De Belder Associates specialize in recruiting highly qualified applicants for foundry jobs worldwide.

Our extensive experience around the world makes us arguably the best recruitment organization that specializes in the foundry and metal working industries.

Clients often tell us that foundry jobs in Australia and New Zealand don’t provide them with the same sense of satisfaction that foundry jobs abroad bring.

We’re currently expanding our reach to cover engineering jobs for Australians and New Zealanders .

Many of our clients strive for new challenges away from home and that’s where we come into our own.

We work with companies across the globe to identify and recruit individuals and enable them to achieve their goals.

We also work hard to ensure we find the correct job for the applicant. The happiness of the employee is just as important to us as the happiness of the employer.

We pride ourselves on our reputation and integrity and our ability to match the applicant to the job, that’s why you should choose de Belder Associates to help you land an engineering job abroad.

Our growing global client list is a result of our professionalism and commitment to customer satisfaction.

De Belder Associates specialize in recruiting highly qualified applicants for foundry jobs worldwide.

Our extensive experience around the world makes us arguably the best recruitment organization that specializes in the foundry and metal working industries.

Clients often tell us that foundry jobs in America don’t provide them with the same sense of satisfaction that foundry jobs abroad bring.

We’re currently expanding our reach to cover engineering jobs for Americans.

Many of our clients strive for new challenges away from home and that’s where we come into our own.

We work with companies across the globe to identify and recruit individuals and enable them to achieve their goals.

We also work hard to ensure we find the correct job for the applicant. The happiness of the employee is just as important to us as the happiness of the employer.

We pride ourselves on our reputation and integrity and our ability to match the applicant to the job, that’s why you should choose de Belder Associates to help you land an engineering job abroad.

Our growing global client list is a result of our professionalism and commitment to customer satisfaction.

If there is one good piece of advice I can offer to anyone who is thinking of, or indeed is already in the process of recruiting new personnel, it is this: “Take your time”. I know that the inclination is “We need someone good and we need them now!” But long experience in the metals sector recruitment business has taught me that patience and caution pays dividends. While hurried decisions can very often lead to expensive mistakes.

I’d pass on that advice to anyone, but it is particularly relevant if you happen to be looking for potential candidates from outside your own country. Changing jobs is stressful enough. Changing countries, embracing a new language and culture, and possibly up-rooting your family at the same time is something that requires careful consideration from all parties involved. In these circumstances, you’re not simply recruiting an individual, but you’re taking on a full family package.

Why though, should anyone consider looking overseas for their specialist personnel? Well, of course there are many reasons, not least being that bringing in talent from abroad can also introduce a different set of experiences, work ethics and skills that may not be available within your local region. In turn, this can be the catalyst for new ideas, growth and success. Which is precisely what every employer is looking for.

Recruiting from overseas is not always easy and I have heard of several disappointing failures. Only recently, for instance, when I was speaking to a company in Australia, they told me that not too long ago they had taken on a new employee from Europe, who subsequently relocated with his family to begin their new life ‘down under’. One month later, he left and went back to his homeland. The family could not settle! To make matters worse, under local laws the employer had to pay all the repatriation costs, and that was on top of the expense of the initial recruitment process, and of course they still needed to fill their vacancy.

When I asked the company if they had rushed through the original decision in bringing the man and his family over to start the new job, they admitted that they had. A big (and expensive) mistake.

Here are the de Belder Associates Ltd ‘Top Tips’ for overseas recruitment:

1. Take your time. Don’t allow pressures to over ride prudence.
2. Don’t rely on remote communication. Conduct interviews face-to-face. Preferably travel to meet the candidates in their own countries first.
3. Create a short list and meet again. This time involve the candidates’ families.
4. Sell your country as well as your company. Explain about the area, the community, education, health care, shopping, housing, leisure and the social life. Don’t hide any negatives.
5. Invite the preferred candidate to visit you. Again include the family and let them experience what their new life will be like.

If, after all that, everyone is happy, the prospect of a successful recruitment campaign and a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with your new employee is far more assured.

Never forget that the primary purpose of an interview is to learn about one another, so don’t fall into the trap of believing that it is just the company interviewing the candidate. The reverse is also true and if the interviewer doesn’t perform well, then the interviewee is just as likely to reject them as a suitable option, as vice-versa.

So what are the rules? My top tips (for both parties) are:

1. Dress appropriately. The interview, after all, is a business meeting so dress smartly and show respect for the other party. A business suit is the ideal presentation. Smart casual – possibly. But don’t turn up in jeans or outfits more suited to the pub or the beach.
2. Present yourself positively. Be attentive, polite and respectful. Greet the other people with a firm handshake. Be businesslike in your demeanour. Show interest and awareness and don’t slouch or chew gum during the meeting. Your body language can make or break the chances of a successful outcome.
3. Be aware of cultural differences. If you’re meeting someone from a different country or culture to your own be aware that they may do things differently to yourself. Be polite. Allow them to be themselves. And you be yourself. Don’t try to be something you’re not.
4. Prepare for the interview in advance. If you’re representing your company decide exactly what information you need to obtain from the candidate. Then prepare the questions that will enable you to gain this knowledge. Also, be prepared to answer questions yourself. If you’re the candidate, find out as much as possible about the company you’ll be meeting. Arm yourself with answers to the kind of questions you expect to be asked. Be prepared to substantiate your answers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions yourself.
5. Don’t use ‘industrial’ language. It may be appropriate in the workplace but it has no place at an interview and can easily offend the other people involved. It could even jeopardise the success of the meeting.

If you would like to obtain any further advice on conducting or attending interviews, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The prime purpose of the de Belder visit was to link-up with existing clients and also to introduce the company and its specialist metals industry international recruitment service to some of the other big players in the stainless steel industry.  Whilst in Maastricht, however, Philip de Belder was invited to meet Donald Wiedemeyer, the CEO of the company that had organised the event, to discuss what could well prove to be a potentially valuable alliance for both parties. It was a meeting that was subsequently described as a striking success.

From Maastricht, Philip de Belder then drove across to Düsseldorf, where he was interviewing a number of candidates for a senior position within a top international engineering company.

The trip once again underlines de Belder Associates’ commitment to personal on-the-spot service and attention to detail no matter where it might be.

Managing Director Philip de Belder will be packing his bags once again and this time he is preparing to visit countries in the Middle East before undertaking a whistle-stop tour of some of India’s major industrial cities.

The Middle East

First stop is Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, where he will be meeting one of his long standing clients to discuss the next phase of their expansion and recruitment programme. Then, it’s a relatively short hop over to Dubai where he will be introducing himself and the company to one of UAE’s largest engineering groups. Interestingly we have never worked together before, but when the CEO recently received one of the new de Belder Associates Ltd brochures (which you can view here) he was so impressed that he immediately asked his CFO to make contact with us. Hence the meeting, at which we understand discussions, will centre on investigating how we can use our unique industry experience and global contacts to assist with the company’s plans in establishing new manufacturing sites including foundry activities across the Middle East.

India

The next stage of the tour will take Philip de Belder to Mumbai, where an existing client has asked him to present to several new members of the board. The objective is to discuss how we can assist the group, by introducing them to the right calibre of people and partner companies, in order to help them achieve their ambitions of a stronger presence across Europe and the USA.

A further stop in the state of Maharashtra is where Mr de Belder will be visiting a large foundry group so that he can re-introduce himself to the key personnel there and discuss their recruitment requirements.

A few weeks ago, we received an email from the CEO of a major engineering group based in New Delhi. In his message he suggested that if Philip de Belder was ever in India he would very much like him to ‘drop in for a chat’. So, if time allows, he certainly intends to take up the invitation.

Would you like to meet de Belder Associates Ltd?

If your company is based in the Middle East or India and you would like to arrange for us to meet you during our visit, please get in touch with us right away by clicking on the contact us page.

This year we were particularly interested in speaking to companies involved in the Pumps & Valves industry and as such we had arranged to meet a number of leading international companies from this sector including:-

India.

The CEO and MD of one our existing clients, who happen to be one of the largest independent castings companies in India, wanted to talk to us about helping them recruit further key personnel, and also to introduce them to suitable partner companies as part of their drive to expand their operations into the USA and Europe. This is where our global experience will really pay off.

Europe.

The CEO of a major European based Project Consultancy Group, discussed the possibility of de Belder Associates helping them expand their field of operations. The company are involved with the design and project management for the construction of new foundries as well as planning and implementing improvements for existing plant. Now, in addition to delivering the most advanced facilities, they would also like to be able to provide the specialist operatives needed to make them successful. Which is where we at de Belder Associates would come in.

Saudi Arabia.

One of our clients in Saudi Arabia spoke to us about their desire to work more closely with us in identifying and recruiting key personnel. The first requirement we need to address is to locate a suitably qualified and experienced Divisional Manager.

Russia.

This company is part of a major engineering and pump manufacturing group and following our meeting they are keen to discuss ways in which we can help them with their recruitment programme.

Germany.

Another reason for our visit to Frankfurt was to meet up with the publishers of a stable of highly respected trade journals that are targeted at the castings, forgings, pumps and valves industries throughout Europe and indeed the whole of world. During our meeting we discussed mutual opportunities and agreed that as part of our multi-channel media programme for 2009 – 2010 we will be mounting a strong promotional/advertising campaign as well as providing expert, ‘industry-insider’ editorial assistance for the journals. Watch this space.

We will be making our usual annual visit to the Exhibition taking the opportunity to meet with some of our clients. For details of the event view the website here.

Spring Edition of Company Brochure

If you wish to have a copy, then please email us, confirming your full postal address and we will send as soon as possible.