Bloom: Eva Bouton
Eva Bouton looks very neat. That is not necessarily relevant to this interview, until you hear that she made her dress herself. This SAP Consultant is clearly multi-talented. And that's an understatement.👗
Bachelor after ManaMa
This is not an ordinary story. Eva Bouton graduated in 2013 with a Master's degree in Art Studies and immediately added a Master's degree in Conservation of Monuments and Sites. Since 2019, she has been working as an SAP Technology Consultant at Flexso.
From art to IT, you have to explain it to us.
"My mother studied physics and my father mathematics," Eva recalls. "They both became teachers and the focus in our home was clearly on sciences. I went to the ASO for Latin-Mathematics as a matter of course, but after that I did not want to follow in my parents' footsteps. I always liked being creative and therefore I chose Art Science at the KU Leuven. However, after four years of studying, it turned out that it was difficult to find work with my master's degree. So I decided to do an additional Master's in Heritage Conservation and to specialise further in architectural history. It was a two-year international master's programme, after which I accidentally found work as an interim administrative coordinator. It was a nice job, but unfortunately short-lived. After that, I got another administrative job at KU Leuven, which I left after two months because I could start at an architectural firm. They worked in restoration and the idea was that I would combine historical research with personal assistance to the chief architect. In practice, however, I was mainly a secretary."
So after six years of studying, it was difficult to find an interesting job?
"Indeed. And frankly, I lacked motivation. I was actually applying for jobs that I didn't really want. I had not thought about that during my studies. I was never asked: 'Which job would you like to do? After all those years, I had the feeling that I was completely stuck. And then I went to see a career coach."
"Nobody had ever asked me the question: What job would you like to do?"
You are going to be able to do that
"I asked the career coach to take an unbiased look at who I was, without regard to what I had studied. I wanted to do something completely different. She understood that very well and her research showed that I am actually very analytical. She advised me to study again. Tax law, medicine or IT. "You can do it," she told me. And so, at the age of 25, I enrolled in a professional Bachelor of Applied Computer Science, without really knowing what I was getting into. I had no idea what programming was, but I soon found I really liked it. Problem-solving, that's really creative too, isn't it?
"Someone who looks at you without prejudice is not guided by your past history. That opens up new perspectives."
So how did you end up at SAP?
"I chose Business IT as my field of study and there I got a first introduction to SAP. I was then able to do my internship at Flexso, where I immediately got to work with the latest technologies within SAP. This internship gave me a good idea about the job as a technical consultant. I did not hesitate for long when Flexso offered me a contract after my graduation."
Tell me briefly about your job?
"What I particularly like is the variety. As a full stack developer, I program in both ABAP (back end) and UI5 (front end). I am currently working for two clients, one of whom has an app development project and the other of whom is mainly involved in minor adjustments and support. Soon, at my request, I will evolve more towards project work. That is possible at Flexso. They give you opportunities to grow, to develop yourself in the direction you want. The atmosphere among colleagues is also very good. It's quite friendly and that's what I was looking for in an employer.
Curious about what applications Eva develops? Discover here on which project she is currently working.
Definitely try and dare to switch
Eva is living proof that stereotypes are often wrong.
What do you think about your career switch? That seems like a brave decision, doesn't it?
"Not really, no. It's rather logical, I think. I used to have a completely wrong image of IT, how boring it must be, but coding is very varied and creative. I have always looked for challenges like that, I know now. So now I'm doing what I like and I can earn money with it. That's an ideal combination, right? By the way, I am still creative in my spare time. I like to sew and I also knit. Crafts give me peace of mind after the many hours of daytime thinking.
"I used to have a totally wrong idea about IT, but coding is very varied and creative."
What would you recommend to young people who don't know what to choose?
"Above all, don't think that you won't be able to do something. Just try it and you will see. But also ask yourself what job you want to do after your studies. I would have liked to have known that earlier. Fortunately, my career coach still pushed me in the right direction."
Do you regret your earlier choices?
"No, I certainly don't. My studies at university have shaped me and I have made some good friends. And I met my husband during my Master's in Heritage Conservation! By the way, I am very proud of the switch I made. The fact that without any previous knowledge, I graduated magna cum laude in Applied Computer Science. I'll have to learn a lot more in order to grow, but I'm really looking forward to that. Above all, I want to specialise more in the technical field.
A fine balance
At Flexso, there is sufficient attention for a proper work-life balance and balance is also what Eva was looking for: "By switching from art studies to IT, I have found a better balance between my analytical brain and my desire to be creative. I really enjoy my job and I still have enough time left over for hobbies. It may have taken a little longer than most, but today everything is in line.
