'After my first cup of coffee and a tour, I knew right away: this is it.' Daniël Vaas quickly made up his mind after his initial introduction to Ofichem: he had found his place. After completing his Chemistry studies at the Hanze University on Campus Groningen, he began searching for a job in organic chemistry. A LinkedIn post connected him with Weite Oldenziel's company. 'We are looking for ambitious people, like Daniël. Young individuals fresh out of their education on Campus Groningen, but also those further along in their careers, truly have good career prospects here.'
Unexpected
Daniël has been working as a Research Operator at Ofichem in Ter Apel since early 2023. Ofichem is one of the few companies in the Netherlands that produces raw materials for medicines. The substance that causes the medication's effect is called the 'active pharmaceutical ingredient.'
'In my job, I work on the scale-up and actual production of these active pharmaceutical ingredients for medicines. To be honest, I had no idea that such positions existed. During my studies, I mainly learned how chemistry works and what can be done with it. That's why I think more attention should be paid to your future career field during your studies.'
A stepping stone
‘There's still a challenge’, Weite adds, ‘for educational institutions and companies. Education should not only align somewhat with the industry. We also need to ensure that graduates can find companies, not just on campus but also in the region. Progress is being made in this regard, thankfully, but there's certainly more to be done. Young people, of course, also need to learn from trial and error. But if we could facilitate that first step from education to a job a bit more, we provide them with a stepping stone.'
For Daniël, his career start in organic chemistry is going well. His work at Ofichem is both challenging and varied. 'What's interesting about my role is that I can observe chemistry on a kilogram scale and, through optimization adjustments, produce more kilograms of the product. It's also important for me to work with enjoyable colleagues because it gives me a lot of job satisfaction.'
Focus on your interests
For young professionals looking for a great first job, Daniël has some advice. 'First, consider which direction you want to go in your field and where your interests lie before you focus on job openings. And try to use LinkedIn because it can offer you additional opportunities.'
