When it comes to attracting technology talent, the bank and insurance industry has suffered twice. First, there’s the war for talent that’s terrorising all industries. Secondly, there’s the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, which has made financial services a less attractive sector in the public eye. Our client, a leading Belgian insurer, partnered with Projective Group to develop a structured and future-proof recruitment strategy, resulting in a more balanced organisation, improved succession management and an unbridled enthusiasm for innovation.
Restoring balance in the department
When the CIO first joined our client, he noticed some imbalances. “When I started as CIO, I led a team that was only 30 per cent internal. I immediately drew up a plan to double that figure,” he says.
This recruitment plan centred around two cornerstones: hiring experienced people through the internal HR department and hiring young talent with the help of external parties such as Projective Group and a few other agencies. “After a short time, it became clear that our partnership with Projective Group had exceeded our expectations. The efficiency of the collaboration, the quality of the candidates, the constructive conversations and, not least, the value for money were all factors in our decision to continue with Projective Group as our sole recruitment partner,” says our client’s CIO.
The efficiency of the collaboration, the quality of the candidates, the constructive conversations and, not least, the value for money were all factors in our decision to continue with Projective Group as our sole recruitment partner.
Another positive effect of the partnership with Projective Group has been the age diversification of employees. “Thanks to the young talent that Projective Group has brought to us, we now have a healthy age pyramid within the organisation,” says the CIO. “This also means better prospects for our succession management, as these young people have many opportunities to grow into our leaders of the future. In fact, some former Projective Group’ers are already making their way up the career ladder in our organisation.”
These young people have many opportunities to grow into our leaders of the future. In fact, some former Projective Group’ers are already making their way up the career ladder.”
Not just a consultancy
In just one year – 2020, no less – the client has signed 30 contracts for IT talent, half of them through Projective Group. “The good thing about Projective Group is that it’s not just a consultancy. After two years of coaching and training, their consultants leave the Projective Group nest and become internal employees of our company.”
It’s not just a consultancy. After two years of coaching and training, their consultants leave the Projective Group nest and become internal employees of our company.
This helps the client achieve its goal of doubling the number of internal employees and has the added benefit of bringing in skilled technical talent with an innovative mindset and fresh perspectives. By their own admission, our client doesn’t just want to keep up with the changes in the world, they want to pioneer. Their app has been voted one of the best in the world several times. To keep playing at this level, they need to stay ahead of the curve by working with talented people who are on top of the latest developments.
Mindset over technology
You can hire the most experienced people with the most technical knowledge, but sometimes that can be a pitfall. In some cases, experienced people are set in their ways and struggle to think outside the box. “I’ve learned that digital transformation is about mindset first and technology second,” says our client’s CIO. “We want to deliver future-proof systems through optimal collaboration. By installing mission teams with the right mindset, who inspire others with their youthful passion, we create a community of employees who are eager to work towards change. This is where Projective Group has been of great value to us: by providing these young talents with the right mindset and boundless enthusiasm for digital innovation”.
Projective Group has been of great value to us by providing emerging talents with the right mindset and boundless enthusiasm for digital innovation.
Two for the price of one
While a Projective Group consultant is immediately deployed in your organisation, we continue to coach and train them. This allows them to put what they have learned into practice immediately in your workplace. Throughout the two-year training programme, Projective Group’ers are closely followed by their own personal coach, the Talent Development Manager (TDM). “We go on a journey with a consultant ànd their Projective Group coach, and that makes a big difference,” says the CIO.
The premise of the Projective Group model is that consultants develop their knowledge and professional maturity twice as fast. A TDM helps them overcome hurdles and ensures that they make the most of both their training and their practical experience at the client for optimal growth.
“After their time with Projective Group has come to an end, we’ve noticed that many consultants have become attached to having a coach. Our first reaction was to say: it’s time to cut the cord and go it alone. But later we changed course,” the CIO explains. “We invited all our managers to attend a coaching training. After that, they were free to become coaches within the organisation if they wished. We’ve opened up this coaching to all employees and we’re getting a lot of positive feedback. This is something that Projective Group has taught us: to keep coaching our people if we want to have lasting success.”
We go on a journey with a consultant ànd their Projective Group coach, and that makes a big difference.
Conclusion
Partnering with Projective Group has many advantages. In the case of this client, the main ones are:
- A better balance between internal and external staff
- A healthy age pyramid within the organisation and better succession prospects
- An influx of young tech talent, unencumbered by bias and full of enthusiasm for innovation
- A coaching mentality for lasting success in the organisation
About Projective Group
Established in 2006, Projective Group is a leading Financial Services change specialist. With deep expertise across practices in Data, Payments, Transformation and Risk & Compliance.
We are recognised within the industry as a complete solutions provider, partnering with clients in Financial Services to provide resolutions that are both holistic and pragmatic. We have evolved to become a trusted partner for companies that want to thrive and prosper in an ever-changing Financial Services landscape.
