Job Talk: Business Office Employee Priscilla van Schaik
“I really don't like cakes at all,” Priscilla van Schaik confesses with a laugh. Nevertheless, she has enjoyed working at Goedhart Patisserie in Panningen since 2016. After a more or less accidental start as a temporary worker in production, she grew to operator 3 and then to business office employee 2. And she is far from leaving: “There are plenty of challenges and opportunities here.”
From temporary worker to business office employee
“It was actually intended as a temporary thing after my college studies, but I've been here for 10 years now,” she says. Not that she did not benefit from studying Lecturer and Knowledge Manager, because as operator 3, she was closely involved in training employees. She then moved to the Business Office. “I wanted to work with my head a bit more. So you have those opportunities here.”
A team with its own specialties
Priscilla works at the Business Office in a team of five colleagues, each with their own specialty. “I do the daily orders and time registration, one colleague takes care of the purchasing, another one takes care of the logistics, and another takes care of the long-term planning.” Together, they ensure that everything runs smoothly — and they are close to production. “We're sitting at the entrance to the bakery. When you come in, I'm probably the one who opens the door. The people of ICT and quality are also often found here.
A varied working day
Her working day starts at six in the morning. She collects the incoming orders, adjusts the numbers if necessary and then transfers them to production. “They make the planning based on the available lines and what the product needs.” She then orders strawberries from the fruit farmer, checks the time registration and ensures that new employees are included in the system. When there is a new product, she checks whether the numbers and forecasts are correct. Where necessary, she contacts the customer or the account agency. “Very varied.”
Large-scale production
“We deliver seven days a week. Some products go out a few thousand pieces a day, others we make in smaller quantities.” Seasons and actions determine what is produced the most. “Around King's Day, we run tompouces on three lines for 20 hours a day, that's millions. In between, cleaning is carried out. During a strawberry campaign or around Mother's Day, the numbers also rise considerably. Today, 1,300 half strawberry pies have already gone out.” All the cakes are transported to the distribution center and from there distributed to supermarkets across the country. “For example, I sometimes saw the mocha schnitte from our own bakery in the fridge at my grandpa and grandma in Arnhem. Then you're proud after all.”
Experience and precision
Experience in production helps: “If you don't know how it works in production, it's difficult. You have to understand that they have to switch and that it's not convenient if orders change mid-day.” Working accurately also counts for Priscilla: “I don't want to say you're exactly mustare for this job, but it's me. I always check the numbers - if a promotion only runs in stores and is not in the national folder, and 3,000 half pies are ordered, I'll email you, because then the number is too high. And vice versa.” Priscilla would especially like to produce just the right numbers to meet the demand of the stores and, of course, their customers, even if you don't know them exactly in advance: “It may be different, but not mine.” And when she walks through the store, she always has to stop by the patisserie. “You still want to know how your products are located.”
The future? “I don't see myself leaving here anytime soon. I like the mix of work and team. We solve things together.”
Working at Goedhart Patisserie?
At Goedhart Patisserie, you get the opportunity to develop, from a temporary worker to a business office employee. There are many functions, day to night, with or without weekend shifts. “You get opportunities here. Internal training courses are well organized. We don't forget anyone.”
Curious about the possibilities? Check out our vacancies and join our team!