"When you come in here, you immediately feel welcome. People are genuinely interested, you get to know each other quickly and you can just be yourself."
Brandon Tjong A Hung | Recruitment Consultant
Five months ago, Brandon walked into HeadFirst Group's building. A new environment with faces and departments he didn't yet know. "I was coming out of a hundred-square-foot office," he laughs. "And suddenly I was in a giant building with hundreds of colleagues. That took some shifting." The first impression? More than good. "It immediately felt as if I had landed in a warm bath." By now he feels completely at home.
A new direction
Brandon began his career in logistics and manufacturing. There he grew from junior recruiter to senior, account manager and eventually business unit manager. Still, it began to itch. "I wanted to move into IT. That seemed fat interesting, but that didn't work out as planned." During his search, he came into contact with corporate recruiter Britt van Heffen. It clicked immediately." Afterwards, it turned out to be a match made in heaven.
The role as a recruitment consultant
The first weeks at HeadFirst Group were intense, but positive. "There was a lot coming at me: new systems, processes, faces. Although this was intense, it also gave me a lot of energy." Brandon noticed right away how well things are organized here. "The processes are tightly organized, which gives peace and overview. This allows you to really focus on what matters: finding the right people."
In his role as a recruitment consultant, Brandon works with clear deadlines and well-organized processes. "The work is manageable because many candidates know how to find our organization themselves," he says. Customer contact also surprised him positively. "The contact with suppliers and freelancers is genuinely nice. Everyone is involved and wants to create something beautiful together."
What Brandon particularly appreciates within his role as a recruiter is the freedom and flexibility in how he can do his job. "We work three days in the office. Is your schedule right? Then you can also work from home in consultation. People here really think along with you." At HeadFirst Group, hybrid working is encouraged, whether at one of the eight locations, at home or wherever you feel comfortable. In this way, the organization wants to contribute to a good work-life balance for all colleagues.
Development and collaboration
At first, Brandon had to get used to all the IT terms. "That took some shifting," he laughs. "But I already had an interest in IT, so that helped. Anyone can make a nice resume these days, but I want to know: can someone actually do it? I've developed that strongly here: I dive into the position myself, research exactly what it entails, ask through and sense whether someone really fits well within the requested role."
Brandon also emphasizes the growth that comes from collaboration within the recruiting team. "By sparring together, I learn not only how to better assess candidates, but also how to best communicate with clients. It's fun outside of work hours, too. "On Fridays we often hang out for drinks and talk about all kinds of things. That makes it fun and strengthens the bond within the team."
Successes to be proud of
Highlights abound. "For example, it was recently announced that we are Alliander's largest supplier. That is, of course, my customer, together with my colleague Melanie de Vries," he says proudly. Suppliers also regularly show that they appreciate your work. "Sometimes you get a card, a lunch or an invitation to an event. The other day we went with some colleagues and supplier Fill You In to Sail Amsterdam. It was a great day and it showed how good the cooperation is, even outside the office." Fill You In recently won the Connected Impact Award at HeadFirst Group's supplier event.
According to Brandon, events like these are real highlights within the organization "There is always something fun: The Dutch Masters, the Amsterdam marathon and soon the Hyrox Company Challenge." This is how the organization wants to show that working at HeadFirst Group is not only about work, but also about having fun and doing things together. This is how the core value connecting people really becomes visible.
"We not only help professionals find a new assignment, but also people who are a little further away from the job market. I really like that, because that way everyone gets a chance."
The strength of HeadFirst Group
What Brandon especially appreciates is that HeadFirst Group looks beyond profits and numbers. "We not only help professionals find a new assignment, but also people who are a little further away from the labor market. I really like that, because that way everyone gets a chance." The atmosphere also appeals to him. "When you come in here, you immediately feel welcome. People are genuinely interested, you get to know each other quickly and you can just be yourself. It's professional, but also cozy." Successes are always celebrated, he says. "Whether it's a placement, a birthday or a colleague getting her diploma, there is always a moment of reflection. That makes it personal and nice to work here."