers who want to purchase additional Managed Services.’
Charline has a lot of contact with different teams, such as the Project Managers, Technical Services and the Service Desk. Customer contact makes her job extra exciting. ‘Every customer requires its own approach. It is a challenge and at the same time really exciting to think along with them and work together on efficient solutions. Satisfied customers and good internal cooperation make my day.’
From Teamlead Internal Sales to Project Management Officer: a well-considered switch
Before her transition to Project Management Officer, Charline worked for eight years as Teamlead Internal Sales at Cheops. ‘In that position, I had a lot of customer contact, but the focus was more sales-oriented. I managed a team, negotiated prices, prepared quotes and roadmaps and managed suppliers. This experience gave me important insights into both customers and Cheops' services and processes. This came in handy when I decided to make the switch to another position,’ she explains.
After her time as Teamlead Internal Sales, Charline was ready for a new challenge. ‘During a conversation with a colleague, I found out they were looking for a new Project Management Officer to join their team. It was at that moment that the realisation came to me: ‘This is what I want to do.’ I didn't want to leave Cheops, but I was ready for a new direction within our company. This role fitted perfectly with what I was looking for: variety, coordination and working with customers. Therefore, this was the ideal next step for me.’
Support and guidance from Cheops
An internal transition requires good guidance, and Cheops offers plenty of that. Charline received the support she needed in her transition. ‘The Performance & Growth interviews were an important part of the preparation for me. During these talks, your personal development plan is being discussed, in which you can set out your ambitions and goals. This helped me make a clear plan for my job transition.’ There was also enough room for a clear transition period, during which Charline could gradually hand over her old tasks while building up her new position.
Colleagues from her new team also played a very important role in her transition. ‘Several colleagues, including my predecessor, taught me a lot and really showed me the ropes. They shared their knowledge, gave practical tips and made sure I quickly felt at home in my new role. I also followed various training courses via LinkedIn Learning. I really find those learning platforms an added value. They give you new insights and practical tools.’
Looking ahead: ambitions and growth
Charline is determined to develop her new role. ‘I want to make the PMO role a coordinating function that optimally supports Project Managers. My goal is to make processes as efficient as possible so that we can onboard customers faster and even better.’
Although she is now fully focused on this challenge, Charline remains ambitious about the long term. ‘As time goes by, I will take another close look at my role and how it fits with who I am and what I love. I strongly believe that your role should evolve with you.’
Advice for colleagues
For those considering embarking on a new challenge but are keen to stay at Cheops, Charline has a message: ‘Dare to think outside your comfort zone. You grow as a person by learning new things, and at Cheops you will get the support you need in doing so.’
Her advice? ‘Talk to people in the new team, make a plan and be well prepared. Cheops has an open culture, and colleagues are always willing to help you and offer more explanation. This makes it easier to discover what a role entails and whether it really suits you.’
