Sadek’s journey to Mendix Developer at AutoBinck Group

From day one in the Netherlands, Sadek Al Shaar had a clear ambition: “I don’t need benefits, but I want to work and contribute,” he stressed. However, his legal degrees were hardly applicable in the Netherlands. “I would have to study here for seven years to become a lawyer, but I didn’t want that. I just didn’t have that time,” he explains. Instead, he decided to follow his true passion: IT.

From learning teenager to successful Developer

Sadek’s love for technology began when he was fourteen. “The first time I saw a computer was in 1998. I was immediately curious. I took the device apart to discover how everything worked,” he recalls. Soon he taught himself HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and built his first Web site. “I felt like I could make something that people needed,” he says.

“IT was more than a hobby for me; it became a dream.”

In the Netherlands, Sadek decided to return to that dream. He signed up for an intensive bootcamp in Rotterdam. “During this period I learned a lot, from JavaScript to Back-end technologies such as PHP and Node.js,” he said. After successfully completing the bootcamp, he found an internship as a Front-end Developer at a company in Amsterdam. There he worked with React and the Shopify platform, further expanding his technical knowledge. His eagerness to learn and perseverance did not go unnoticed. After his internship, Sadek got a job as Front-end Developer at a company in Amsterdam, where he worked on Shopify and other platforms.

“I never gave up. Even when the going got tough, I kept looking for ways to keep learning and growing.”

In 2019, Sadek decided to take a break to focus entirely on his personal life. Soon after, the corona pandemic broke out, making it difficult to resume his career. Yet he remained determined: “I didn’t want to depend on benefits, so I started working at PostNL, while continuing to learn and develop myself in my spare time.” Despite the challenges, Sadek kept his passion for IT alive. “I never gave up.”Discovering the Mendix platform

Sadek had already experienced High-code and worked on several projects with traditional programming languages. Still, he began to explore Low-code platforms such as Mendix. Through LinkedIn, he came across Motopp and Mendix during his bootcamp. “I didn’t know Mendix at all, but I thought: it’s time to change my career. I switched from high-code to low-code,” he explains.

The transition to low-code was a logical step for Sadek. During the intensive bootcamp, he learned all about the Mendix platform. “The bootcamp was extremely intensive for me. I worked nights at PostNL and started the bootcamp at 9 am. It felt like I was working 24 hours a day, instead of eight,” he says of this period. It was a tough time, especially since he also had a young child at the time. But with the support of his partner, he managed to persevere. “My partner understood how important this opportunity was for me. She supported me completely,” Sadek said.

Motopp played an important role in Sadek’s retraining

“The founder of Motopp, Jan Princen simply said, ‘You have nothing to lose. Just try it,'” Sadek recalls. That advice won him over. It turned out to be a good choice. The bootcamp not only gave Sadek in-depth knowledge of the Mendix platform, but also taught him new ways of working. “Mendix saves an enormous amount of time when developing applications. You can deliver really concrete results in a short time,” he enthuses.

The discipline required by the bootcamp was a learning experience for Sadek. “I learned to organize my time better. At 9:00 a.m. I had to be ready to go to work, regardless of whether I had slept or not. It was literally a boot camp,” he says with a laugh. The experience helped him improve his work rhythm and become even more productive.

Embracing the Dutch corporate culture

One of the most valuable lessons Sadek learned during his boot camp was not only the technical knowledge about Mendix, but also the introduction to Dutch corporate culture. During his time in Syria and Egypt, Sadek had worked in an environment where hierarchy and manager dependency prevailed. This was very different from in the Netherlands, where openness and transparency were encouraged. “In Syria, if my manager was happy, I stayed in the company regardless of how well or poorly I performed. In the Netherlands, this is different,” Sadek explained.

He learned that making mistakes is a normal part of the work process, as long as you are honest and open about what went wrong. The idea of “working together to solve mistakes” rather than hiding mistakes was a valuable lesson for Sadek. This realization gave him the freedom to open himself up and continue to learn. In addition, he gained insight into working with Scrum, a framework he was previously unfamiliar with. This methodology drastically changed his view of teamwork and project management. Meeting on time, reporting daily what everyone is doing, and solving problems together gave him a positive perspective on productivity and efficiency.

From IT bootcamp to a successful IT career

After his intensive bootcamp at Motopp, Sadek started with an initial interview at AutoBinck Group. After a successful initial interview, he quickly had a clear idea of the work atmosphere and the company’s vision. “It was important for me to know that not only would I have a role, but that there was also room for growth in the future.” He made the move to AutoBinck Group, a choice that proved crucial for him in his continued development. He immediately felt at ease.

“I enjoy coming to work every day. It’s a family business where everyone helps each other and where I can continue to develop myself.”

The start at Autobinck

Sadek started at AutoBinck Group by taking over an important project, “Free Support,” from his colleague Olaf. This application plays a central role in the daily support of the company. “I took over responsibility from Olaf and made sure everything kept running smoothly. Every day I monitored the application and performed regular security checks,” Sadek says.

Although he had just been in his role for two months, the team soon launched a new project: the development of an integration application. This application was intended to support and integrate various IT processes. “In the month that we went live, the teams were able to work immediately on two new applications. We received many compliments, which is something I am very proud of,” Sadek said.

Collaboration within the IT team

Sadek works closely with Olaf, a Mendix consultant, and other IT colleagues. Although they often work on different projects, they meet regularly to discuss progress and review new initiatives. “Every Thursday, Olaf and I have a meeting to go over our projects and the status of the Center of Excellence (COE).

We make sure new colleagues can quickly integrate into our Mendix environment,” says Sadek. Team collaboration goes beyond work. “We talk a lot about sports, hobbies, and laugh together. It is important to maintain that human connection even when we are busy working on IT solutions,” Sadek says.

Dare to dream

Finally, Sadek has an inspiring message for anyone looking for a new career, whether they are status holders or others looking to make their way in a new field. “Be yourself and have the courage to choose a new career. Don’t wait for the right moment, but dare to dream,” Sadek said.