In 2016, Etienne started working directly from school in the warehouse of HJ Bakker Logistics. He enjoyed it so much that Etienne put his plan to continue studying on hold. After all, you learn the most in practice..
Learning hands-on
After 1.5 years at HJ Bakker’s warehouse, Etienne became a team leader. He put in his hours and gradually took on more responsibilities. “After a few years, I was ready for a change,” Etienne shares, “I wanted out of the warehouse. That’s when the team leader from ENL asked me to join the expedition department.”
A newbie in the department
From day one, Etienne enjoyed being a shipping coordinator. “I was instantly hooked. I already liked the company and got along with my colleagues. That was my cue to say ‘let’s do it.’ I hardly knew anything about this field, but I was quickly brought up to speed and felt part of the team in no time.”
Return loads from France
As a shipping coordinator for ENL, which is part of the Exintra Group just like HJ Bakker Logistics, Etienne especially enjoys finding return loads. “I make sure the trucks coming back from France are filled with new loads. It’s like a puzzle, but it gets easier as I get to know the local clients better.”
English works fine in France
Etienne doesn’t speak fluent French, despite what his name might suggest. He mainly communicates in English with his clients. “We mostly email, and it works out fine. I sometimes think about taking a French course. Maybe I’ll end up back in a classroom after all.”
La vie est belle
Life is good, if you ask Etienne. He has great colleagues, a good salary, and relatively predictable work hours. When everything is loaded and all shipments are arranged, he goes home feeling content. “I live day by day and don’t really have a plan. But even without a plan, I’ve made some great strides at ENL. I’m curious to see what the future holds.”
