Meet Tom: the teaching business engineer
Tom De Malsche (27) first heard about delaware in a noisy bar with some friends. What did they have to say/shout to convince him to apply for a job? And what would he say to his younger, beer-sipping self now?

When did you join delaware?
“I’m originally from Grimbergen, but I stuck around in Ghent after my studies. Once I had my business engineer degree in hand, I started looking for a job with only a general idea of what I was looking for. Luckily, some of my friends had just finished their starter track at delaware and, during a fortunate night out, they convinced me to give it a shot. After an eye-opening talk during my application, it became clear to me that I really wanted to do programming, so I was offered a position in the Dynamics Development team in March 2017.”
Over the years, how did your career path evolve and what’s up next?
“In my first year and a half, I was practically a sponge, gathering up all the IT knowledge and skills I could get my hands on. As a business engineer, I did have some development skills, but it was mostly my soft skills that proved their value in the beginning. Giving trainings, presenting projects and explaining solutions were the parts of my job where I could shine. Meanwhile, I got up-to-speed with the hard IT skills necessary as a Dynamics developer, and could now combine these with my great understanding of business and functional needs. That is why my focus has somewhat shifted to training others and focusing on presales: in both you need to understand our solutions and explain them clearly to those that don’t have the same IT background as you.”
What are you currently working on?
“I am currently the technical responsible for three Microsoft Dynamics development projects. In this role, I get the opportunity to take more responsibilities and grow my career step by step. At delaware, your job title doesn’t limit you. You can always commit yourself to taking on different tasks or roles, if you feel that is where you want to go. In my case, that way leads to a more functional set of tasks, in line with my strengths. I love to explain difficult, technical solutions to customers and colleagues, and delaware gave me the freedom to pursue this part of my job. Apart from my project work, I also support our interns and teach them what my job and the delaware culture is all about. This is always an eye-opening experience for me, as their fresh look on things makes you question some of your own self-proclaimed truths.”
What tips would you give your younger self?
“The number one tip would be: if you have never done something, chances are high that you’ll be great at it once you take the time to learn. Don’t be too modest to keep on learning from different resources, be it Google, YouTube, evening classes or on the job. And always be critical of yourself and keep your eventual goal in mind when you want to pick up new skills. This is something I reflect on once in a while, and luckily, delaware offers its employees the chance to switch their career path in the company if they feel the need. Oh yeah, and don’t stress too much on the dress code, no one expects you to wear a button-up shirt when you come to the office.”
Why should other people apply at delaware?
“At delaware, there’s very little red tape. You are supported by an amazing Support and HR team, so you can focus efficiently on your job and your projects. I like working in our flat corporate culture, where even our managing partners are down-to-earth and great at communicating what’s next for the company. Just as my friends told me one night in Ghent, is a great gang of young, fun and driven people who are always pushing to be their best selves.”