Testimonials

“KEMA offers much more than I anticipated. Because the company covers the whole chain of power generation, transmission and distribution, your career is wide open.”- Chris Kleinschmidt 
Chris Kleinschmidt graduated in Natural Sciences & Innovation Management from Utrecht University. He started as a trainee with KEMA Consultancy. ‘After graduating, I wanted to specialize further. Of course I knew the basics about energy, materials and sustainable energy, but that was quite broad and theoretical. I wanted to acquire more technical knowledge. This wish has been fulfilled. Since my appointment at KEMA, I have carried out various projects in the area of wind energy and biomass; from smoke scrubbing problems to the impact of wind energy on the electricity market. Because KEMA is concerned with the whole chain of electricity production, transmission and distribution, you can take your career in a lot of different directions. What I also liked was noticing that the people who work for KEMA are generally passionate about their work, so that that little bit extra can be produced. KEMA is also a company where, as a consultant, you have a lot of freedom to come up with your own initiatives. They listen to you and really appreciate your ideas.’

"My traineeship gives me insight into various specialties and enables me to discover what my interests are - Coen Verberk 
Coen Verberk came to KEMA for his internship just before finishing his studies in Engineering Design & Innovation (mechanical engineering). “This was a good way of getting a feel for a company’s atmosphere and operations without any obligations. After graduating, I could have gone anywhere I wanted, but I had to make a choice at some stage. My girlfriend pointed out that I already knew where I wanted to work because I always talked about KEMA. You can start at KEMA as trainee/specialist. The traineeship helps you gain insight into the various specialties and enables you to discover what your interests are. I’m now a specialist in reliability and risk analysis. I try to look into the future, just like a fortune-teller with his crystal ball. For example, how does an operational change affect the life expectancy of a power plant? I’ve also worked on the development of new technologies, such as the collection of CO2 from flue gas. This work is great because the results of an investigation can even surprise you at times. Your expectation doesn’t always correspond to the outcome. In hindsight, everything is logical, of course. One of the things that add to KEMA’s positive work climate are the lunch presentations where colleagues talk about what they’re working on. This creates a sphere of knowledge and involves your colleagues in your field. I really like working here because I learn so much and because I know there's much more I can learn.”

“KEMA offers a lot of opportunities to work on international projects.” - Marnix Schrijner  
“I came to work at KEMA as a consultant after graduating in general economics. I mainly work here on a project basis for various clients. My job enables me to use my knowledge in financial economics, econometrics, statistics, and not entirely unimportant, common sense. I write and assess safety documentation for train safety, model social business cases and share a lot of knowledge with my colleagues. KEMA offers lots of opportunities to work on international projects. In addition to a wide variety of responsibilities, KEMA also gives you a lot of freedom to schedule your work and time, and I like that a lot. I have a lot of freedom to look for work that suits me, which I take advantage of. KEMA is also keen on investing in your personal development. In addition to standard courses, you’re free to put forward your own ideas. KEMA also supports the exchange of knowledge among colleagues through the ‘practice areas’, where you learn from your colleagues’ experiences through presentations and discussions. The company culture is very important for me. KEMA has a very flat structure, which makes for a very pleasant and collegial atmosphere. Contact with colleagues is very important because you often have to work on projects not only with several people, but with people who are different. People with a lot of experience work with beginners to transfer knowledge and introduce new insights. Most colleagues are very receptive to your ideas as a newcomer."