I M 29 Years Old and Live in Herent, Close to Leuven and Brussels

I M 29 Years Old and Live in Herent, Close to Leuven and Brussels

Kristof Vandersmissen1/3

Personal details

I’m 29 years old and live in Herent, close to Leuven and Brussels

My full address is Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat 17 bus 102, 3020 Herent

Call me +32 486 666 526, or send an email to

I am owner of the company Appricorn –

Summary

Hello, I’m Kristof. I am a freelance front-end web developer, currently working on a mobile web project at BNP Paribas Fortis bank in Brussels. I like to use the latest HTML, CSS and JavaScript techniques.

Before starting my own company, I was a lead application developer at KBC for their online banking system, built on Java.

Aside from coding skills, I believe my strongest assets are my common sense, accurate communication, and a keen eye for web usability.

Experience

Mobile web developer @ BNP Paribas Fortis, Brussels – November 2012 to today

I was asked to work on a new mobile banking product to be launched mid-2013, of which details may not yet be disclosed. I developed responsive web forms to be used on mobile devices. These were built using mainly jQuery Mobile on a Selligent Interactive Marketing back-end.

Web application developer @ Option, Leuven – 2011to 2012

This was my first job as a freelancer. I was hired to work as a web application developerfor three different projects.

  • Option needed a web app to manage and configure their latest mobile connectivity device called XYFI, the world’s smallest personal hotspot. You can compare this app with configuration pages found on consumer routers. We builtboth a full-size anda mobile version, using HTML5, jQuery, AJAX, JSON andCSS. The website runs on an embedded Unix system (on the device).
  • I developed both the client-side and server-side of a corporate web appdeployed at AT&T in the US. This applicationis used tomanage millions of mobile devices. I used HTML5, jQuery, AJAX, XML, PHP, Oracle database, Unix shell scripts and a custom build of Apache on twelve highly secured remote Unix servers.
  • I developed a web app to remotely manage and upgrade connectivity devices sold by Option and its partners. I used HTML5, jQuery, LESS, Twitter Bootstrap and Jinja2 templating framework.

Lead application developer @ KBC Bank, Leuven – 2008 to 2011

Rewriting KBC Online – 2010 to 2011

We completely rewrote the KBC Online codebase using a new and highly secure Java framework. This required the work of 40+ developers on a tight schedule and received high management visibility.

I was responsible for…

  • technical analysis
  • coordination of all coding activities
  • months of offshore support at our development location in India
  • reviewing the new codebase
  • tracking defects
  • solving coding problems which the developers couldn’t
  • technical insight at corporate meetings

We used Java, JSP, a custom Spring Web Flow framework, XML and Web services.

I’d like to refer my then project leaderBruno Vanherck () and our department head Annick Vansegbroeck ().

Web applications for KBC’s branch offices – 2008 to 2009

I started my career at KBC by developingweb applicationsfor KBC’s branch offices. I was in the credits team, and was responsible for…

  • translating our branch offices’ needs into a maintainable technical design
  • supervising the coding activities of a small team of offshore developers

We used Java and JSP on a custom Java web framework.

2004 to 2005 – Microsoft Navisionconsultant @ Goovaerts IT, Nossegem

I supported clients of Goovaerts IT (now GMI Group – inusing and extending the Microsoft Navision ERP package (now Microsoft Dynamics NAV).

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Sinology @ Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) – 2005 to 2008
  • Bachelor’s degree in IT @ Xios Hogeschool, Diepenbeek – 2001 to 2004

Coding skills

  • Languages: HTML5, JavaScript (jQuery), CSS (LESS), some PHP, some Java
  • Miscellaneous: MySQL, Oracle DB, Apache, Git, SVN
  • Frameworks I like: jQuery Mobile, Twitter Bootstrap
  • OS: Windows, Unix

Mandarin Chinese

As a sinologist, although it’s been a while, I am able to speak and write Mandarin Chinese. My girlfriend speaks it too and we have been to China on several occasions. From a business perspective, I could help narrow the gap between Western and Chinese companies working together, preferably (but not necessarily) in the field of IT.

Languages

Native: Dutch

Very advanced:English

Basic:Chinese, French, German

Personality

I’m practical, motivated, persistent, stress resistant, friendly, honest, ambitious, diplomatic and organized. I’m mostly quiet while working, because I like to concentrate. I still love a good conversation during breaks though.

Hobbies

I like reading up on news facts and technology. Sometimes I read fantasy novels. I like traveling andhanging out with friends and family. I love watching a movie in the evening. I sometimes even find time to play a game of Civilization. No kids (yet).

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