2013 juniors’ group training starting

This is probably the best group in years!

One of the differentiating cornerstones of Van der Ende Straal- en Schilderwerken is definitely the recruitment and selection of new employees. Taking on a class of juniors anew every year is highly ambitious. We asked Peter van der Ende, responsible for recruiting and selecting employees, why this topic is so high on the agenda every year.

“We have a fantastic nucleus of painters and grit blasters in our employ. I have personally taken on every one of them. They are our company’s calling card. Hard work with understanding is a plus, but social behaviour within the group is just as important. These are elements that the people are finally selected upon.

Years ago we saw the average age in our company increase. So we then put focus on recruiting young employees between the ages of 18 to 21 years and we’ve been doing that every year since. Meanwhile we’ve managed to keep the average age to around 38.

The recruitment and selection is done using a set pattern of advertisements along with personal recruitment through existing staff in early spring. The young candidates do not need to have any professional expertise; we teach them that. Although it is a noticeable trend that many young journeyman house painters are now applying as a result of the crisis in the construction industry. I assess the young candidates on appearance and attitude, enthusiasm and statements during the intake interview.

Following the interview, we offer a contract to the best 10. They go back home to mum full of enthusiasm. Don’t forget that they’ll automatically be earning 100 euros net more per week than the legal minimum. And that progressively increases in the following years. We set high standards and good rewards come with these. Incidentally, this year we only took on 8 juniors but it’s probably the best group in years.

Naturally we try to keep up the enthusiasm through lots of personal support. They receive a 2 day theory course at the company and then go into practice guided by a mature craftsman.

The first year still seems to be the most difficult one. Many of these lads still have no real work experience. The daily rising before dawn and getting back home in the evening around 6pm is certainly heavy in the first year. This is one of the main reasons that 50% eventually drop out just like that. But those that keep it up, they’re the tigers we’re looking for. After a year or 5 they’ve become mature craftsmen with corresponding remuneration.

It’s rewarding to see the lads grow in skill and loyalty to the company.

The class of 2013 is ready to go.”