Working at Hacon: our women speak
March 8 was International Women's Day. And because women sometimes have to suffer in the so-called male culture in the port (we will come back to this later), we decided to put our female employees in the spotlight on this day.
At Hacon, we attach great importance to job satisfaction and, above all, to everyone feeling safe and at home. This applies to current employees, but also to new ones. Take our vacancy for a sales representative, for example. It's great to have a ‘competitive salary’ and ‘excellent terms of employment’, but that should really be the minimum standard. Our female sales heroes Sarah Wasser-Driessen and Kimberly Jansen will therefore tell you more about what you really want to know about working at Hacon Containers.
What is Hacon like as an employer?
Sarah has been working at Hacon since December 2020. Kimberly joined in March 2023. The funny thing is that Kimberly came into contact with Hacon through Sarah. Sarah was a customer at the hair salon where Kimberly worked, and during a pleasant conversation, one thing led to another. Just like how things work at Hacon Containers.
Sarah: “You work here in an informal atmosphere where, in addition to working in the container world, there is also room to talk about things other than work.”
Kimberly: “They give you the space, time, and attention to develop yourself. Something that has also benefited me greatly. Here, you're not just a number, but a real person. We are all very different, but we are a really fun and friendly team where you can be yourself.”
No two days are the same
No two days are the same in the sales department. Sarah: "My day always starts with a warm cup of tea and checking my email. Throughout the day, the phone rings several times and we talk to our customers about rentals and specifications they are asking for. We have all kinds of customers, so every conversation is different. You work with many different industries, from event organizers to petrochemical companies. Everyone has their own needs and questions. One type of container can therefore be used in several ways."
Kimberly also considers the diversity in her work to be a big plus. “Every day is quite different: we visit customers, we rent out containers, we send a lot of emails, and we arrange transport in between.” No two days are the same at Hacon Containers. And that's a good thing, because innovation and development keep us sharp and lead us to new insights, such as various unique modification projects and, of course, our Hacon Solar Container.
Kimberly at the Energy Trade Fair during the unveiling of the Hacon Solar Container.
Creating wonderful memories and strong bonds with the Hacon family
When you ask our employees about their favorite Hacon moments, they often mention informal events and activities. From the Harbor Run to team-building outings, we do everything we can to stay fit and maintain a pleasant atmosphere.
But what really stands out for most employees is the annual family day. And we are proud of that, because as Sarah herself says: “The team feels like a family you can rely on.” Why is the family day so important to Sarah and Kimberly? “It's a day outside of work where you see everyone in a different light. But it's also a day where you get closer as a team. You discuss other things and build an even better bond.”
From a man's world to women of the world
The Port of Rotterdam, steel structures, idle chatter, and crude humor: you can almost smell the sweat. Nonsense, of course, because anyone who thinks that working in a place like this is only for men is mistaken. We'll leave aside the question of who wears the pants, but men, women, and everything in between: we complement each other perfectly.
“Men can sometimes be a bit black and white,” says Sarah. “A woman brings a little more color, which leads to more creative solutions. That's why diversity is so important. It brings different skills and talents and, of course, a better work culture.” Kimberly wholeheartedly agrees: “At Hacon, as in sales, your gender is not important. Many women may still think that sales is a man's world and not a job for women, but I think that as a woman, you can radiate a lot of confidence and warmth.”
Sarah and colleague Kim at work for the Jarige Job Foundation.
Vacancy: Sales Representative at Hacon Containers
As you can see, at Hacon we are not looking for numbers, genders, or workhorses that you can pigeonhole. We are not looking for personas, but people. And coincidentally, we are also looking for Sales Representatives to join our sales team. And you could be just as good a fit as anyone else. So, what are you waiting for? Check out our vacancy, get in touch, and come have a cup of coffee with us at our office!
Questions for Sarah, Kimberly, or our other container specialists? Contact us directly. We're happy to help.