Meet Paul, graduate of Applied Computer Science

"My routine is intense, but I can’t complain about what’s on my plate when I ordered the dish."

Paul sneaked into an education fair in Bucharest and came across the KdG stand by chance. Four years later, he’s pushing boundaries. He’s working full time at TikTok and studying for a Master’s in Data Science. 

In this interview, he reflects on his journey and shares tips for students considering studying Applied Computer Science.

Studying for a Master’s and working full time

Somebody told me: "After two years, you’ll only have your Master’s, while your colleagues will have two years of experience.” That really stuck with me.

I knew myself well enough to realise that once I started working, I’d struggle to go back to studying. I knew I could become complacent, so I went straight into a Master’s after my Bachelor’s.

Lastly, there’s the financial aspect. A Master’s opens doors to specialised roles, and I enjoy having that flexibility.

The most important but also the toughest part? Writing a solid resume. As a student, it's ridiculously hard to get it right. I went through about 15 versions.

I also prepared for technical interviews involving data structures and algorithms - essential in many countries, though not so much in Belgium.

Big tip: don’t just rely on job platforms like LinkedIn. Go directly to the companies you're interested in. I found the vacancy for TikTok on their careers website

Now, I work as a Site Reliability Engineer. It’s a broad role that combines infrastructure, software development, monitoring, deployment, and resource management.

In simple terms? I make sure TikTok doesn’t go down! At least not because of infrastructure.

What helped me most at KdG

Three things stand out:

• The intense workload made professional life feel easier.
• ‘The company’ simulation course was very useful – more so than I expected!
• The international environment helped me feel at home in a global workplace.

The skills you really need

As a junior, here’s what matters:

• Mindset: Be open, humble, and willing to put in the effort.
• Soft skills: Problem-solving, time management, communication, report writing - KdG really helps with that.
• Tech skills: These can be learned on the job – but make sure you ask for help when you need it.

What drives me

On one hand, I’m motivated by ambition: I want more. To travel, create, be known and respected. On the other hand, there’s a deeper reason, I never want my future children to feel defeated, like I sometimes did growing up. That’s a huge motivator.

I don’t know why exactly, but imagining those futures fills me with a burning sensation that doesn’t let up.

The most valuable part of my studies

Not one specific thing. It’s the totality of the experience - exposure to a wide range of concepts. My studies at KdG exposed me to a little bit of everything. That is what made it truly valuable.

My advice for future students

• Never limit yourself. You are only as capable as you think you are.
• Trust the process. Learn. Practice. Get experience. Succeed.
• Make mistakes! They're part of the process.
• It’s ok to not know what to do. You've got to find your own balance. I simply can’t work with plans that are too concrete.