Niels Cornelissen

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

“My name is Niels Cornelissen, I’m 27 years old and I live in Nijmegen. I started working at Bulsink at the beginning of 2023. I first joined as a Project Assistant, then became an Engineer, and I’m now working as a Project Manager.”

“In my free time, I also like to challenge myself. For example, I recently competed in the Ironman triathlon in Barcelona.”

What does your role involve, and what do you enjoy most about your work?

“As a Project Manager, I’m responsible for construction projects from A to Z. From the moment you visit a potential location with a client to the final handover.”

“What I enjoy most is that every client has their own concept. Sometimes a concept is still in its early stages, and you really get the chance to add something new. I also love the challenge of building stores that last just a little bit longer—so that when you walk in ten years later, you can proudly say: we built this.” 

How did you manage to grow so quickly?

“I always want to bring out the best in myself, and from the very beginning I made it clear that my goal was to become a Project Manager. I wanted to learn everything that was needed for that role, step by step. I followed an internal construction course, as I didn’t have a background in construction yet. I also spent a lot of time on construction sites right away—listening to skilled professionals from different disciplines and, most importantly, asking why they made certain choices. You can learn something from everyone to broaden your knowledge and better understand the construction process.”

“When I moved into the Engineer role, I also started developing myself further in my free time. I became curious about sustainability, for example, and started researching that topic. At a certain point, I was given the opportunity to manage my own projects—initially as a pilot, to show what I could do. It’s great to have someone looking over your shoulder and colleagues who are always willing to give feedback. You learn so much from that. If you’re clear about what you want and open to feedback, Bulsink offers plenty of room for personal development.”