Few TU/e buildings hold any secrets for master’s student Urban Systems and Real Estate Wouter Kortleve, thanks to his work as a flexible receptionist for Spirit. Although that is not how he describes himself: “I always say that I work behind the reception desk.”

Kortleve has made the most of student life at TU/e. He has served on the boards of surfing association WETH and study association CHEOPS, played soccer at Pusphaira, and rowed with Thêta. In 2025, he also spent six months in Australia on an exchange. He calls it the best time of his life.

What does your job involve?

“I’m the first point of contact for people who have questions in Vertigo, Matrix, Atlas, Neuron, MetaForum, Gemini, or Vector. I help where needed. I open and close buildings and make sure everything is in good order. By that, I mean that I take action whenever I hear or see that something is dirty or broken.

If a staff member comes across a broken coffee machine or a leaking toilet, they often email the reception desk. I then pass it on to the people who can fix it.”

“In Matrix, reception staff also answer the main phone line. I transfer callers to the right person. Sometimes there isn’t really an appropriate department to refer someone to. I once got a call from someone who wanted to rent out student rooms privately. Drawing on my own experience with the housing market, I did my best to answer his questions.”

What time do you clock in?

“That differs from building to building. I also don’t have a fixed schedule. There have been months when I worked forty hours a week, while right now things are quieter. On average, I work six hours a week.

If I’m on a morning shift, I usually start at 7:30 a.m. Sometimes I’m the first person in the building. In MetaForum, for example, that means I have to deactivate the emergency exit alarms.

My first task is always to read the email inbox. It contains questions and announcements about things like flower deliveries, packages, opening hours, access card authorizations, and lost-and-found items.”

How did you end up in this job?

“Friends of mine had already worked in this role, and I found a vacancy through Spirit. It’s an ideal side job for students. There are probably fifteen others doing it as well. It’s ideal because the hours are flexible, you’re already on campus, and you know your way around.”

How would you characterize the different buildings?

“I enjoy working in Vertigo the most because I already know a lot of people there through my studies. In Matrix, I spend a lot of time on the phone. Atlas is usually the busiest building and the place where I get the widest variety of questions.”

What do you enjoy most?

“There are three major positives: I like helping people, I enjoy the flexibility, and the job combines well with being a student. When it’s quiet, I can also work on my own assignments.”

What do you enjoy least?

“When it’s quiet, it can be incredibly boring. No emails, no questions—then there’s not much to do except stare into space. We’re not allowed to watch videos on our phones, which I completely understand. Fortunately, we are allowed to work on our graduation projects. I’m also not someone who enjoys sitting still.”

What time do you clock out?

“That varies as well. If I’m on the late shift in MetaForum, I can be there until 10:30 p.m. Just before 10 o’clock, I announce that the building is closing. I do feel responsible for making sure the building is properly secured.

I walk through the building to check that everyone has left and also inspect the restrooms. I’ve never had to call security because someone refused to leave.”

What do you do after clocking out?

“Then I’m training for the Amsterdam Half Triathlon together with my friends Rick and Sicco. This morning, for example, I already went swimming in a lake in Nuenen. On June 7, we’ll have to swim 1,900 meters in the Amstel River, then cycle 90 kilometers, and finally run 21.2 kilometers.”

“When I returned from Sydney, I was ready for a new challenge. I had always wanted to become a better swimmer, and I was looking for a goal to work toward—maybe a quarter or eighth triathlon. Rick was willing to join, but only if we did the half-distance event. After checking the calendar, Amsterdam turned out to fit best with our university courses and training schedule. I’m hoping to complete my first half triathlon in under six hours.”

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.