14/04/2022 |
Written by: Emma |
Category:
Uncategorized
Inspiring two-day event with Select Group members
Select Group has more than 10 different brands. Ten different entities, each with their own character, but all sharing the Select Group values and standards. Ten (and more) different directors who joined the group with their own story.
For the first time since the creation of Select Group, all these brands were brought together. At the beginning of 2022 Select Group came into being in its current structure. With its own logo and website. This was the moment to bring all members together physically for the first time. Most of them knew CEO Bart Gonnissen, but not each other. A missed opportunity. The various directors came together for a two-day meeting in Limburg.
Getting to know each other and learning from each other
‘The intention of this two-day event was mainly to get to know each other better. Everyone knows each other’s company by name, but what do they do exactly and what are they good at? On the first day, the focus was on getting to know each other. Each entity had prepared a presentation’.
On the second day, we took the time to listen to each other’s challenges: what are we up against and how can we help each other out’, CO-COO Jelle Destoop explains. ‘We are all in the same group and can certainly learn from each other. A lot of action points have been noted and during the two days we have also gained some inspiration. A successful first meeting.’
For the first time, Select Group participated in the Antwerp 10 Miles, a running event in and through Antwerp. With 32 runners, Select Group was well represented. Moreover, the run was not just for the sake of it, but for a good cause: Mercy Ships.
The Miles for Mercy campaign started 10 weeks before the Antwerp 10 Miles. Anyone within the Select Group could commit to a special challenge: run from Antwerp to Senegal in 10 weeks. If the 4.416 km were covered, Select Group would donate 2.000 euros to Mercy Ships. Just under 50 runners ran a total of 4.470 kilometres.
On the eve of the run, several hundred kilometres were still missing. Those last kilometres were covered during the Antwerp 10 Miles under a bright sunshine. With 32 runners, we can speak of a successful first edition. In the company ranking of just under 300 companies, Select Group came 143rd.
International Recruitment within Select Group: IT Profiles in Morocco
The fact that several profiles are increasingly hard to find in our job market today is no longer news. The pool of available talent is slowly drying up, especially for certain specific profiles. Companies need to get more creative in convincing talent working elsewhere to join their ranks. What if we were to cast our net in different waters? Select Group is focusing on international recruitment and did so in 2023 for an internal position.
The labor market's tightness is particularly felt today in some specific fields. Think of IT profiles, engineers, or technical professionals. Ask companies with job vacancies for these kinds of profiles today, and the answer is: "They can no longer be found!" When all domestic sources have run dry, there's always the option to look to international talent pools. But how do you go about it?
Software Developer in Morocco
Thanks to the close collaboration among members within Select Group, they can quickly explore other options. Xpertize, active in Morocco, acts as a bridge between the Belgian and Dutch entities within Select Group and the local market for Moroccan talent. With the hiring of Zakaria, a software developer from Marrakesh, we made use of our own services for a first internal international recruitment.
'In early 2023, it became clear that we needed to strengthen our team in the field of software development,' says Jeroen Huygh, Corporate IT Manager at Select Group. 'We had to find a software developer with the necessary experience who could evolve into a product owner of a specific software that we use within our organization in the long term.'
Extra Difficulty: Mainly Freelancers Available
After an internal briefing about the profile, a vacancy was posted by Select Group's internal HR team. It quickly became evident how challenging this task was. 'IT profiles are always hard to find, but in this case, an additional difficulty arose. Software developers prefer to work as freelancers so they can take on various projects for different clients. For this position, we were looking for someone who could support the project in the long term and who would be willing to join us as a permanent employee. He or she would need to become our in-house expert.'
Many potential candidates stumbled on this aspect. Select Group's internal HR department pulled out all the stops, including using unconventional channels specifically for IT professionals, such as Reddit, and reaching out to companies tailored to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. But finding the right candidate was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
https://youtu.be/d1R8Ja7Tcg0
The open vacancy came to the attention of their colleague Naïm Bentaleb, who, along with his brother, is responsible for Xpertize in Morocco. He suggested to Jeroen that they also search for software developers in Morocco. With the help of Xpertize, they received many applications from Morocco. They conducted a second round of interviews with several candidates, including Zakaria, who eventually accepted their offer.
Xpertize as a Key Local Link
The job interviews were conducted via video calls, which posed no obstacle for Select Group's internal HR team. 'We immediately noticed that Zakaria was a great fit for Select Group. He was also enthusiastic, presented himself professionally, and passed the technical screening.' Both the colleagues in Morocco and Zakaria are fluent in French and English, which facilitated communication.
To further streamline communication between Moroccan candidates and Select Group as their prospective employer, Xpertize played a crucial role. They prepared candidates for their international or remote adventure on-site, and they also provided information to the future employer about the local job market in Morocco and the general framework from the outset. A local partner is necessary to bridge this gap.
Remote Work or Relocating to Europe
Zakaria currently works from Morocco. In IT profiles, this is a common way of working that also appeals to many IT professionals. However, there are other non-remote options. For instance, Select Projects recently hired an engineer from Morocco who traveled to Belgium a few days before starting.
Depending on the job vacancy and the preferences of the candidate or employer, one of these options can be chosen. Alternatively, if appropriate, a hybrid option can be selected where the candidate starts remotely temporarily and later travels to Europe. As always, the members of Select Group work entirely tailored to individual needs and can provide support in various forms for international recruitment.
3W has been active in Interim Management for over 25 years and has a database of approximately 2000 experienced managers, each with 20-30 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. 3W supports clients by connecting them with the right interim manager for specific projects. Therefore, 3W is positioned within Select Group under the pillar of 'Project Sourcing.'
The experts of 3W have their own experience in the business world, enabling them to assess the needs of their contacts very well, including those of C-level managers at clients and their own Interim Managers.
Synergy with Select Group
'Three years ago, in consultation with Select Group CEO Bart Gonnissen, we decided to acquire 3W," says Patrick Michielsen, a partner at 3W. "We felt that there was a lot of synergy possible with the members of the group. It was very important that our visions on HR services were very closely aligned.'
https://youtu.be/sILNfRUv9bM?si=Rs0tfT4FBZ633sCu
'Select Group has a clear vision: quality can only be carried by authentic and driven individuals. We at 3W also fully endorse this.'
These synergies have since proven themselves. 50% of requests at 3W come through the group's network. Through collaboration with other members of Select Group, 3W can designate the right person within the group to support their clients with other services. In addition to the need for interim managers, clients have other recruitment needs as well, and thanks to the close relationship with Select Group, 3W can provide the right solution.
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