"That message brought me on my first trip abroad"

Syamsul Arifin was nearly a decade into his career as a DevOps Engineer when he received an intriguing message in his LinkedIn inbox. The message came from Robert Walters Indonesia, asking about his interest in some job openings the team was working on.

It couldn’t have come at a better timing. “I’d been at my previous company for over seven years and felt it was time to move. With two children to support, I wanted to give the best to my family by securing a job with better compensation, benefits and career development prospects,” he explains. So, Syamsul said yes and he was introduced to Renata Tania, a consultant on the Tech and Transformation desk.

Although Renata had several opportunities immediately on hand, the job search was not without its challenge. Now that he was re-entering the job market after a number of years, Syamsul needed to reacquaint himself with the latest market trends. 

“Until I spoke with Renata, I had no idea what kind of opportunities were out there”

“The larger challenge was about adapting to a new industry and new technologies. In other words, I had to move out of my comfort zone," he recalls.

Renata bridged the gap, sharing industry knowledge and expertise that enabled Syamsul to navigate the vibrant tech industry in Jakarta. At the same time, she continued to put him forward for openings that were aligned to his interests and abilities.

Some of these applications did not result in an offer. Although rejections can be tough, the Robert Walters team encouraged Syamsul and kept his spirits up. At each step, they provided feedback and identified areas of improvement. He affirms, “Renata and team communicated each opportunity clearly. They provided detailed information about the company and interviews, so I felt supported and prepared throughout the job search.”

Syamsul’s efforts eventually paid off when he nabbed a position as a Site Reliability Engineer at a global bank. On top of generous compensation and benefits, the position has also enriched Syamsul’s personal and professional growth. Two months into the job, his hard work was rewarded with a trip to attend a workshop in Bangalore, India – his first-ever journey out of Indonesia.

“In this new role, I’m getting opportunities and going places like never before,” he enthuses. “I am honoured to have worked with Renata and Robert Walters, who provided all the support I needed to win and succeed in the position I desired. Cheers to our collective success!”