Name: Cordova Helmi
Place of Birth: Jakarta, Indonesia
Date of Birth: 26 May 1987
Studied at TU/e from: 2011-2013
Current position: System Engineer Trainee at Yokogawa Europe Solutions BV in the Netherlands

Why did you choose to study at TU/e at the time?
TU/e is one of the best universities of technology in the Netherlands and the world. It has great scholarship opportunities and there’s a strong research collaboration between TU/e and industries.   

How did you find a job?I believe that expert knowledge and skills are very helpful in finding a job. Moreover, as a foreigner those are the only strong points I have to offer. I’ve always tried to do well in courses. To increase my skills, I did my internship and wrote my thesis at a company.

Previously, it was difficult to find a job since I didn’t know what was expected of me or what kind of resume and cover letter are used here. Fortunately, all those questions were answered the first time I came to the TU/e Career Center. They provided me with valuable information on how to be more ‘interesting’ for the Dutch job market. They also helped me by introducing me to companies that were looking for an employee matching my background. I also applied for several positions by myself and eventually I was contacted by the HR department of Yokogawa for an interview for their traineeship program.

My current company, Yokogawa, supplies automation systems for various industries, and is slowly entering into the renewable energy sector. Working at this company has exceeded my initial expectations by far.

What are your plans for the future?
For the short term I’m planning to grow within the company. I want to be a project manager, because it would allow me to learn many new things as far as developing new systems and team leadership are concerned.

My long-term plan is to develop Indonesia’s energy sector. With my experience studying and working abroad and my international network I’m also planning to establish my own business in the energy field in my home country.

What advice would you give current students?
New students of TU/e, I’d suggest that you study hard and absorb all information from lecturers and courses. But don’t forget to balance it with your personal life. Develop your own hard and soft skills. If you want to stay in The Netherlands to work, try to learn the Dutch language in your spare time – it will make the job hunt a lot easier. If you want to go back to your home country, learn from your experience in The Netherlands, savor it, and bring it with you to develop your country. Good luck.