Frans Deelen Souza, Client Consultant

On April 1st 2021, I started my dream job at DVJ Insights (no joke). We had just returned from Brazil, where my wife and I had lived and worked for 8.5 years and also had our two sons. I worked as a Senior Consulting Manager at Euromonitor International, a large international market research company. In addition to managing a team of consultants and providing training, I also had a client project role. The commercial account and relationship management were separated from this and I really wanted to continue my career in an environment where market research, consultancy and sales came together.

Depth and flexibility through integral working

We wanted to return to the Netherlands, where I had done my master’s in Global Business and Sustainability within the Business Administration program. When a recruiter drew my attention to a job at DVJ Insights, I was immediately sold. As a client consultant, you are involved in both the commercial side, thinking along with the client, as well as research and analyses. At many other agencies, these are often separate roles. At DVJ, you can work in a flexible and agile way. It is no exception for us to deliver the best proposals or projects in a span of one or two weeks. Because we work with our own researchers in set project teams, we achieve a great deal of depth in both analyses and recommendations, as well as in our client relations, which makes the work very enjoyable.

A different interview approach

The job interviews at DVJ Insights were atypical for me, but it immediately felt familiar. I didn’t feel screened at all. Instead, we just had an open and enthusiastic conversation about how I could contribute to the success of a fast-growing and dynamic company. Very different from how I had always led or experienced job interviews. It certainly made me even more enthusiastic about the company and the job.

At DVJ, you can work in a flexible and agile way.

Front runners of the industry

It soon became clear that we do things differently and better at DVJ. Our methods are science-based and innovation-driven. I have always had a feeling for academic research, so that really appeals to me. From our Centre of Expertise, our CEO and our strategy, there is a lot of support on client projects to gain even more insights and give specific recommendations on brand positioning, the effectiveness of campaigns, benchmarking with other brands and between countries. We also provide training and share a lot of knowledge with the market. This combination, together with the mentality of our colleagues, makes us stand out. Add to that the awards for Top 250 Growth Company, FD Gazellen, nominations for innovation awards and MOAwards for best Marketing and Insight agency and best Insight professional, and you have a true success formula.

An Effie award raises the bar even higher

What I like about this role is the diversity of industries and working with big names and established client relationships. I work for the insurance company a.s.r. and internationally for Just Eat Take Away. Together with the research expert, we also conduct studies on the Dutch E-bike market for Kieskeurig to optimise the company’s role therein. All to provide our clients with insights and learnings enabling them to make better decisions when it comes to brand growth. To reassure you, not all projects run simultaneously and attention is given to finding a fit between the clients in your portfolio and your interests and experience. a.s.r. recently won an Effie with one of their campaigns, which immediately raises the bar even higher and makes you extra keen to keep improving.

Another interesting study is the renewed deployment of ‘Loekie de Leeuw’ by Ster. The question was how they could use the iconic lion, who celebrated its 50th birthday, as a “distinctive brand asset” to put the Ster brand even more on the map, also towards advertisers. The study showed that we are far from over Loekie. Now, 50 years later, he is even better at making advertisements more attractive for the audience, making sure that people are engaged and continue to watch TV commercials.

Successes are there to celebrate together

What is special about the DVJ colleagues is that they are all smart people who are passionate about their work, besides the fact that they are also a lot of fun! From recent graduates to seniors, there is a drive to do things right, to work together, to learn and to really help the client. The work we do together also translates into appreciation. Flowers when we have won an award, wanna-have Christmas gifts or dinners, company parties. In March of 2022, we celebrated our return to the office with sushi lunches on Fridays and chair massages by visually impaired people. Successes are to be celebrated and it is very special how senior management connects people.

What advice would you give to new colleagues?

Do you connect to the DVJ culture and way of working? Are you looking for a job with a lot of freedom and responsibility? Do you want to increase your market research knowledge and work for international brands with front runners of the industry? Get in touch with us! We are always looking for talented people to join our offices in Utrecht, London, and Hamburg.