We have shared a lot with you about our company, our events, the Netherlands as a country and their traditions. We feel like it is high time you got acquainted with some of our colleagues. This blog will give you more insight into the life of a recruiter, the challenges they face, their most memorable moments and their guilty pleasures. This week we will introduce the Amsterdam Recruitment Consultant, Sie-Wai Tsang. Enjoy!

1. How did you end up in recruitment?

I grew up in the Netherlands. I was always curious about my background, therefore I moved to Hong Kong in 1997. My best friend was also living in Hong Kong at that time. We realized, there were many 2^nd Generation Chinese from the Netherlands (like my friend and I) who wanted to work and to live in Hong Kong or China after their graduation. We got an idea to set up a recruitment business, focusing on the 2^nd Generation Chinese graduates.

In 2005, at that time I was living in Spain, I decided to come back to the Netherlands. I contacted Undutchables because I wanted to continue working within an international environment. I was contacted by one of my ex-colleagues. He asked me if I would be interested to work for Undutchables as a Recruitment Consultant. Within a week I got the interview. The interview took 4 hours on a Friday afternoon and the next Monday I had a final meeting with Paula Verstappen (General manager at Undutchables). The day after I received a call from her and she offered me the job. The rest is history.

2. What are the most/least enjoyable aspects of recruiting?

The most rewarding and enjoyable part is finding the perfect match in which the company and the candidate are both happy and also when there is a long term fit. I also enjoy very much when clients ask my opinion which I have the opportunity to act as a “partner”.

The least enjoyable aspect is when a candidate is not performing well during an interview or if a candidate has not prepared well for an interview.

3. What is the biggest challenge of the job?

What I like about my job is the diversity of tasks. Customers are different, vacancies are different, which means candidates are different. It’s very challenging if I can expand the clients’ portfolio as much as I can.. I am result driven. Therefore it’s still fun and challenging with each opportunity.

4. What has been your most memorable moment in the job?

There are many memorable moments during these 12 years. I think the most memorable moment was when I placed a candidate at an International Bank. She got a job as Personal Assistant (to Vice President). She was extremely happy when she got the job, because she didn’t have a job for many years. She almost gave up her job search but I believed in her, and so did my client.

5. What is the most common mistake you see candidates making, apart from the obvious typos?

The most common mistake is that many candidates use an Europass CV and send a general motivation letter. I usually advice them to update their CV to be more personal and write a motivation letter focusing on the job itself.

6. If you were to have a job outside an office environment, what would be your dream job?

My dream job would be something within tourism in a country with a tropical climate. I love doing activities outside, for e.g. hiking or diving. I think I would be a dive master on a tropical Island or a tour guide, organizing adventure hiking tours.

7. What's your guilty pleasure?

My passion is traveling and food. I go traveling as much as I can. It differs from city trips to a few weeks holiday. My husband and I have started doing home exchange since 2009. It's addictive and incredibly fun! We get so many tips from locals (inside information which is not in the travel guide). Therefore, we always feel "at home" immediately. After each trip I get so much energy.

Quickfire questions

Q: Coffee or tea

A: Herbal Tea

Q: Sun or snow?

A: Sun

Q: Are you a morning or a night person?

A: Morning

Q: The best trip you took with Undutchables?

A: Lapland in Norway