A typical day for a project manager? There is no such thing.

A job with impact

Laura joined Sparklink after working in the IT department of a large company for six years. "After my studies, I ended up in IT by chance. But my job became increasingly technical over time, whereas I just wanted to focus on the organisational aspects. When I applied, Sparklink was still quite small: I was the 11th employee to come on board. I wanted to experience what it was like to work for a smaller company. In larger companies, you have to deal with all layers of management and everything needs to be validated. Here I figured I could have more impact. And that is exactly what happened. If you come to us with an idea, you can go straight to the owners with it. We are a flat organisation, a human company. I also always feel I can knock on anyone’s door. A conversation with one of the owners about my concerns? No problem. We are like a family. We will always defend each other if necessary."

Lynchpin or buffer: it depends on how you look at it

Describing what she does as a project manager proved more difficult than she thought. From her living room in Kortrijk - she is working from home today -, she finally summed it up as follows : "In a sense, I'm the pivotal figure in a project. Because I have a role to play both towards my own team and towards the client. It is my job to make sure the team can do its job well and the client is satisfied. So yes, I have a lot of responsibility, it’s true. And it involves a lot of communication. I am the main point of contact for several people. On days when I take the train into work, that's what I spend my time doing while I'm on the move: answering messages and e-mails. At the start of each week, I also take some time to review all my clients: what is the status of each project? Where do we stand budget-wise? Have the necessary quality checks been performed or launched? This allows me to start the week with a sense of control, which is important, because this is followed by lots of meetings, and I have a lot of different responsibilities."

This is clearly a job that requires excellent organisational skills and preferably also a stress-resistant personality. But which other skills should someone who dreams of a career as a project manager have? "At Sparklink, you also need to be a people person. We don’t really have a hierarchy in our teams, you see. We prefer to flip the pyramid. As project manager, I support the team and elevate it to the next level. This also means I am responsible for their well-being. I genuinely care about them and check how they are doing. At the same time, I am also the buffer between the client and the team."

So as you can see Laura is a Jack (or Jill?) of all trades! Fortunately, she is also able to put things into perspective. And she never loses sight of her goal: to provide her clients with a solution. Clients with whom she enjoys developing long-term partnerships. "The nice thing is: once they are your client, they stay with you. At Sparklink, once we’ve delivered the solution, we don’t hand the client over to a support department. I oversee projects from analysis and development through testing, the go live, and beyond. Which is great, because you cultivate a special relationship. And you also have a responsibility to your client."

This is definitely important if you hope to land a job with us, because you get a lot of freedom as a Sparklink employee. "This is something you need to be able to deal with," says Laura. "You get to plan your working week the way you want. So if you need to go to the doctor or do some shopping during the day, or take a walk when you find it difficult to concentrate, this is perfectly possible. It’s not as easy as you think. Because you need to have the discipline and a sense of duty and responsibility to also do your job." Fortunately for Laura and her colleagues, this comes naturally, she says. "Everyone is super-motivated. We are passionate about our job. It is also a very nice company to work for. I know there are many companies out there who claim this, but at Sparklink this really is the case. The culture is really great, the atmosphere good, and I really feel at home here. The fact that we have a really cosy office helps, of course. From the game room with a pool table and darts board to the cosy corners with plants and stylish armchairs: these are also nice-to-haves." 

And she worked happily ever after

Remember how Laura said she was our 11th employee? Since then, our company has grown and we have passed the 50-employee mark. Obviously, this creates organisational challenges, but Laura helps us think about how to solve them. More to the point: soon she will take on a new role. "Over the years, I started supporting my manager more and more, taking on broader operational tasks. I developed a training policy for the company, for example. I really enjoy thinking about this and helping to shape the wider organisation," she adds. "That is why I will evolve towards a more organisational, operational role in the future. Something I am really looking forward to. I love that this is possible at Sparklink. They really listen, and pay attention to what you find more or less energising. And if possible, you are given the opportunity to continue to grow in that direction. Want to focus more on the technical side of things? Fine! Do you prefer a more organisational role? I am the best example, proving that this is possible. "