Derk Klomp achter bureau bij BrabantZorg

Get to know our professional: Derk Klomp

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Sometimes recruitment processes run smoothly, but other times they take longer than expected. That was the case for Derk Klomp. After a reference check from his former employer, things seemed to take a negative turn. However, Derk successfully started last month as an IT Administrator at BrabantZorg. Our colleague Sjoerd caught up with him to discuss his experience with this (rather unique) recruitment process.

How did you first come into contact with G-Nius?

“I saw a vacancy posted by G-Nius on LinkedIn. At the time, I hadn’t heard of G-Nius before. I applied online, and soon after, I received a call.

From the beginning, I found the interaction very pleasant. I immediately had the impression that we were dealing with each other in a human way. You don’t know each other beforehand, so you have to figure out what kind of conversation it will be, but the contact felt familiar and natural right away.

Before my CV was presented to a potential client, I received some tips. I feel that this definitely contributed to the overall process and my eventual placement.”

Did you find those tips confronting or uncomfortable?

“No, it was presented in a positive way. When you’ve read a text five times, you stop seeing your own mistakes. Having a fresh perspective was really helpful.”

Derk was then introduced to BrabantZorg by us. Unfortunately, this process took much longer than usual—around two months—due to several factors.

How did you experience that?

“There were some developments in the background that made the process more difficult than you hope for. However, clarity was provided during that time, and we stayed in touch. G-Nius was always transparent.”

You had your first interview—how did that go?

“It was new for me to have an interview where both the client and someone from the recruitment agency were present. I found it positive; you could guide the conversation when necessary. Critical questions were also asked by you, but that’s part of the interview process. Sometimes getting a critical question from a different perspective is good.”

After the first interview, we quickly got the green light. However, the reference check didn’t go as expected. What happened?

“I was quite shocked by the negative reference from my previous employer. When you informed me, I was getting emotional because I hadn’t anticipated that at all. We talked openly about it, and you investigated the negative reference further.”

How did we handle that situation?

“You handled it well. I was almost ready to drive straight to my former employer to find out where that negative reference came from. It was good that you held me back. In that moment, you acted as a neutral party, which was helpful for everyone involved.”

In situations like this, we believe it’s important to stand up for our professionals. We want to ensure the integrity of our professionals is maintained with current or potential clients, even if the outcome may not change.

Fortunately, the situation was thoroughly investigated and discussed, and Derk was able to start with his new role.

“It didn’t go as I expected. There seemed to be a gap between reality and how it was perceived, and you stepped in to address that. I really appreciated it. I’m also glad that BrabantZorg decided to look past the reference and give me a chance.”

You’ve now been in the role for a month. How has your first month been?

“I feel like I’m really in the right place here. After my first week, my wife even commented that she’s never seen me come home from work so happy. That’s exactly how I feel. It shows that the right match was made for me.”

How would you describe your overall experience with G-Nius so far?

“I would describe it as a living room—a place where we interact with openness, clarity, and kindness. If something isn’t right, it can be discussed, but in a human way.

I’ve worked with other agencies in the past, but it didn’t feel the same as it does now. The difference lies in the personal touch. I genuinely feel like we did this together, and that’s what stands out to me.

The contact is pleasant. I have a dedicated contact person, so I don’t need to call a general number and hope someone is available. I can reach my contact person, Sjoerd, directly, and if he’s not available, I know who else to call.”

Would you recommend G-Nius? Why or why not?

“Yes, I definitely would. I like and value the personal touch. Over the summer, we even received a surprise gift—like a summer version of a Christmas package—which was personally delivered. Those small things are a nice, positive surprise.

I also don’t feel like I’m left on my own after being placed. During my first week, I spoke to you every day to give a small update on how things were going, and I felt that you appreciated that. It was helpful for me to have those quick check-ins, especially at the start of a new job, which can always feel a bit nerve-wracking.”

Rogier Meinster

Get to know our professional: Rogier Meinster

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Three years ago, Rogier started working at SK FireSafety Group through G-Nius, and he is still thriving there. In this interview, we delve deeper into his daily responsibilities as a project manager and his collaboration with G-Nius. He views G-Nius not only as a client but also as a sparring partner. Read on to discover how he successfully works remotely and why he would recommend G-Nius (but selectively).

You are a project manager at SK FireSafety Group, what are your responsibilities?

I am responsible for all operational tasks within the IT department that are necessary to guide projects from start to finish. This includes IT projects for all companies under the group. Sometimes, it involves upgrading applications for a small regional company, while other times, I am working on large-scale tasks for the entire organization, such as procuring telephony services. My role is to operationally manage these projects, ensuring everyone does their part and that the project’s end goals are met.

How did you end up at G-Nius?

Three years ago, G-Nius approached me with a great opportunity. We had a conversation, and that’s how I was introduced to SK FireSafety Group. I am still very happy with my position there; the collaboration is excellent!

What has G-Nius accomplished for you?

G-Nius facilitated my entry with the client and the associated project. Additionally, Sjoerd and I regularly discuss market developments, ongoing issues, and our perspectives on various matters. Therefore, G-Nius also serves as a sparring partner for assessing our current position and future actions.

Sjoerd also consistently checks in to see how the project is going, whether everything is running smoothly, and if there are any issues where G-Nius needs to intervene or assist. Fortunately, that hasn’t been necessary so far.

What is the best company event or team outing of G-Nius that you have attended?

I haven’t (yet) attended any G-Nius events because they are too far away for me.

You work for a company in Breda but live in Enschede. How do you manage that?

I work from home and rarely go to the office. Remote work suits me perfectly. Last week, one of the division directors within the organization even complimented me on it, saying, “You have stayed in the post-COVID period where everything was done via Teams, and you’re very good at it.”

I don’t need to see someone in person to do my job. I schedule appointments, and if that’s via Teams, that’s how we communicate. We can also chat about other things, like football, via Teams.

How does G-Nius differentiate itself?

As a freelancer, you often get approached by various agencies that want to push your CV to multiple companies without really knowing you. G-Nius does the opposite; they first have a conversation with the professional to understand the person. Based on that, they make a match with a client. That’s the biggest difference with G-Nius. They really look at the assignment and the person, adding value that clients seek when looking for good staff through an agency.

Professionals can trust that G-Nius will find the assignments they desire.

Would you recommend G-Nius?

I would definitely recommend G-Nius. However, being part of the G-Nius family, I’d be cautious about who I bring into that family, in a positive way. I see the work of other freelancers around me, and I’m not always sure if their quality aligns with what G-Nius stands for, so I am careful. But if I come across a good candidate, I would certainly introduce them to G-Nius immediately.

The story of a contract-to-hire professional

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Curious if contract-to-hire is the right fit for you or your company? To provide more clarity about this process, we’re sharing the experience of professional Sjoerd Smits. Sjoerd got acquainted with G-Nius in November 2022. Through a contract-to-hire construction, he eventually became an integral part of our client Ciro as a functional manager. In this article, you’ll learn how the collaboration came about and why he chose a contract-to-hire trajectory.

How did you come into contact with G-Nius?

“I came into contact with Frank from G-Nius through LinkedIn. He sent me a message asking if I was open to a new challenge. I receive several of these messages, but unlike many others, Frank hadn’t specified a vacancy or position he was looking to fill.

To be honest, I ignored many of these messages (and still do), but fate had it that I responded to this one. That’s how the ball started rolling, and he sent me a job opening. It caught my interest, and after a phone call, an appointment was set up with the client of the vacancy. Frank facilitated the contact, and clear agreements were made on how this contract-to-hire process would unfold.”

What did G-Nius achieve for you?

“G-Nius facilitated the contact between me and the client and finalized the agreement. We made agreements regarding the contract-to-hire trajectory, expressing the intention to become an employee of the client after 1 year.

I am very pleased that G-Nius found a good match between me and my current employer. From all perspectives, we are happy to have found each other.”

Why did you choose to participate in a contract-to-hire trajectory?

“I chose contract-to-hire because I prefer to be active with an employer for an extended period. It doesn’t appeal to me to go from assignment to assignment. With this trajectory, I know what to expect, and it fits perfectly into my work-life balance.

The image the client portrayed before I joined was something I could align with. Additionally, the current position offers more than enough challenges for the coming years, allowing me to continue developing.”

How do you experience the transition from secondment to a permanent position within the company?

“Little has changed for me, as I still have the same responsibilities as before. I know the people in the company well now, understand how the processes work, and know where to go if I need something or someone.”

Why would you recommend G-Nius?

“Before they start looking for an interesting client, they first ask what’s important to you in your work, what your ambitions are, and what you are or are not looking for in a new challenge. This allows them to better filter what could be an interesting assignment for you.

What appeals to me about G-Nius is their high level of involvement in the collaboration, demonstrated by occasional visits or calls to check in on how things are going. It doesn’t feel like they’ve found a job for you, wish you success, and only hear from you if you encounter any issues.

That personal approach is definitely a plus. They provide good guidance with the transition to the new employer, and everything went smoothly for me. If you have questions, you can always turn to your contact person at G-Nius, and they respond promptly.

All in all, a very positive experience!”

Learn more about what contract-to-hire can mean for you, or contact us for more information.

Meet Wojciech, a G-Nius professional in Poland.

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We would like to introduce you to Wojciech Sudol. Wojciech is an experienced WMS consultant/IT project manager. Since October 2022 he has been working for G-Nius from Poland. In this interview you can read how the collaboration with Wojciech came about and what he does as a WMS consultant.

What does your career look like?

In 2011 I went on holiday to the Netherlands to be with my wife. She had been already working there for a while. During my holiday I received an offer for a job in the Netherlands, which I immediately accepted. It was just a 2 week contract, but it made me to stay in the Netherlands for a longer time..

In the following years I worked for large organizations such as DHL, Panalpina (later DSV). I have visited many places for my work, within Europe but also in Asia and America. I have experienced a lot of growth within these organizations. At DHL I started as a Controller/Operator. After that I worked as a Tester, System Administrator and finally as a Business Analyst/Developer.

At DSV I fulfilled the position of Team Lead for two years. Now I work as a WMS consultant for G-Nius.

How did you get in touch with G-Nius?

In 2018 I was contacted by a former colleague, who had already worked for G-Nius as a Consultant. I knew him from my previous job at DHL. He advised me to contact G-Nius.

After an introductory meeting with Leo, things remained quiet for a few years. Leo has sent me a few messages in the meantime to maintain contact.

What has G-Nius achieved for you?

In 2022 I wanted to go back to Poland. Unfortunately, that was not possible at my employer. That was the reason to look for other options. Because I had been in contact with Leo for some time and experienced this as pleasant, G-Nius was the organization I immediately preferred.

G-Nius helped me find a suitable assignment in Poland. This makes them more of a partner than an employer to me.

What project are you currently working on at G-Nius?

At this moment I work for Pepco in the role of analyst/tester/trainer and eventually, this role will turn into a supporter role during post go-live periods.

I do help Pepco’s team understand the JDA system. The advantage is that, like the team, I speak Polish.

On the other end I work directly with consultants from Blue Yonder Company, the creators of the JDA system. By working and learning with this team I am lifting my knowledge of their system into a new level. This can later open new doors for me.

You live in Poland and work for G-Nius. How do you experience this?

Working remotely for G-Nius feels natural. I experience the contact with G-Nius as very pleasant. There is a lot of friendly and personal contact.

Thanks to corona I already had experience with remote/hybrid working. In addition, even before lockdowns, I have had several projects where remote working the norm is. Like for example a project in Hong Kong, for this I was in Hong Kong for 1 week and the rest of the time I worked remotely.

How does G-Nius differ from other organizations?

G-Nius is a small organization, so it cannot be compared with larger organizations. I really like the way in which a project was quickly found for me. I also really feel appreciated by all the time and attention that is given to me.

Wondering what opportunities are available to you at G-Nius? Check out our jobs page for our open roles. Would you prefer to meet in person? Then contact us at info@g-nius.nl or 0736101469.