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Q&A With Bas Westland, MC SOSUEUROPE

We had a chat with Bas Westland of ePeople. Bas will be the MC for day two of Sourcing Summit Europe.

Q. Can you shed some lights on your background. What problems do you solve for your clients?
After doing HR for 10 years I switched to commercial recruitment in 1999, initially as Commercial Manager for Brunel, later on I founded e-people with help of a VC in 2000. They were tired spending their money on agency fees and decided to create their own. Later on I gained a majority stake in the company and re-started and re-invented the company after the turbulent GFC.

At e-people we typically recruiter for hard to fill positions in the ICT and Internet sector. So mostly Online Marketeers and Developers of all kind, but also Managers and Support Staff. We rather focus on the Industry than on specific profiles.

Next to that I am passionate about sourcing and recruitment innovation. I’ve been training fellow recruiters since 2007 – both corporate and agency – on how to source on LinkedIn, but more and more also on other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, GitHub, StackOverflow and just using Google.

Q. What’s your take on the role of sourcing in Netherlands in particular and Europe in general?
I think sourcing is still very much under utilized, especially in the corporate space. I am still flabbergasted about the lack of skills with fellow recruiters, where I see that sourcing is my main source for getting the best candidates for my clients. ON the other hand I see good sorucers waste a lot of sourcing effort by using the wrong tone of voice in the approach of scarce candidates. That’s where you make the REAL difference.

Q. What in sourcing excites you? In your opinion, are sourcing best days ahead or behind us?
I feel like a private investigator, it’s like treasure hunting. I especially like to source the trigger for the candidate, the personal note based on information that you source. not the candidate him- or herself. That”s usually not the hardest part.

Q. You attended #SOSUMED last year what are your impressions of the event?
It was great, especially the session where the sourcers shared their best hacks on stage. The big difference between sourcers and plain recruiters is that sourcers are willing to share their knowledge, where recruiters tend to be secretive and keep their cards close. Last year was very valuable for my own sourcing skills as well. I learned stuff which I could apply the next day. It had been a long time that I learned so much in two days.

Q. This year you are the co-MC for #SOSUMED, what can delegates expect to learn? How can they get the best out of the event?
Be prepared to learn a lot. Most #SOSUMED speakers share a lot, so pay attention. Bring your open mind, be willing to look at your sourcing process from a different angle and you will gain new insights. Also make sure to bring your laptop so you can immediately try out the tips and bookmark them on the spot. It’s going to save you a lot of time and money.

Sourcing Summit Europe 2014 is back

SOURCING SUMMIT MEDITERRANEAN, 23-24 SEPTEMBER, AMSTERDAM

Sourcing Summit Europe (#SOSUMED), Europe’s only dedicated talent sourcing conference, is back. Once again the event is an opportunity to learn the latest talent sourcing trends and strategies from some of the biggest names in the Mediterraneanan and global talent sourcing. The event will be held on 23-24 September.

THEME & AGENDA
This year #SOSUMED will look at how talent sourcing is evolving in a rapidly changing world. We will set our eyes on emerging trends from privacy laws to legal implications of social engagements. We will look at tools and new technologies, sourcing best-practices and will decipher the ever changing behavior of talent. Delegates will develop a big-picture view of talent acquisition and the tactical nous required to be an agent of change.

This year there will be more breakout sessions and delegates will have more options in terms of what they want to learn.

SPEAKERS
Popular speakers from 2013 will be back, joined by new names and companies. We will be adding more speakers. Have a look at our current speakers’ line-up. Once again the event promises to offers two days of discovery, practical learning and networking.

REGISTER NOW
We are confident SOSUEU 2014 will be better this year. We hope to see you again in September. Register now!

 

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