This year Madison Parker International, global recruitment consultants based in Voorburg, celebrate their ten year anniversary. We spoke to Ray Parker, founder and Managing Director about the changes in the industry since he started the business in 2002 and his thoughts on what the future holds for the company.
What motivated you to set up Madison Parker?
It had always been an ambition to have my own business and although I had previously experienced two start-up situations I found myself at the right time and place to realise this goal even though the global economies were reeling from the effects of 9/11.
What has been the biggest change in the recruitment business during the past 10 years?
Recruitment today is dominated by social media with the likes of Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook all becoming more and more prominent as media to bring employers, recruiters and candidates closer together. Companies are also more cost conscious than 10 years ago and corporate recruiters now have more financial incentives to deliver results than they ever used to. Recruitment today is dominated by key performance indicators, customer relationship management and service level agreements and technology is geared to facilitating this.
How is Madison Parker coping with the recession?
Like most companies in the recruitment sector we are feeling some effects of a downturn in hiring activity. But we have many good long-term clients and a motivated and experienced team and this combination will see us through just like it did in 2009.
What motivates you personally and how do you motivate your recruiters?
I am personally driven by providing a high level of service and delivering quality in everything we do. Each day offers a new challenge and how you embrace this determines whether or not you achieve your personal goals. I try to hire recruiters who are equally driven by personal success with a strong service ethic and who enjoy being part of a successful team. And by rewarding them well for top performance this should and does become a self-fulfilling process.
Where do you think Madison Parker will be in five years time?
Our goal is to continue growing and developing our capabilities and competencies as a provider of quality recruitment services. I would like to think we will be at the forefront of our sector, well respected and the supplier of choice to leading companies. And I hope that our aspirations for international growth will be well under way.
Business schools have suffered in recent years from the economic downturn and the inability of some students to fund their own studies and there is evidence that hiring numbers and programs for MBA's have declined. But it's not all doom and gloom as some of the rising tech stars like Google, Apple, Facebook and other traditional large-scale users of MBA graduates such as McKinsey, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, BCG and JP Morgan still express a high demand for the best MBA graduates from well-ranked schools.
The demand has lowered because the economy is less buoyant, not because MBA's are considered less valuable.
What is the best and worst thing about living in The Netherlands?
I came here in 1994, initially for two years, and now 18 years on Holland remains my home. The best thing about living here is the stability the Dutch lifestyle brings and their willingness to embrace a multi-cultural society. And you are able to jump on your bike and cycle virtually anywhere! As for the worse, well, a few more smiling faces and a better service ethic would not go amiss!
If you could pass on one piece of advice to your children what would it be?
I would tell my children to stay true to themselves, be respectful to others, work hard to achieve their goals and never give up on anything!