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A job in road construction is probably not the most obvious choice as a young woman in her early twenties. Nevertheless, Rosalie Geelhoed took the plunge with Zwammerdam Group. She hasn't regretted it for a day. "I am aware that I am atypical within this industry and to many it does not sound like a sexy profession. Nevertheless, I feel completely at home here. For me, no day is the same!"
Rosalie grew up with the Zwammerdam Group, a specialized road construction company with asphalting as its core business. "My great-grandfather started the company over sixty years ago and currently my father is the director here," she says. The company therefore holds few secrets for Rosalie. "As a part-time job, I regularly went out with the asphalt crew during the summer vacations. I learned a lot from that."
After graduating from IVA Business School, she first chose a job in the automotive industry. "My first job was at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, but there I quickly came to the conclusion that I have more affinity with b2b than with b2c. Actually talking to entrepreneurs about their challenges and providing the right solutions for them gives me enormous satisfaction. So when there was a vacancy for a representative in road construction at the Zwammerdam Group, I indicated that I was interested. And after intensive discussions with some people, including of course my father, I decided to go for it."
Rosalie has now been working as a representative at Zwammerdam Group for over a year. "I visit customers to record a project, provide the necessary advice and prepare the corresponding quotations. Of course, especially in the beginning I had to learn a lot, but I was given that space. I also get a lot of support from my colleagues and feel absolutely accepted, even 'in the field.' There are sometimes surprising reactions, but always with great respect. The best thing about my job is the contact with people. I get a lot of energy when we manage to solve another 'problem' somewhere. No two days are the same for me. That makes it extra special.
Ambitions abound for Rosalie. "I want to further expand and sharpen my knowledge of the field and the design of outdoor areas in particular. In the coming years, I foresee plenty of challenges in my current position, which I combine with marketing. In doing so, I hope to enthuse other young people about a job in this wonderful industry and eliminate prejudices." Taking over the Zwammerdam Group at some point? Rosalie doesn't know yet. "I do eventually aspire to have my own company, also in the engineering field, but whether that will be Zwammerdam..."
