Mohammed Hamdi is totally obsessed with security

“If you show what you can do,

you have endless possibilities at Circet”

As a child, Mohammed Hamdi was already tinkering with PCs and laptops in his father’s computer shop. Since then, he has been developing a thriving IT specialist career at Circet, and is about to begin his third role in our company. “Circet supports me in obtaining all the necessary IT certificates.”

Can you keep growing or switch to another function? Dozens of colleagues are doing just that at Circet. In Sh*ft happens we explore the professional journey of a colleague.

Mohammed, how did you end up at Circet?

“Very simple: after I sent in a spontaneous application! I have lived in Belgium since 2010 and worked as a supervisor in a food company for 5 years. But I was still very eager to do something with IT. After a successful training with VDAB, I applied for a job at the former ESAS, and was able to start right away.”

After 3.5 years at Circet, you have secured your third role. How did you initiate your sh*ft to System Engineer?

“I’ve explored many facets of IT in recent years. But it became increasingly clear that security is really my thing. In order to pursue this passion, I had to take the bull by the horns: obtain the necessary certificates, train further and participate in large and complex projects. I soon contributed to projects that were not part of my standard duties, and did everything I could to obtain new IT certificates. That’s what opened the door to my current function.”

Heeft die doorstroming ook gezorgd voor meer uitdagende projecten?

“Absolutely! One project that will stay with me for a long time is the ongoing migration from Sharepoint to the intranet. There was a lot involved: communicating with various departments within Circet, designing the intranet together with partner Cegeka, planning file migration, and so on. I was the link between IT and marketing to facilitate go-live. A great project which requires you to be an effcient IT person and a good coordinator at the same time. Given the time pressure, this was certainly not an easy assignment.”

“I contributed to the migration from SharePoint to the intranet.
Such projects have had a positive impact on me as well as the organisation”
– Mohammed Hamdi, System Engineer at Circet

What is your main takeaway from your career development process so far?

“Communicate your ambitions clearly to your manager. And be open to new knowledge and feedback. Much of what I know now I learnt from colleagues who have been in the profession for decades. They are often eager to share their knowledge. Of course, upskilling and official certificates are important, but above all you must keep trying to acquire more knowledge from your team members.”

Are there things you found difficult about the job sh*ft?

“Definitely: you know nothing about many things; you often work outside your comfort zone. That made me doubt: did I make the right decision? Can I handle this challenge? At times like these you have to keep finding your drive and not let your insecurities hold you back. Give yourself time to get used to things.”

What is your first priority now in your new System Engineer role?

“To achieve top-level security, we must fully focus on awareness among colleagues. Phishing simulations are an important component of this awareness, but also the security of devices and the implementation of stricter security policies. Too many employees still fall for false advertising or phishing, risking a data breach. I want to develop this theme further, for example by organising more targeted training to make people aware of the dangers of a data breach.”

Hoping to initiate your own sh*ft or upskill?
Ask your manager about the possibilities.