Hilde De Bont

Two weeks after attending HRTech, one theme keeps coming up in my mind: the market is getting louder — but not necessarily smarter 🤦🏻‍♂️. Everywhere you turn, there are new “AI solutions” promising efficiency. In reality, many of them are adding more layers, more noise, and more false positives into the process. That’s why our focus at Skillfully feels more relevant than ever. Resumes describe. Interviews infer. But only simulations let applicants demonstrate. Skillfully’s differentiation isn’t just that we use AI. It’s that our product validates skills through doing. Real, role-specific scenarios that show what a candidate can actually deliver — not just what they say or what an algorithm guesses. The result? 98% accuracy, 190+ recruiter hours a week reclaimed, and hiring signals you can trust. If this industry is going to evolve, we have to move beyond description and inference… and anchor hiring in demonstration. That’s the clean break from the noise. And it’s exactly where Skillfully is leading. #HRTech2025 #SkillsFirst #HiringInnovation #FutureOfWork

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Thinking about moving to the Netherlands for work? It’s an exciting journey, but let’s be real—it’s not always easy. Here are some tips to help you navigate the process and stay motivated: ✅ Find a good recruitment agency – Look for one that specializes in your field (IT, finance, engineering, etc.). They know the market and can connect you with the right employers. ✅ Be patient & stay positive – The job hunt can take time, and rejections happen. Keep learning, keep applying, and don’t take it personally. ✅ Learn some Dutch – Many jobs are in English, but knowing Dutch helps with integration, networking, and daily life. Even basic phrases make a difference! ✅ Understand visa requirements – If you need sponsorship, check the list of recognized sponsors (IND website) and target companies that can hire internationals. ✅ Build your network – Connect with professionals on LinkedIn, join industry events, and reach out to expat communities. A referral can open doors! ✅ Know your worth – Research salaries, benefits, and work culture. The Netherlands has strong workers' rights—don’t settle for less! It might take time, but it’s worth it! If you’ve already made the move, what helped you the most? #Netherlands #JobSearch #ExpatLife

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🎯 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮: 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 – 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁? Every time a conversation starts between a candidate and a company, sooner or later we hit that tricky moment: talking about salary. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁? 𝗢𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲? As a headhunter, I personally prefer to understand where the candidate stands in terms of total compensation before I reveal the client's budget. Why? Because if there’s a mismatch, I can work with the client to find a solution. I can advocate, negotiate, explain... To sum it up: I can help. But if I mention the budget too early, and it’s lower than expected, I risk losing a great candidate before we’ve even had a chance to explore the opportunity fully. It’s a delicate balance between transparency and strategy — and one that requires trust on both sides. 👉 Curious to hear your take: As a candidate, do you feel comfortable sharing your current package upfront? And companies: do you prefer to set the tone with a clear budget from the start? Let’s talk about it.

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New to Talent Acquisition or Recruitment? Struggling with finding the right profiles online? Let me introduce you to a new tool: #BooleanSearch In this post, I’ve broken down: • What Boolean search is • Easy-to-use operators • Real examples you can copy • Where you can use it Swipe through the carousel 👉 Save it for your next search session. #RecruitmentTips #BooleanSearch #TalentAcquisition #HiringHacks #LinkedInTips

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🔒 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 Confidentiality in hiring isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s the foundation of trust between clients, candidates, and headhunters. Recently, I came across a case where a confidential search was leaked into the market by an experienced group of headhunters. The Result?  • Damaged brand and personal reputations • Strained relationships • Disrupted business operations • Jeopardised careers • Lost opportunities In a competitive talent space, sensitivity and discretion are not optional — they’re 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. For me, this means: ✅ Protecting client/candidate identities until the right stage ✅ Managing information flow with precision ✅ Ensuring every discussion happens in a trusted, safe space Trust is hard to earn, but it can be lost in a single careless moment. #Hiring #Confidentiality #Trust #Headhunting #Talent #Leadership #ExecutiveSearch

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