Meet the Branch Manager - Mark van der Velden

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 recruitment professional, the challenges they face, their most memorable moments and their guilty pleasures. This week we will introduce the Branch Manager of our Eindhoven office, Mark van der Velden. Enjoy!

1. How did you end up in recruitment?

While working in the hospitality industry, I had a great connection with one of the Undutchables employees. When I made the decision to change my job, I went to her for help/information. She mentioned that Undutchables was looking for a new recruiter in Utrecht, and I decided to apply for this position, as it is a lot of management and dealing with people, which I love! The result, a great job, with a lot of contact with great people :)

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

It is always nice if you make a person happy with a new job, but also your client that you are working for, a win-win situation. However, it is not always sunshine and happiness. I don’t like to reject candidates who I thought were suitable for a specific role. I feel like I let the candidate down.

3. What is the biggest challenge of the job?

Keeping all the balls in the air. You are not dealing with just 1 vacancy and client, but sometimes up to 25 clients at a time. You have to multitask to keep everyone happy and informed.

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

Finding a new role for a French speaking lady, while she had not been able to find a role herself in the Netherlands for 14 (!) years. She is still very happy in the role, and I am glad that I found her this position and brought back some joy in her life!

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

Sending out random applications. Some candidates just have no clue why they applied for a role, or are not even aware that they applied to that position.

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

Running my own hotel/restaurant

7. What's your guilty pleasure?

Eating a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s (cookie dough of course) or a spoons full of Nutella.

Quickfire questions

Q: Coffee or tea

A: Tea in the morning, coffee in the afternoon

Q: Sun or snow?

A: Sun for sure :)

Q: Are you a morning or a night person?

A: Doesn’t matter, I’m always active!

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

A: In a campervan, traveling the whole world, starting in New Zealand. That is such a beautiful country where you can have adventure and experience the nature!