Given the shortage on the labour market, recruitment is even more important

Claartje works mainly for the Road Specialties department in Leerdam and one day a week for the head office in Nieuwegein. She talks about her work as a recruiter and what challenges the current job market brings.

Did you immediately feel at home in the construction world?

"Yes, actually I did. In the first months, I went through the company like a journalist, taking everything in. Construction was a completely new world for me. But fortunately, I was enthusiastically shown around everywhere. Everyone was friendly and proud of what they do. I really liked seeing that."

What exactly do you do as a recruiter?

"The labour market is very tight at the moment, especially in construction and civil engineering. That's why we're also focusing on lateral entry and training our own employees, for example. Furthermore, we are busy with our marketing, profiling Ballast Nedam as an employer and setting up great recruitment campaigns. So recruitment is much more than looking for the right profiles on LinkedIn."

How big is your team?

"There are seven of us: a team manager, a campus recruiter for the (graduation) internships and five recruiters for the rest of the vacancies. And there are quite a few of them, so we certainly don't get bored. What makes my job so much fun? I really like the atmosphere at Ballast Nedam and I like the challenge of always looking for new, creative ways to find enough staff."

Are there so many vacancies?

"Yes, we have over 150 vacancies, apart from internships. So if we have a good applicant, we roll out the red carpet. And once that person works for us, we ask if he or she knows any people who would also fit in with the company. That often produces good candidates."

What would you like to say to anyone looking for a job?

"There are lots of opportunities at Ballast Nedam. But you have to indicate yourself what you want and then together we look at what steps go with it. That entrepreneurial spirit is one of the things I look out for in job applications. Having the right papers is just one aspect, mentality and eagerness to learn are just as important. So if you're curious whether Ballast Nedam suits you: come and have a chat!"