How the tide turned for Ashraf at ABN AMRO

From Master’s thesis to permanent contract

“I joined ABN AMRO in February 2024,” Ashraf begins. “I was completing my Master’s degree in Statistics & Data Science at Leiden University and did the research project for my thesis at ABN AMRO. The topic was ‘Anomaly detection within procurement data’ and it focused on finding smart, automated ways to detect irregularities in purchasing patterns across the bank. After working on that for six months, I was offered a position as a data scientist, and since August, I’ve officially been part of the team.”

Challenging career path

Moving from intern to employee might not seem like an unusual step, but for Ashraf, it was far from straightforward. “I came to the Netherlands as a refugee five years ago. Back in Syria, I had a pharmacy degree, but when the war broke out, I started volunteering for aid organisations like the Red Cross and the UN. My role involved working with spreadsheets and data to coordinate emergency relief efforts. That’s when I realised: this is what I truly love to do.”

Getting lucky at last

“When I arrived in the Netherlands, I knew I wanted to work with data,” Ashraf recalls. But that was easier said than done. First, Ashraf faced huge delays in his asylum procedure, which stretched to nearly three years – two years longer than usual. On top of that, his degree didn’t have much value in the Netherlands, and he had to navigate an unfamiliar culture. “Things finally started looking up when I was working towards my Master’s degree, thanks to ABN AMRO’s Reboot programme.”

“I was paired with Ekaterina Romanova, an ABN AMRO employee, as my coach. She helped me with my CV, taught me how to present myself, and explained the ins and outs of Dutch workplace culture. That was incredibly useful, because working values and behaviour in the Netherlands are very different from those in Syria. For example, she encouraged me to share more personal things about myself and ask colleagues about their weekends – things I wouldn’t naturally think to do. Her tips helped me be more open and sociable, and she even arranged an internship for me.”

Finding your own path

“Since I joined this team, my growth has skyrocketed,” says Ashraf. His rapid development is clearly illustrated in the chart above. “I owe that to the work I do, but also to the support I receive from my team and manager, who even attended my thesis presentation! In my field, there are many directions you can take, and I get all the space I need to explore what suits me best. Right now, that’s translating business needs into technical solutions. Because I only started working with data later in life, I understand how non-specialists talk and think about it. That helps me explain our work in ways they can relate to. But even if I suddenly decided to change course, I know I’d still get all the support I need.”

Perfect fit

All in all, Ashraf couldn’t imagine a better place to shape his career. He’s making great strides professionally, feels he is getting plenty of freedom and support, and he can take full advantage of the many resources ABN AMRO offers. “For example, the MyLearning platform is a treasure trove of knowledge, and our development budget enables me to buy interesting books. We also get Banking for Better days, which allow us to work on charitable projects during office hours. I use mine to support people with refugee backgrounds, helping them improve their English. I’m incredibly happy here. Who would have thought, just a few years ago?” 

Ready to work on your own development?

At ABN AMRO, you get all the space you need to grow into the professional you want to be. Interested? Check out our vacancies.