‘I found my current employer through the Make it in the North company matchtool’
By answering a few simple questions, AI test engineer Alexandros found his future employer through Make it in the North's company culture matchtool. We asked him about what his journey from Greece to Groningen looked like.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you end up here in the North?
I'm Alexandros, and I've been in the Netherlands since August 2019. My background is in computer systems engineering, and I came to Groningen specifically to do a master’s in Artificial Intelligence. I moved to the Netherlands with my girlfriend, who now is my wife. We're both from Athens.
I decided to study AI after doing lots of research. I was drawn to the field’s interdisciplinary nature, which combines fields like psychology and computer science. At the time, back when the world was yet to hear about tools like ChatGPT and Claude, there was no master's programme for AI in Greece. So I had to look elsewhere in Europe: Spain, Scotland, Denmark, and Sweden, before eventually being accepted into the University of Groningen.
Was it easy to get accepted to the University of Groningen?
While I had an English certificate, the university specifically required the Cambridge English test. I had to go to Bremen twice to sit for English exams without much preparation, just to be able to take them so that I can study in Groningen. It was quite a stressful situation but despite these difficulties, I managed to start my studies in September 2019.
And what about finding a job?
But I’d say I was pretty proactive in my job search. I was constantly looking at various job sites to understand the required skills and prepare in advance. I also combined work with my studies. I already knew about the IBM CIC centre in Groningen from previous experience with IBM in Greece, and kept it in mind for future applications.
In September 2021, after finishing most of my university courses, I started a traineeship at IBM focusing on their cloud systems. Simultaneously, I was working on my master's thesis, which proved challenging, especially finding a supervisor. It took me eight months to find one.
For the first two years, I also worked weekends at Primark as a sales employee to earn extra money.
Finding part-time work was not easy due to the language barrier. It took me from September till November to land one part-time job. I had started learning Dutch, but it wasn't enough. However, I used it as an opportunity to practice Dutch by speaking with as many customers as possible.
What was the path to your current job from there?
After two years at IBM, I was unfortunately let go due to downsizing. But I used this time to focus on completing my thesis. In May 2024, I found a new role at AI-InfraSolutions in Eelde, Drenthe.
I’d been using Make it in the North’s website for years. At first I was looking for academic positions like PhDs. Then I discovered a tool on your platform that assessed how my personality fit with different company cultures – the company culture matchtool.
One of the companies my working style matched with was AI-InfraSolutions. I had previous experience in support roles working in Greece, so I thought their application support engineer position was a good fit.
I’ve since changed roles within the company. I went on to finish my thesis and then explored opportunities within the company’s AI department that was looking for testers. I successfully pitched my testing experience and joined the team.
We’re so glad to have helped in some way!
Yeah Make it in the North was incredibly helpful for my integration here in the Netherlands. I also had my CV critiqued when I booked a job hunt advice session with your team.
Personally, I found that using LinkedIn alone is not sufficient for a comprehensive job search in the Netherlands. Its filters don’t often work as expected, like sometimes remote jobs are shown even after I ticked the ‘on-site’ filter.
There are also many job titles in IT, some of which overlap in terms of the role responsibilities, making it crucial to first define what you want to do, how large of a company you want to work at, and then search for openings based on these criteria rather than simply filtering through what’s available.
Again, I would recommend using the Make it in the North company culture matchtool during your job search to find a company that suits your personality style.
What are your main tasks on an average day?
As an AI test engineer, my days usually start with a 15-minute stand-up meeting to discuss what I’ve done and what I’ll be doing next. Then I’m either off to my next meeting or back to finishing the task I’m currently working on. My job involves lots of research to find the right tools, extensive code testing, and communication with stakeholders. I act as a bridge between developers and the delivery team, who interact with customers, ensuring product quality.
What was it like integrating in the North?
I think the International Welcome Center North (IWCN) proved to be a very useful resource for all my practical questions. Things related to housing, garbage disposal, recycling, and all kinds of local rules in general.
Job hunting aside, the hardest challenge I faced was finding a place to live. It’s a problem that’s only worsened over time.
In my free time I enjoy playing tennis and dancing salsa. I also play the piano.
I really like Groningen as a city because there’s always something to do. Thanks to its large student population many events are organised and there’s a range of shops that cater to different tastes. Even if you’re not a student, you can take advantage of these options.
What’s one key tip you’d give to any expats reading this?
If you’re considering moving to the Netherlands, study the language beforehand. Even if it’s just the basics. Being able to hold a basic conversation in Dutch during a job interview shows effort and makes a good first impression.
Photo and Video: Julia Dumchenko
Editor: Christoph Schwaiger
The interview has been edited for clarity & brevity.
