How do you manage to build a career while putting your kids first? What is important being a leader to your team and how does Radar Cyber Security support individual development? We asked our colleague Marlies to share her experiences.
When and how did you join Radar Cyber Security?
I joined the company in November 2018. Even though I had no previous experience in technical writing, my professional background perfectly met the necessary skillset to successfully master the challenges coming along with the position. The job requires excellent linguistic skills, the ability to grasp difficult technical concepts and translate them into easy-to-understand instructions for different user groups. I previously worked as a post-doc researcher in information science, so I have been bringing IT knowledge as well as excellent writing skills in German and English to the job. And that is what got me the job in the first place. Four months in, I was already appointed the team lead position.
How does a typical work day look like for you?
My day starts very early. I get up at least an hour before my kids wake up, so I have enough time for my morning routine and can start the day mindfully. This sets the mood for the entire day. On normal days, meaning in non-corona times, I take my kids to kindergarten with our cargo-bike. And from there I take the public transport to go to work. Of course our mornings are not always smooth sailing. One kid might not want to get dressed or one of them might have a hard time saying good-bye at kindergarten. But the good thing about working for Radar is, that I don’t have to be at work at a fixed time. This gives me peace of mind. I also really appreciate the flexibility of working remotely from time to time. Since my kids always come first, I sometimes have to finish tasks in the evening, once they are in bed. Working for Radar really makes balancing work and family life much easier.
What was your most important learning as a team leader?
I learned that you have to be a leader to your team first, not a friend. Don’t get me wrong, I truly care about my team and I take an earnest interest in their lives. However, being a leader for me means not avoiding conflicts and help my team to grow personally and professionally. It’s similar to being a parent: your kids need you to be a parent first, being a friend comes second. I also learned that sometimes you have to fight for being heard and taken seriously, especially when your team is a newly established competency in a company, adding new skills and new viewpoints.
How have you been experiencing development opportunities at Radar Cyber Security?
At Radar, vocational training is supported with a yearly budget. Together with your manager you agree on measures that will further develop your strengths. Last year I was able to attend a conference called “Write the docs”, an event dedicated to technical writing in IT. It was an amazing opportunity to connect with other technical writers across Europe and exchange ideas and workflows. I’m already looking forward to taking my leadership skills further.
What would you recommend to candidates thinking about joining Radar Cyber Security?
Working for Radar sometimes means going the extra mile. Even if your contract doesn’t say that you were hired for a particular task, it sometimes is just necessary to do it anyway and it is probably one of the things that makes us so special. If you are ready to not only work to rule, come and join us!
