Mintie Stories - Auke Keijser

If you really know your history, The Code of Hammurabi may be familiar to you. As the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East, this code refers to a set of rules or laws enacted by the Babylonian King Hammurabi (reign 1792-1750 B.C.). The code governed the people living in his fast-growing empire.

Historians believe that the Code of Hammurabi may have seeded the concept of apprenticeship as we know it today. Almost 4000 years later, an apprenticeship may have undergone many changes, but it still offers staff the opportunity to develop into their roles and gain useful on-the-job training.?

What has changed?

In Babylonian times, apprentices relied on their mentors for shelter, food, and training. No goods or money was given to apprentices. Many apprentices were slaves, and apprenticeship was compulsory, not voluntary!

Believe it or not, 100 years ago an apprentice could be summoned to court for being ‘idle’ or having a ‘bad attitude’.

Apprenticeship in Action

Luckily, Mint’s own Auke Keijser is neither idle nor does he have a bad attitude!

As a software development student, Auke learned about Mint’s apprenticeship program while attending a wedding (not his own).

Auke joined the Mint apprenticeship program in 2019 and has worked his way up to the position of Intermediate Azure Developer. He does not plan to stop there and has continued studying toward a BSc with the goal of becoming a Senior Developer.

The journey hasn’t always been easy. “My biggest challenge has been overcoming my lack of confidence in my skills after such a significant career change and working with people who are so much more knowledgeable than myself,” Auke explains, “I had to learn where I could add value based on life experience while my technical experience was still growing.”

Let’s hear from Auke

1.? What has been your biggest achievement in your Mint journey??????????????

Completing my MCSD and being in charge of designing and building a web app for a client.

2.? Which of the Mint values do you most resonate with and why?

People - I work in a wonderful work environment where people are always willing to assist and give you some of their limited time. Working with people who are considerate and conscientious is a true joy and motivates you to do better and be better. ?????????????

3.? What advice would you have given yourself on day one of your Mint journey??

Take small steps, learn small things and understand everything. Do not consider the mountain summit while you are still learning to walk.?????

4.? What does your life look like outside of work???

Currently outside of work is studying, but I have more hobbies than I have time for, so I am never bored.

5.? Home, office or hybrid? Why???

I choose home because I save time by not traveling. Saving on fuel is also a big one. I would also like a hybrid system where I can see my Team once a week, but it is difficult due to the rising price of fuel and aligning with team members to choose a date that suits all. Hybrid is just a home office with travel if you are not there at the same time as your team!

Apprenticeship is all about sharing knowledge

Auke describes the upside of apprenticeship, “Towards the end of the program, I was placed on a project with a group of specialist and senior developers, who actively spent time teaching me the ropes and giving me tasks that I could complete. I was very proud of the fact that I was already billable during my apprenticeship. After that project was shelved due to client finances, I was placed on another large project where I learned new skills on a daily basis. Since then, I have been on multiple projects and continued to learn.”

Auke had the opportunity to work on a project as a "lone-ranger" where he quickly learned how to box way above his weight class. Although he admits to being nervous, he does not regret being able to grow his skills in plenty of different languages and platforms.?