Value Square CEO Koen Hoffman: “As a job student, you learn something new every day. And the best part is: you still get to make mistakes.”
Introducing: Koen Hoffman, CEO at Value Square, an asset management company based in Ghent. Before joining the Value Square team one year ago, Hoffman was CEO at KBC Securities – KBC’s stockbroking company. “I’ve worked at KBC for about 24 years, so it almost looked as if I was heading for a one company career”, he says. “But then Value Square came along”. Hoffman has always had a soft spot for value investing. “At Value Square, we are trying to set up a boutique value asset manager”, he explains. “Our main focus is on family businesses, national and international.”
Hoffman is a big supporter of working with job students. “At Value Square, we make sure there’s always a job student in the office,” he says. “It’s something I would recommend to anyone. Students are not just the future, they’re your future customers. They have an open mind, a young creative brain and a fresh inside outside look on your organization. From the student’s point of view, it’s a unique opportunity to discover the real world from the inside. You learn something new every day, just by observing. And the best part is: you still get to make mistakes.
“I used to love doing student jobs”, Hoffman remembers. “I did some office jobs in a family business. They really gave me a clear look on how family businesses work. To this day, I still love working with that kind of companies. It’s become a true passion of mine.”
“For students, it’s not always easy to find a job that matches their professional interests.
That’s where Deltaworx makes a difference.”
For students, it’s not always easy to find a job that matches their professional interests. “That’s where Deltaworx makes a difference. At Deltaworx, they don’t just hand out a job to everyone who comes through the door. A student job is considered the start of a career, so every job goes to the right person. The amount of time Deltaworx invests in screening and evaluating every student, is unique.”
So, what are Hoffman’s ultimate tips and tricks for students who want to get the best out of their student jobs? “Make sure you know what the job includes, before you agree to it. And once you decide to go for it: do your job with passion, not just because you have to. Find out what kind of jobs you love, and what kind you wouldn’t want to do in a million years. Student job experience can be a big advantage when you’re applying for a ‘real’ job, so make it count!”
Interested in a student job? Your career starts here! Join our Delta family and delta-work your way to the top!