Life as a recruiter at addon, according to Tawfik Boujida
Remember Tawfik? He joined our company in November (‘23) and we introduced him to you in one of our blogs. Having freelanced as an IT professional himself, he knows exactly what his candidates are looking for. In everything he does, he values open and no-nonsense communication over anything. In fact, his motto ‘straight to the point’ guides him through his daily operations. Curious how he tackles the recruitment life at addon? Take a peek via this interview!
Short recap: who are you and what do you do at addon?
Tawfik Boujida: “I’ve been a recruiter at addon for over six months now. My biggest asset is my background as an IT freelance professional. It helps me as I know what freelancers are looking for, what they expect, how they want to be addressed, and so on. I’m a 360 recruiter which means I search for freelancers, but I also actively look for partners; consultancy companies who have IT professionals on their payroll that we, in turn, could engage for an assignment. So far, I have a slight preference for the recruitment part, just because it means more interaction with people. There are many freelancers and projects on the market right now, so there’s plenty of matching up to do!”
Do you have a specific way of working as a recruiter?
Tawfik: “I usually start with my own network when I need to find a certain profile. Then I turn to LinkedIn and sometimes we engage in mass mailing. The most important part to me is the first contact. I’m focused on the candidates, not on the jobs. I try to really keep all of them in mind so I can match the right person up with an assignment. It’s a nicer approach for them as well; it makes them feel like I’m looking for projects that are specifically tailored to their profile.”
“The best way to approach people is still LinkedIn. When I make a connection, they can check out my profile and see that I’ve got some freelance IT experience myself, which builds a sense of trust. The fact that I address them in their mother tongue (Dutch, English or French) makes a huge difference. Especially the Flemish, I feel, appreciate that effort. It makes our first introduction way less complicated.”
“My motto is ‘straight to the point’, and that characterises me in the way I work. It’s what I preferred from recruiters back when I was freelancing. The project should be clear, I need to know their daily rate, and their potential starting date. I won’t start a typical sale pitch, that’s not me. Obviously, I take my time a bit more with beginners who need a bit more context and explanation. Once I’ve checked their resume, I’m good to go!”
How do you feel like you can make a difference as a recruiter?
Tawfik: “I’m not that familiar with other recruiters and their way of working but from what I hear in feedback from both candidates and Youssef, I’m apparently good at making quick connections. When an assignment comes our way, I know which person in our network could be a match really fast. My background helps as well. I know soon enough whose technical skills fit a job and whose don’t. It might give me a head start on other recruiters, who knows.”
“In any case, I’m approachable and freelancers can ask me any questions they like. Whether it’s about helping them find a good accountant, or setting their daily rate, or giving them advice on the market or … I’ll never push someone to start on a job if I don’t feel like they’re entirely ready for it. Some want to start freelancing while they have very few years of (or not enough) experience. I think that’s too soon, and I tell them that honestly.”
“Lastly, as is the addon way, we help every freelancer prepare for interviews by briefing them on the client and the assignment. I don’t think every recruiter does that. There’s so much competition out there, we want to make sure they feel confident and know exactly how to present themselves the best way possible.”
What is the onboarding process like at addon?
Tawfik: “Once they’ve accepted a job, we make sure the paperwork is in order. All parties receive the contracts including all the negotiated details. After a week or so, we contact the freelancer to check in on them. How are they doing, do they have any questions? Then, after another few weeks, we explain to them how to fill in timesheets and where to send their invoices. Six months in, we go out to dinner together to discuss the project. Are they still happy or should we start looking for something new? That way, we stay on top of things and the freelancer feels taken care of.”
Why should anyone freelance through addon? What’s the added value?
Tawfik: “Definitely the payment terms. Our payment process runs super smoothly, and freelancers are paid after 30 days. Completely independent freelancers don’t always have that luxury and often have to wait up to 90 days. Especially for a starting freelancer, that’s just not feasible.”
“Another bonus is that whenever you feel like switching things up or if a contract is ending earlier than expected, we can find you another assignment. Just give us a sign and we’re on the hunt. There are so many options these days that we can take care of that without a problem.”
Anything else to add about the recruiting life at addon?
Tawfik: “If anything, I’d like everyone to know and trust that we’re here for you. Don’t be scared that we’ll bill you for answering your questions, we won’t. Just reach out and we’ll help you as much as we can. I’ve reached a point where freelancers text me: ‘Hey Tawfik, have you seen this project yet? I’d really like you to introduce me there!’ That’s great feedback to get, and that’s why I do what I do: to help people.”
Hey! We are addon. As we want to keep our personal and human values high, we welcome anyone who wants to contribute to our story and mission. Don’t be shy to contact us: we’re approachable, available and we can’t wait to meet you!
