A career that evolves with you

Check out our jobs
Guy looking at you
We're often led to believe that a career should be a straight line: pick a direction and follow it. In practice, it rarely works that way. 

Just ask Chabeli Sanders and Drilon Rexhepi. Both studied Applied Economics at the University of Antwerp, yet their paths at BDO took very different turns. What their stories have in common? Neither of them saw the turn coming. 

From lecture hall to the field 

During her studies, Chabeli thought she had her future figured out. Accountancy was her focus. She taught seminars on the subject and took on student jobs in the field. When she went looking for a summer internship, she found one with us in financial audit. "I wanted to get better at reading the numbers, and almost nobody offered that over the summer. BDO did. And they really went out of their way to show me every step of the process."  

Drilon's first introduction to BDO came during a career event while he was still studying. A few years later, degree in hand, he joined our audit team. "Audit wasn't the only option, but it was a logical one. In a short space of time you get to work with a lot of different clients, sectors and teams. A great place to learn." 

Learning by doing

One thing that surprised both Chabeli and Drilon? How quickly they were trusted with responsibility. 

A month into my internship, I was already working things out myself and presenting them to the client. At BDO, if they see your motivation, you get trust. And that trust pushes you to keep growing.

Chabeli Sanders

Drilon had a different picture of his first job too. "I expected to spend most of my time behind a screen. The reality was completely different. You quickly become involved in client meetings and develop much more than just technical knowledge."

At BDO, growth isn't only about building expertise. You also get the chance to work alongside clients, take on responsibility and develop yourself in a professional environment where initiative counts. 

That doesn't mean you're left to figure everything out on your own. Some people thrive with structure, others prefer more autonomy. "I have colleagues who like a lot of guidance, and they get it," says Chabeli. "I preferred learning in my own way, step by step. That worked just as well."

Chabeli Sanders

Growth isn't a straight line 

And if your interests shift along the way? There’s room for that too. 

For Chabeli, it started with an internship supervisor who noticed where her strengths and interests really lay. "She said: what you enjoy doing, we do in a much more focused way over at Risk Advisory. Go and talk to my colleagues." That conversation sent her career in a different direction. 

Within Risk Advisory, she explored a broad range of projects before gradually finding her niche. "That's how you find out what gives you energy.” She now works full-time for two major clients, which quickly made her the point of contact rather than just support. Her focus today is cybersecurity, and she keeps building on that expertise through ongoing training. 

Drilon's path evolved differently. When an opportunity arose to gain experience in IT Audit, he volunteered immediately. He did it alongside his regular assignments for a while, then decided the financial side suited him better. "Not a single regret. I understand my IT colleagues' reports far better now." 

What Drilon values most today as a consultant is the mix. "A combination of stability and variety." Some clients return year after year, while new assignments bring fresh challenges and perspectives. At the same time, he is steadily working towards becoming a certified auditor. 

I'm not looking five years ahead. But I do see myself growing, and I enjoy working with people: guiding juniors, giving and receiving feedback.

Drilon Rexhepi

Drilon Rexhepi

You don't need all the answers

No two careers look the same. And that's perfectly fine. 

Whether your interests lie in Audit, Tax, Advisory, Accountancy, Cybersecurity or Data, BDO gives you the space to explore your strengths, discover new opportunities and build a career path that reflects who you are. 

Because more often than not, you only find out what you really love doing along the way. 

Girls looking at job offers

Ready to shape your own career path?

Discover our opportunities and make your career count.

Check out our job openings

Frequently asked questions about careers at BDO

No. Some colleagues start out with a clear plan, others discover their interests and talents along the way. At BDO, you get the space to explore different fields, projects and challenges. 

Read also: Kickstarting 2 careers in just 1 year? At BDO, that’s possible!

Yes. Internal mobility is part of how we think about growth. Sometimes you discover new interests along the way, sometimes an opportunity comes up in another team. We encourage colleagues to explore those and to start the conversation about their next step. 

There's no standard career path that works for everyone. Some colleagues want to deepen their expertise, others prefer to take on people responsibility or explore several disciplines. Your people manager plays an important role here: they know your work, keep track of what energises you and think through the next step with you. You set the direction, with someone alongside you to support it. 

Learning happens in different ways: working alongside colleagues, gaining experience with clients, taking on new challenges. On top of that, there's the BDO Academy, our internal training offer covering technical knowledge, digital skills and personal development. Which courses suit you is something you work out with your people manager, based on the direction you want to take. 

Professional growth today goes beyond technical know-how, too. New technologies and AI keep creating new ways to work efficiently, generate insights and build on your expertise. 

Read also: Human-centric, powered by AI: what that means at BDO

Not necessarily. Growth can mean deepening your expertise, taking on new responsibilities, exploring another field, guiding clients or coaching colleagues. Everyone gives it their own meaning.  

Everyone. Some colleagues start their career here. Others join us with years of experience behind them. What connects them is the desire to keep growing, work in a personal way and make an impact.  

Browse our highlights

Learn more about our personal way of working, get career insights, discover events and browse through tips and trends to guide you on your journey.
Grey background
Filter by: