Keep an eye on our NL Insights Page for regular updates and insights into life in our Amsterdam office. From blogs about career journeys to videos about life in the office - this space is a great chance to see our newest office come to life! 

As the first hire and person to join the NL team, we're meeting Fabian, a Senior Consultant. Join us as Fabian shares his experience building a successful recruitment in Amsterdam.  

Emma: Welcome Fabian! Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Harnham. 

Fabian: I'm a Senior Consultant on the Contract team here at Harnham NL. I actually joined last April as the first hire, so my one-year anniversary is coming up soon!  

 Fabian, second from left, pictured at a recent tea of the year lunch.

Emma: Before Harnham, what was your recruitment experience like? 

Fabian: I spent two years doing general IT recruitment at another firm, working on both permanent and contract positions. Before that, I honed my communication skills as a customer advisor at Rabobank UH. I've also had some other jobs before that including gardening and even working in a nightclub.  

Emma: Did you have a specific IT area you focused on in your previous recruitment role? 

Fabian: Initially, I tried building a network in cloud and infrastructure, but the company didn’t really have a focus. That's actually one of the reasons I joined Harnham – to specialize and build a strong network within a specific domain.   

Emma: That makes sense. As you mentioned being one of the first hires for the team, there wasn’t even an office when you were interviewing, so what drew you to the opportunity? 

Fabian: Honestly, there are a lot of recruitment agencies out there. Harnham stood out for its professionalism and transparency, which is refreshing in this industry. Plus, being part of a new office with a well-established, global brand was exciting. The focus on training and development was another big attraction.   

Fabian (left) and Ross (right) on a recent team Padel game.

Emma: A year in, what's your biggest accomplishment so far? 

Fabian: I'm proud to have secured some big name clients – not for contract yet, but for permanent roles! We have a collaborative environment here, so wins in one team are celebrated by all. These clients include a growing retail company and a well-known FMCG brand – landing those was a big win.   

Emma: Great stuff! Any advice for someone considering a career in recruitment? 

Fabian: It's definitely a long-term game, but very rewarding if you stick with it. Never stop learning, that's key!   

Emma: Speaking of learning, what are some key takeaways from your first year at Harnham? 

Fabian: Building something from scratch takes perseverance! We had no existing clients on the contract side, so it's been a challenge, but also incredibly rewarding. In my previous role, there were always open positions, so business development wasn't a huge focus. Here, I've had the opportunity to hone those skills, which is another reason I made the jump.   

Emma: Now, onto the lighter stuff! Favorite lunch spot near the office? 

Fabian: There's this great sandwich shop called Cap a la Cake just a few blocks away, we got there quite a lot when we’re in the office.    

Fabian (closest to camera) pictured with team contract in action on the desk.

Emma:  And how would you describe the team culture at Harnham? 

Fabian: We're hard-working and motivated, but we also know how to have fun. There's a healthy level of competition – we have BD challenges with prizes to keep things exciting. Plus, we recently celebrated winning "Team of the Year" with a team lunch at The Secret Garden.  

Interested in hearing more about life at Harnham?  Click here to connect.

Ever wondered what it takes to build a team from scratch in a new city?

Meet Lottie York, who embraced the challenge with open arms! In this “Meet the Team” series, we delve into Lottie's Harnham journey. From starting in 2019 after finishing a year of travels, to being crowned Top Biller UK in 2022 and she then made the move in 2023 across the Channel to Amsterdam.

Q: Tell us about your career journey from Harnham’s HQ in London to Amsterdam.

A: After finishing university, I took some time out to go travelling and do a ski season before considering career options. I sort of fell into recruitment and went through Harnham’s interview process then was offered to join the Data Science team. After achieving promotions and the Top Biller award for 2021-2022, an opportunity to move to Amsterdam arose and although it wasn’t an easy decision for me to make, I found myself feeling really excited about a new adventure. I moved over internally in Spring last year, then moved to Amsterdam in Autumn time which has been great.

Q: What were the main reasons you decided on a career in recruitment?

For me it was definitely the earning potential! The commission structure was exciting to see that I could earn more money than just a base salary. Another reason was also the ability to take ownership of your own progression and it’s based on performance over anything else.

Q: What excites you most about building the NL team from scratch?

A: The impact! Every connection, every placement, is a step towards shaping the Dutch data landscape. There is still a lot of untouched potential in The Netherlands, specifically in the Data market. Plus, we get to define our own culture which is new and unique. I’m very excited about the opportunity to build and keep expanding the team as well as the Dutch network. A goal of mine is to keep building on a fantastic working culture whilst also building the permanent team.

Q: What are you looking for in potential team members?

A: Resilience, I think everyone who has worked in recruitment would be honest and agree it’s not a plain sailing journey, there will be highs and lows, so resilience is a key to success. Hard work, as much as we enjoy ourselves at Harnham, we also work really hard! Finally, people with team spirit, especially as the team is small, we share a lot of ideas and knowledge as well as collaborating which helps us go the extra mile.

Q: Why should someone join your team?

A: It's a rare chance to develop quickly, be part of something fresh, and make a real difference. We have fun, work hard, and support each other's growth. Harnham has been operating in the Netherlands for 8 years, so there is already a large network of clients and candidates. If you're ready to cycle into the Dutch data scene with us, the door's open!

Q: Any underrated skills you think are crucial for recruiters?

A: Organization! It's easy to get swept up in the daily grind, but staying on top of your tasks and planning your day is key to success.

Q: What's your favourite thing about Amsterdam?

A: Definitely the cycling! It’s pretty cool that everyone cycles around, Ross & I cycle to work and it’s a lot easier than when living in London.

Q: So, everyone always jokes that you have busy weekends. What do you enjoy doing on your free time?

A: (Laughs) It's true! I tend to pack a lot into my weekends. I love hanging out with friends, of course, and exploring everything Amsterdam has to offer. That means trying new restaurants, visiting museums and exhibitions, hitting the gym, and starting to run more now that the weather's getting nicer.

Q: Sounds like fun! Any favourite lunch spots you've discovered?

A: Definitely! There's an all-you-can-eat sushi place called Moshi that's become a birthday celebration favourite among the team. And for sandwiches, there's this amazing Italian cafe nearby that everyone seems to love.

Q: As you mentioned you have been travelling, what's been the most interesting place you've visited?

A: It's hard to choose, but I think the Philippines still holds a special place in my heart. I spent six weeks there traveling around different islands, and each one was unique and amazing. The people were incredibly friendly, and we did so many cool things like snorkelling and even diving with sharks! That was definitely a memorable experience.

Q: And finally, if you could switch lives with any celebrity for a week, who would it be?

A: Without a doubt, Beyoncé! I'd love to experience her daily life, it's probably pretty cool and I’d love to meet some of the people she is friends with.

Interested to know more about what Harnham NL offers? Then get in touch with the Internal Recruitment team @ joinus@harnham.com