At a birthday party…

‍“To putit briefly, I work at an IT company that develops software for insurance companies. It’s my job to make sure that customers can actually work effectively with the software.” Still, according to Thomas, it’s not quite that black and white. As an Application Consultant, his work actually involves quite a bit of variety.

An employer who looks beyond your resume

Something immediately struck Thomas during the hiring process. While many organizations focus primarily on whether a candidate is a good fit for the position, he found that at ANVA, the process was a two-way street. “They didn’t just consider whether I was a good fit for ANVA, but also whether ANVA was a good fit for me. That felt really good right away.”

He now knows that his first impression was correct. In his view, people really are at the heart of everything. “Good working conditions are important, but ultimately, it’s about feeling like you belong. For me, that’s ANVA’s greatest strength.”

Continuous learning and development

The first few months were all about exploration. Together with three other new consultants, Thomas went through a comprehensive onboarding program that included training and knowledge sessions. “It was intensive, but you’re given the time to learn everything step by step.” He now has a solid grasp of the application’s basics and is delving deeper and deeper into the technology behind ANVA.

“I find the underlying data structure particularly fascinating. The better you understand it, the better you can help your customers.” But, he says, that learning process never really stops. “ANVA is such a large-scale application that you can keep developing your skills for years to come.” And even with all the ambitions surrounding ANVA 6, he believes there will still be plenty of challenges ahead.

Every customer inquiry is a new puzzle

As a consultant, Thomas supports clients in various ways. Two days a week, he works as an ANVA administrator at VCN, one of ANVA’s largest clients. He also helps organizations clean up their databases and improve their structure. That variety is exactly what appeals to him.

"Insurance products may not sound very exciting at first, but the technology behind them certainly is!" The industry is highly regulated, which means you have to take an enormous number of factors into account. Although he initially thought that would be limiting, the opposite has turned out to be true. “It’s a fun, complex puzzle to navigate all those hurdles.”

Bringing Structure to Complexity

The variety and cognitive challenge of the job give Thomas a lot of energy and are a good fit for who he is. “I’m actually pretty chaotic by nature. That’s why I make sure everything in my life is organized and structured.” He brings that approach to his work. Designing a product, database, or process in a way that makes it functional and well-organized gives him a great sense of satisfaction.

Collaboration Is in Our DNA

Now, experienced colleagues turn to Thomas for help. That feels good and, according to him, is characteristic of ANVA. “Whether it’s about work or something personal, everyone takes the time for one another and sees the bigger picture.” By that, he means the open atmosphere in which ideas are shared and colleagues help one another to truly move forward together.

A positive atmosphere both at work and outside of work

Thomas feels that sense of connection both during and outside of work hours. For example, he says the central coffee bar—with barista-brewed coffee—is a typical ANVA spot for people to meet up. He was also struck by the many activities, which he now helps organize. “I recently joined F.I.E.S.T.A., ANVA’s activities committee. I secretly love a good party, so it’s a perfect fit!”