Written by: Anna van de Vrede, HX professional at Rvdb, February 2026

IIn this business case, you’ll read about how Anna van de Vrede, as interim Corporate Recruiter at Partou In the Rotterdam and The Hague region, it brought structure, speed, and quality to a busy recruitment landscape in a short period of time. By taking ownership of the entire process, implementing effective stakeholder management, and adopting a people-centered approach, the region continued to operate independently and achieved sustainable matches.

The Challenge

Partou faced an immediate challenge: a busy region, many open positions, and constantly changing job openings. There was a need for a Corporate Recruiter who was able to hit the ground running and bring clarity to this dynamic environment.The assignment was clear: ensure continuity, monitor turnaround time, and secure high-quality, sustainable matches between candidates and locations. The focus had to remain not only on speed, but above all on finding the right match.

Role and Approach

As a Corporate Recruiter I was the primary point of contact for all job applicants in the region. From the moment someone applied until the final placement, I managed the entire process on behalf of AFAS. I reviewed diplomas, language requirements, and certificates, followed by a personal intake interview lasting about 15–20 minutes. During that interview, I got to know the applicant better. We discussed their motivation, experience, commute, location preferences, and negotiated salary and pay grade.

During the interview, I entered the candidate’s information directly into AFAS and immediately began looking for potential matches based on current job openings. When a suitable position was available, I introduced the candidate to the site manager and then closely monitored the process and follow-up. I also ensured that the job openings in the region were kept up to date at all times. Because I worked closely with site managers and HR Business partners, capacity specialists, external recruitment partners, and our in-house HR and recruitment team—this required a fair amount of stakeholder management. My approach centered on three things: clarity, speed, and personalized coordination.

HX in Practice – A People-Centered Approach

Humanity made the job as a Corporate Recruiter even more enjoyable! I did this by always contacting candidates personally, setting clear expectations, and maintaining transparent communication. I also made sure to provide honest and thoughtful rejection letters instead of a standard email. By actively listening, I made the applicants and location managers feel heard. A good example was a candidate with a more challenging profile who, unfortunately, wasn’t a good fit at several locations. Instead of ending the process, I looked for alternatives, consulted with other location managers, and ultimately found a suitable position—to the satisfaction of both parties.

Results Achieved

In 3.5 months, I accomplished the following:

• Assessment and advice for 30+ job applicants per week

• Consistent turnaround time and smooth process flow

• Keeping the region self-sufficient

• Overview and Structure of Job Posting Management

• Regular matches visible via contract notifications
• A comprehensive and smooth transition was arranged for the new permanent colleague

Insights and Impact

This period has shown me how quickly I can adapt to a new role. In a short time, I took feedback on board and was able to learn a tremendous amount. The combination of humanity and clarity ensured a strong and reliable recruitment process. I learned how important it is to be clear about expectations from day one. My interview skills have improved as a result, because I’ve become more conscious of structuring conversations. And perhaps the most important insight of all: you’re often capable of more than you think.

In terms of impact, I ensured continuity in the process during a busy period. Site managers were relieved of some of their workload and kept well informed. The one-on-one interviews ensured a high-quality match, and candidates felt truly heard. It was a very educational and hands-on assignment to kick off my traineeship at Rvdb!