Julie Brakenhoff
Making an impact as a Consultant Sourcing in a tight labor market
Julie Brakenhoff is MSP Consultant Sourcing at Staffing MS (part of HR-tech service provider HeadFirst Group). "From the moment I started here in April, I felt welcome," says Julie Brakenhoff. Previously, she worked in the insurance sector at Alicia, a partner of HeadFirst Group, and that is what eventually brought her here. The experience she has in sales, recruitment and HR matched perfectly with her current role. We asked how she experienced the first few months.
Julie can be found at the Staffing MS office in Hoofddorp every day. "Since I've only been employed for just two months, I've mainly been busy onboarding," she explains. "Now, after my onboarding, I am starting to get a good idea of the work. This is a new experience for me, as I previously worked mainly at startups. I notice, for example, that here the onboarding period is better organized. On the first day, we discussed the schedule and which training sessions I would attend and when," she says. "When you start here, you get the opportunity to take the Lean Yellow Belt training. I feel really well supported here."
What is your background?
Although her previous work was similar in some areas, she has no Consultancy experience. "In my previous work, I dealt with acquisition of new partners, who then sell insurance on their platforms, such as HeadFirst, for example. I also have some recruitment and HR experience, so I know how to put out certain requests."
What does an MSP Consultant Sourcing do?
One aspect of her job that Julie really enjoys is the contact with customers. "I regularly go over requests with clients. You get to know the customer better and better, and it's easy to ask each other questions or just send an app. Currently I am in the process of taking over a client and soon another one will be added," she explains. "I have regular meetings with managers about new assignments, I also assess applicants and send their information to the client. Furthermore, I do administrative tasks, such as processing changes in assignments, for example renewals or rate increases. If there are questions about renewals or new assignments, I give advice in that regard. I also regularly participate in consultations with various teams to improve the service where necessary."
What advancement opportunities do you see for yourself?
Asked about her future prospects within the company, Julie explains that she was initially looking for a junior scrum master position. "During the conversation with the recruiter, I indicated that I wanted to work at a tech company that has its own platform, like HeadFirst Group's Select," Julie explains. "That way I can develop myself further, because I find that incredibly interesting. During the job interview I mentioned that there are many aspects I like, and that factored into my choice. So I could grow into account management, business consultancy, or maybe a position within HeadFirst Group." Julie emphasizes that growth doesn't have to be only vertical. "Horizontal growth I also find interesting. I notice that there is definitely room for personal development here."
How is the cooperation within your team?
"Here I feel supported," she explains. "Of course I'm being inducted and I know what's expected of me, but it's also a combination of learning new things. And if a colleague is busy, we definitely jump in and support each other. At the moment I am being trained by Thomas and I can always approach him with questions. The cooperation within the consultant team is going really well, and I really like that."
What makes your work so enjoyable and distinctive?
Julie emphasizes the impact she can make in this tight job market, "It's nice to see that my efforts are ultimately going to help fill vacancies quickly." She describes the culture within Staffing MS as informal, professional and fun. "Of course we have parties and fun team activities that everyone can participate in, and regular events are organized. There is also a celebration every month where cake is treated from HeadFirst Group. Even though my label is in Rotterdam, a cake is also delivered in Rotterdam every month!"
HeadFirst Group climbs Alpe d'HuZes and raises 53,000 euros for KWF
HeadFirst Group climbs Alpe d'HuZes and raises 53,000 euros for KWF
On June 1, 2023, the sixteenth edition of Alpe d'HuZes took place on the flanks of the Alpe D'Huez. Under the motto "giving up is not an option," 5,000 participants started at 4:30 a.m. walking or cycling to climb the famous French mountain. Eighteen of these participants were part of HeadFirst Group. They did this not only for the sporting challenge, but precisely to raise as much money as possible for KWF. All the money raised during the Alpe d'HuZes goes to KWF for scientific cancer research within various themes.
Connection to each other
With great enthusiasm, 18 colleagues signed up. Each with their own reason. Organizer Koen van Rijn's reason was clear. "I am cycling for my mother who lost the battle to cancer last year, but also for all my dear family, friends and colleagues who are currently fighting for recovery. In addition, I think it's great that we took on this challenge with a large group of colleagues. This definitely adds to the connection with each other."
Co-organizer Tamara Boeff also agrees. "Health is not self-evident, because I am healthy, I want to dedicate myself to KWF. I think it's great that I was able to climb the mountain together with my colleagues. It was absolutely grueling, but that also gives a fantastic feeling when it succeeds."
Sponsors thank you!
In total, our colleagues raised 53,000 euros for KWF. A huge amount that we are extremely proud of. We would therefore like to thank everyone who donated and in particular our sponsors: Alicia Insurance, Nétive VMS, Intelligence Group, Energize, Basis Cloud Solutions, Werf&, Ciphix, Millenaar Adviesgroep B.V., FinanceFactor Executive Finance Professionals, doen'r, Scotty Technologies, IT Topdogs, MyCademy - The Learning Platform for Guaranteed Growth 🌱, CodeBridge, Simon-Kucher, That's Lease, ImpactWork.io, Branding Office Furniture B.V., FTI Consulting, Buckles and Up In Business!
Together we achieved this wonderful amount to hopefully increase the life chances of people with cancer.
Belinda Oudhoff
Going the extra mile and continuing to develop yourself
Belinda Oudhoff (52) has been working as an MSP Consultant Contracting at Staffing MS, (part of HR-tech service provider HeadFirst Group) for almost two years now. With her sales background and experience in various back office positions, she joined Staffing MS. "A whole new world opened up for me here. We take over the total hiring process of temporary staff for our clients." Belinda likes to tell us about how she always goes the extra mile so she can continue to develop herself.
What does an MSP Consultant Contracting actually do?
"As a Consultant Contracting, you are mainly concerned with forming and updating files for the assignments," Belinda says. "We take over the entire hiring process from our clients: we put the requests out in the market towards the suppliers and the professionals on our own platform. When there is an assignment, we set up the file. My job is to make sure the file is complete and that it stays complete. We also take care of invoicing, and for this, all files must also be in order on time according to legal requirements. We also provide first-line support, where we receive all kinds of questions from suppliers or self-employed persons without staff (ZZP'ers) or questions intended for other departments about payments, for example. I usually try to help the caller directly myself and then if I can't figure it out, I make a callback request. Everyone plays an important role in the process this way: Sourcing makes contact with the client to get the request and order in order, and Contracting makes sure the files get/stay in order and answers the first-line questions. There is no hierarchical difference because we all work together to get the job done, and that also makes it a lot of fun to work here."
How is the cooperation within your team?
"I really like the work atmosphere. There are six of us in the department and we work hard, but there is always room for a laugh. As contract manager, I have a lot of contact with Sourcing to make sure the job is complete. You have the opportunity to work both in the office and hybrid. Since I work part-time, I have one day off and one work-at-home day."
What makes your work so enjoyable?
"You can make the work as interesting as you want of course. For me, it's important that when that space is available, for variety you also occasionally pick up something you don't normally do, helping another department or figuring something out, for example. You develop yourself in multiple areas this way. We also have planning meetings, where you can indicate where you want to go, which is really nice."
Would you recommend this work to others?
"In fact, I recommended my cousin, who is also working here. Good to know is that you get all the space here to get to know the systems well first. You are also just allowed to make mistakes and there is room to be yourself."
Has your position changed in the time you've worked here?
"In my case yes, but it does depend on how you do your job. You can do what you are asked, but you can also go the extra mile and keep developing yourself. For example, checking with a consultant why something has not yet been picked up or taking over each other's tasks when we are absent. In any case, that makes my work very fun and challenging!"
Our Today's Boss switches with Tomorrow's Boss on Thursday, June 1
Our Today's Boss switches with Tomorrow's Boss on Thursday, June 1
Every child has talent. That is why we are fighting together with JINC for a society in which your background does not determine your future. We are therefore extremely pleased to welcome the "Boss of Tomorrow" to our headquarters on Thursday, June 1!
About Boss of Tomorrow
JINC is an organization that helps young people on their way to work. Together with companies and schools, JINC fights for a society where your background does not determine your future. Baas van Morgen is an initiative of JINC and consists of an exchange between children and the Dutch business community. They introduce children who could use a helping hand to professional success. During JINC Baas van Morgen, these young people sit in the chair of a CEO, director or politician. They sit in on meetings and research a particular issue. In this way, JINC seeks to increase opportunity for young people throughout the Netherlands.
Our Bosses of Tomorrow
On Thursday, June 1, elementary school students, Nigel and Lakeysha, will climb into the chair of Simone van Groeneveld, Managing Director Staffing MS. This day they will work with Simone and consider various issues. We are very much looking forward to their arrival and their new ideas and creative expressions!
The rise of AI in recruitment: practical applications and challenges
The rise of AI in recruitment: practical applications and challenges
The impact of AI on organizations, including you as a recruiter or recruitment consultant, is significant. The recruitment and selection process is time-consuming, but AI can speed up this process. It may still sound like hype to you, but AI in recruitment offers many opportunities for the future. At HeadFirst Group, we recognize the importance of this changing role in our various functions. In this article we will delve deeper into these changes, discuss the pros and cons, and give you valuable tips so you can make a difference in the recruitment process using AI.
Benefits of using AI in recruitment and selection
In the battle for talent, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment can be a godsend and make all the difference. Much is being talked and written about digital transformation and AI. Here are some of the benefits we often encounter:
- Increased productivity: using smart AI software, you can screen candidates more efficiently and predict whether a candidate is a fit or not. AI can streamline administrative tasks that take up valuable time. In addition, AI-powered chatbots can answer candidate questions about open positions, leaving you as a recruiter with more time on your hands.
- Improved quality: AI provides a better match between candidate and organization, based on available data from the candidate or analysis of digital interviews. AI software can search for specific characteristics, such as facial expression and word usage, that fit the profile. Machine learning models can also analyze resumes and identify the most suitable candidates based on job specifications, skills and previous experience.
- Less bias: AI is "unbiased" and can objectively assess a candidate's suitability. Humans often have unconscious biases when evaluating candidates. However, AI algorithms are programmed to eliminate any bias by using a standardized set of criteria to evaluate candidates. By collecting large amounts of data during each step of the hiring process, you can make decisions based on facts rather than intuition.
Practical applications of AI in recruitment
Let's look at some examples of how AI is being applied in recruitment today:
- Screening resumes: recruiters often receive hundreds of resumes for each job opening, making manual screening virtually impossible. AI tools can quickly scan resumes and identify the best matches based on keywords, qualifications, experience and other factors.
- Chatbots: intelligent chatbots have become increasingly popular in recent years. Chatbots can answer frequently asked questions about jobs, application status and company culture, without needing the constant attention of recruiters.
- Video interviews: during the pandemic, in which many companies switched to remote working, video interviews have become an essential tool for recruiters. AI-powered video interview technology allows employers to conduct virtual interviews with candidates regardless of their location. In addition, they receive automated feedback on communication skills and body language analysis.
Challenges in using AI in recruitment and selection
While the use of AI in recruitment and selection offers many benefits, there are also several challenges associated with implementing this technology:
- Biased algorithms: although AI algorithms are designed to eliminate bias, there is a chance that the system contains unconscious bias. Recruitment teams should develop and train their AI tools to mitigate potential biases by implementing regular checks and feedback mechanisms to ensure that the system remains fair and unbiased.
- Incorrect information: AI tools can extract information about a candidate from the Internet, but this information may be incorrect. The AI tool may select information from a person with the same name or use private information. It is important to use business information and profiles and be transparent about the information accessed.
- Security risks: The use of AI-driven recruitment tools also poses security risks, particularly in terms of storing applicants' personal information. It is important to ensure that systems are adequately secured against cyber threats, such as hacking or data breaches, to protect personal information.
The future of AI in recruitment
We see AI in recruitment primarily as an opportunity. The use of AI makes the role of humans more relevant than ever before: AI and humans work together. AI will not completely replace human input, but rather complement it. AI has the potential to improve the recruitment process and can lead to greater efficiency, better matches and less bias in the selection process. However, there are also challenges and ethical considerations that must be addressed when using AI in recruitment. In this, it is important to strike the right balance between human involvement and AI support to get the most out of this technology.
Do you apply AI in screening and nominating candidates? Let us know!
Service-oriented work is done with these handy tips
Service-oriented work is done with these handy tips
As a company, the way you communicate with your customers always sticks. It is therefore important to continuously look for ways to improve service orientation, for example by collecting and analyzing customer feedback. Also in various positions at HeadFirst Group we have daily contact with customers. In this article we give more tips for improving your service orientation, so you can build and maintain a strong relationship with customers.
Why is service orientation important?
Service orientation is important to businesses because it has a direct impact on customer satisfaction. Customers who are satisfied with the service they received are more likely to return and recommend the company to others. Research shows that 86% of customers are willing to pay more for a better customer experience. A good customer experience can also lead to a higher Net Promoter Score (NPS), which is a measure of customer loyalty. Companies with a high NPS generally have higher sales growth than those with a low NPS.
What levels of service orientation can be distinguished?
By being service-oriented, you first and foremost adopt a helpful attitude to customer inquiries. You quickly and adequately take concrete actions in response to customer questions. You can go a step further by coming up with suitable proposals on your own initiative and actively thinking along with the customer. You show that you can actively help and advise. You are on the right track when you also encourage others to optimize customer service.
How can you increase service orientation in yourself and your team?
Here are some tips on how to serve customers even better:
- Develop your service skills
First, it is important to make sure you have the right skills to meet customers' needs. What skills should really not be missing? Consider empathy and patience. It is important to be able to deal with all types of customers and serve them all in the same way. Also, every customer is different and may react differently. Therefore, it is important to be flexible, be able to understand the customer's mood and respond accordingly. Of course, clear communication is also an important part of good customer service. Use positive and sincere language and make sure the customer is satisfied before the conversation ends.
- Take a close look at every contact moment
Any bad customer experience, at any time, can completely destroy your relationship. You not only need to make sure you have the right skills, you need to actually use them. Pay specific attention to key touch points, but at the same time make sure you have a complete picture of the customer experience. Otherwise, you run the risk of service failure, which can have very detrimental consequences.
- Improve interaction with your customers
Having the right skills is step one. The next step is building a good relationship with the customer. Practice active listening and repeating what a customer has said so that your customers feel they are being taken seriously. By communicating that you also understand why the customer is not satisfied, you show that you empathize with the customer.
Are you also service-oriented?
In your current position, are you service-oriented, friendly and understand what the customer needs? Would you like to be able to use these skills even better? Then consider a move for example to MSP Consultant Contracting. In this role you take care of a good relationship with internal teams of HeadFirst Group, suppliers and the client. Feel free to contact us to discuss the possibilities.
How do you choose a logical next step after college? Practical tips from Felicia
How do you choose a logical next step after college? Practical tips from Felicia
Felicia Semedo Correia is a Junior Contract Manager at Staffing MS (part of HR-tech service provider HeadFirst Group). The path to this was not necessarily obvious. Felicia studied fashion and then worked at a bailiff's office. "It is not easy to choose your career path when you find out that your education and first job do not sufficiently match your wishes and skills. But when you stay true to what you can do and like, you always end up in the right place in the end."
Felicia always had the talent to make clothes, but what she didn't know is that when she chose to study fashion, it also came with a lot of negativity. Young designers' designs were often stolen and she also found out that it was mostly a polluting industry, something she still feels strongly about. The fashion industry was in conflict with her values, which complicated the choice of what to do next. "Eventually I ended up at a temp agency, through whom I started working at a collection agency. I was able to advance there and that was an important reason for me to choose this. It ended up being a nightmare, to say the least. What I get hot about is helping people, but the debt collection world is pretty "strict. People were not people, but numbers. We were mainly looking at people's wallets, whereas I wanted to help them."
Helping people
Felicia chose to go to Cape Verde for a while. When she returned, she knew for sure that her future job should focus on being able to help people. "When I entered Staffing MS, I found that I could actually do this. Whether it's login issues or making sure professionals turn everything in on time so they can get paid, it doesn't matter. Whatever it is, you can really add value."
Skills that fit your job
In addition, it was important to Felicia that she be able to multitask in her job, because she does this well. However, Felicia also calls telephone communication a required skill. "Talking to people on the phone requires patience and understanding. Sometimes someone even asks: how do you make an exclamation point? You still have to be able to keep calm in such situations."
At Staffing MS, Felicia primarily communicates with clients. For example, she makes sure professionals can submit hours on time. "But sometimes we also support Staffing MS consultants, which means I help with extensions, new rates and intakes that can be scheduled. It's a very versatile job, in which you have to be administratively strong."
Tips from Felicia
Felicia has an important tip for people who are searching in what might be a logical next step for them. "Really try to look at yourself. What can you do and what makes you happy? And then find a job with that. For me, this was in the fact that I could communicate well and wanted to help people. I started looking for that in a job and that's how I ended up here."
Felicia is in her place at Staffing MS. "The team feels like a family. When you're not feeling well, I've never been afraid to point it out. People are understanding and genuinely help you. I never had that at my previous job because I was afraid of being judged for it.
Tips from HeadFirst Group:
Choosing the first steps in your career can sometimes be tricky. Whether you have just completed your education, are looking for a new job or are just starting to think about your career path, sometimes you just don't know where to start. We'd like to share some tips to get you started:
1. Get informed
Spend time researching your options and learning about the different career paths out there. Talk to people already working in those fields, read industry news and visit social media pages and groups affiliated with the field.
2. Make a plan
Once you have done your research and have a better overview of the field and opportunities, create a plan with your goals. This plan should include the steps you want to take to achieve your desired career, and it should include a timeline with when you want to accomplish what. Importantly, you should also look at your skills. What skills do you master and what really energizes you? Include this in your plan and your final choice.
3. Take action
It can be tempting to sit back and wait for the right opportunity to present itself, but don't be afraid to really look it up. Approach potential employers, network with people in the industry and don't be afraid to apply for jobs that may not be a perfect fit or may not seem logical.
Are you also curious to know what your strong skills are and if this might suit a job as a Contract Manager? Take the test and find out!
Of course, there is also the possibility to spar with us about your next step. Please contact us. We are happy to think along with you!
Back to the 70s with the 'Disco Classics Reloaded' party
Back to the 70s with the 'Disco Classics Reloaded' party
For one evening we were back in the 70s with the disco hits of the time. At the end of April all colleagues from our various locations came together to party, dance and toast in our own theater. Completely transformed into a true disco club, our colleagues walked around completely themed. Flared pants, glitter suits, sequins, wigs and especially lots of color. It was a party to remember! Want to get an idea of what kind of company parties we organize? Then be sure to check out our aftermovie!
Handy Excel functions that will save you time and work!
Handy Excel functions that will save you time and work!
Where would we be without Microsoft Excel? Excel is the powerful spreadsheet program that helps financial professionals in particular. But that same accuracy and precision is also necessary in many other professions, in some it is even an important competency. So too within the role of Contracting Consultant at HeadFirst Group. Excel is also much more than just a tool to create figures and (financial) reports. Besides the standard functions Excel offers numerous other applications that far exceed the basic functionality and the possibilities of Excel are endless. Do you want to work more efficiently in Excel so you have time for other things? We have some practical tips for you.
Infinite possibilities in Excel
In Excel you can keep track of all sorts of things that you can then run numerous calculations on, if necessary. This makes collecting, checking and correctly entering data much easier. You can use Excel not only for financial purposes, but also for various other activities and activities the program offers numerous useful functions that make life a lot easier, regardless of your position.
For example, it is useful for keeping track of your personal finances, preparing budgets, planning a vacation, managing inventory, analyzing data for research and creating charts and tables for presentations. No doubt there are many more super handy applications with Excel to think of. And also useful to know is that there are lots of (free) templates online, for example for creating a content calendar, task list or checklist.
Which Excel functions are not commonly known but still useful to know?
Many people have made Excel's functions and features their own. There are plenty of tricks in Excel that not everyone knows, but are beneficial to know. In our opinion, these are five very powerful features.
Tip 1: Ready-made tables
If you have put your data into Excel and you want to change the formatting, you can do so quite quickly and easily by choosing 'Format as Table' in the Home tab. Then you can choose an appropriate layout that you like. If you later add rows or columns, the layout will automatically be changed. In addition, such a ready-made table includes a handy filter function that lets you quickly find the information you want. If you still want to change the layout, you can do so at any time.
Tip 2: Quick cell formatting
Are you already using keyboard shortcuts? Useful for applying formatting options to cells, for example, without having to open a dialog box. For example, use Ctrl + Shift + & to add a border to a selection (cell) and Ctrl B makes the contents bold.
Another handy thing to know: by default the cell property 'text' is used, but often you want to change it to, for example, a date, currency or a number. Use Ctrl + Shift + $ to add currency with two decimal places and Ctrl + Shift + ! for a number with two decimal places. Ctrl + Shift + % displays a percentage as an integer. Unfortunately, there is no keyboard shortcut available for setting the cell type as "account number" (but there is via Cell Properties > Number > Special).
There are lots of keyboard shortcuts you can use in Excel. Check this out: handy keyboard shortcuts in Excel.
Tip 3: Make a choice list
Making mistakes is human, and so are typos. To avoid typos in data that returns frequently, you can create a pick list. Write down the data you want to recur as choices in a column. Then select the cells where you want choice options. Go to Data Validation under the Data tab. Set the validation criterion to List. An icon will now appear next to the input box under Source. If you click on it, you can select the selection options. An arrow will appear next to the cell, allowing you to select from the drop-down list you just created. Handy!
Tip 4: Quickly add dates
It may seem a bit redundant, but we still find it a handy shortcut: to insert the current date use Ctrl + ; and with Ctrl + Shift + ; the current time. There is another handy shortcut: use Ctrl + Enter to copy the cell value or formula from the active cell to a selected range.
Tip 5: Transpose
This feature, often overlooked, can rearrange matrix data. For example, if you have a matrix with names in the first column and cost items in the second column, but you want a matrix where the names are displayed as rows and the cost items are displayed below them, you can cut and paste the data again to a different layout. If a large range is involved, then the transpose function is many times faster. Use this function by entering "=TRANSPONEREN(A0:A0)" with the desired cell range in the parentheses.
Why do you need to be able to work with Excel?
You can save yourself a lot of time both privately and at work by working with Excel. Having the right Excel skills will make you employable for various types of jobs. Mainly, we see that working with Excel is a crucial skill for workers in the modern world.
Annual Report: HeadFirst Group as an employer
Annual Report: HeadFirst Group as an employer
Our annual report for 2022 has been presented. We had a successful year on all fronts. We welcomed new clients and once again succeeded in helping more professionals - independent and employed by our suppliers - find valuable assignments. The new brands in our group found their niche. And to top it off, we were named a Great Place to Work.
We developed tremendously as an employer in 2022. We opened our new, state-of-the-art and energy-neutral headquarters in Hoofddorp and also improved our location in Rotterdam. We focused on making a place that could easily compete with home. And it worked. We had no problems with employees struggling to find their way back to the office after Covid-19. That said, we still facilitate hybrid working and encourage an optimal work-life balance.
Fully in line with our core value 'Connecting People', in 2022 we invested a lot in connecting our own people. We organized parties in our own HeadFirst Group Theater, various teambuilding activities and an end-of-year 'Roaring 20's dinner'. To optimally support our employees in circumstances when things are unexpectedly less good mentally, we entered into a partnership with OpenUp. This gives our colleagues easy access to a qualified psychologist, with whom they can discuss all kinds of issues, small or large, private or work-related.
All of this was greatly appreciated: in 2022, we were officially certified as a Great Place to Work (GPtW). This was a great recognition of who we want to be as an employer. In the GPtW survey, our employees rated us highly on the themes of fair treatment, diversity & inclusion, responsibility and independence within the job. We are enthusiastically working on the areas for improvement that emerged from the GPtW survey.
Curious about all our Facts & Figures on HR? Check out this dashboard: (pg. 43 & 44 from the annual report)
