The first year at Barenbrug

During my first year at Barenbrug, I need to familiarize myself completely with the sector and the company. An introductory programme has been drawn up for this purpose, to enable me to get to know all the company departments. At the same time, I will start making market and customer visits with a colleague from my department.   

Rick Oudendijk, Export Manager

After studying International agribusiness and trade at Larenstein University, I worked in the chemical sector for four years. Last year I decided to return to agribusiness, and I came to work for Barenbrug as Export manager. I am learning about the internal organization by mean of an introductory programme in the various departments. This includes acquiring knowledge of products, applications and market developments.   

This first year is extremely intensive. For example, I visit my future customers in the different countries, together with a colleague, so that I will be able to take over the customer relationship management. The major challenge is the acquisition of new distributors in the different countries, for which I am responsible. Real pioneering work, in other words.


Training
My training programme at Barenbrug is effectively structured. 'Working' in every department for a short period means I am able to look beyond the boundaries of the export department. As a ‘starter in Sales’, I also follow the course “sales and account management”, which links up perfectly with my previous training and with my new job. In addition to the lessons, there is a one-day workshop every month for five months. The enjoyable thing about this course is that everything can be put into practice immediately in your work.
 
Career
What I like about Barenbrug is the product, the atmosphere, the people and the way of working. I am being given many responsibilities after a short time, and have plenty of opportunity to indicate areas in which I would like to improve my skills. I have also indicated that I would like to work abroad for a few years, possibly for one of the operational companies in the Royal Barenbrug Group. To work on these ambitions, a Management Development programme has been agreed on for the next few years.