Working at Mei

Interview with Fatima

Fatima el Hadji

Hi Fatima, you started in January as trainee, but now you’re our junior designer. Do you notice a big difference?
Not really, actually. I started the traineeship after getting my master’s degree, but since I already had quite a bit of knowledge, it quickly became more specialized and I was given more responsibilities. That shifted very naturally into a junior position.

What attracts you to working at Mei?
I especially like the transformation projects. I think it is great to see how Mei works with the ‘soul’ of the building and keeps the different time layers visible. In order to achieve the best result, we’re often working together as a team. That happens in a Dutch manner; ‘gezellig’ but to-the-point. Everyone has their own skills and it is nice to see that your contribution is really appreciated.

What has been your best experience at Mei so far?
The fact that I could go to Marseille was really a great opportunity. Because French is one of my native languages, I was able to contribute to an important presentation not only technically but also linguistically. It kind of feels like an exchange; I’m learning Dutch from my colleagues, and at the same time I can give something back through my own background.