Last year, he celebrated his 10th anniversary at Shock Media, his favorite series is Friends, and his dog Shelby (see photo) is a welcome guest at our office… Of course, I’m talking about Senior Solutions Architect Niels! In this blog, I’d like to introduce him to you.
10 years at Shock Media already—how did you end up here?
After finishing my studies, I started working at another company. Alain (Götz, CEO) was already actively looking for new people at the time. After turning down his request a couple of times, I decided to visit his office back then. That’s where I was convinced: Shock Media gave me a lot of freedom and allowed me to do exactly what I enjoy.
What exactly is your role at Shock Media and what does it involve?
My role has changed a bit over time. The company has grown significantly in these 10 years. Previously, we mainly focused on hosting relatively simple websites, and I was involved as a Linux System Engineer. Now, we do Managed Hosting—often for very large websites, webshops, and web applications. We also build complex custom setups for our clients. I’ve since grown into the role of Senior Solutions Architect. When clients come to us with their application, I work together with colleagues to come up with the right solutions to host it robustly, super-fast, very securely, and highly scalable.
What did you do/study before this?
I studied Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Twente. Essentially, you’re trained to become a manager of a technical company. You get to experience technology in the broadest sense, but within the program, I chose the IT specialization. I still benefit from that, of course. I realized that the management part wasn’t for me. I want to be hands-on and stay actively involved with the technology myself.
Where does your passion for IT come from?
We had a computer at home quite early on, so I was exposed to technology from a young age. At first, I worked a lot with Windows, but during my studies, I got acquainted with Linux. The freedom of this operating system really attracted me.
Which developments in the sector do you think we should keep an eye on?
Honestly, I don’t really focus on that—there are other smart people for that at Shock. I believe we should do what we’re good at and of course, continue to improve within that area. That means delivering custom solutions: for some problems, proven techniques are best, while for others, new technologies can be a good step forward. The great thing is that both are possible here.
Besides IT, what do you do in your free time?
I work out twice a week, occasionally watch movies and series, and like to meet up with friends. I don’t have Netflix—I only watch series that aired on American television the night before. But by far, I spend the most time with my dog Shelby. With her, I easily walk about 200 kilometers a month!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Every day is different, and I’m constantly challenged to do things differently or better. I get to work on solving a puzzle every time. Clients come in with a specific problem, and I try to find a robust solution for them. Even after 10 years, I still enjoy it. Every day, I get the chance to do what I love and what I’m good at.
Why should people apply for a job at Shock Media?
To make my job easier again, haha. Jokes aside, we have an incredibly fun team. You get the freedom to profile yourself within the company—we’re not into endless lists of tasks. If you like working independently and determining your own direction, you’ll be a great fit at Shock Media. You need to be able to approach things in a different, original way.
After 10 years of experience at the company, do you have any wisdom to share with your colleagues?
Really try to do what you love. And take initiative in that. At Shock Media, you get a lot of freedom to contribute to the company’s growth with your knowledge. So make use of that. Do what you enjoy and try to develop and improve yourself in it.
Can you see yourself working at Shock Media? Check out our vacancies page or send an email to hr@shockmedia.nl. Curious about our other colleagues? Then read our other blogs.
