Transparent payment model for financial planning To retain this expertise at WATA and attract top IT specialists from Germany to Andalusia in the long term,…
Free selection of automation technicians with professional experience, precisely pre-selected by Riverstate.
“Water is the coal of the future,” Jules Verne once wrote. Indeed, the demand for water is increasing worldwide, and this precious resource is becoming increasingly scarce. To ensure the perpetual water cycle for decades to come, the industry is increasingly relying on digitalization and automation. This calls for specialists to take care of the software for these increasingly complex systems. The Rüsselsheim-based company GEAL mbH specializes in the automation of water and wastewater facilities, but since its founding in 1996, it has also made a name for itself in the areas of gas and electricity distribution, as well as in the remote monitoring and control of transport and infrastructure networks. “We automate and monitor systems and, as a system integrator, primarily handle the software component,” summarizes Michael Weindel, one of the two managing directors of GEAL mbH. The company’s order books are always full, keeping the nine-person team busy. When a managing director left the company in the fall of 2019, reinforcements were needed quickly to keep the projects—and the water—flowing.
A smooth transition in day-to-day operations required a new addition with professional experience, which brought back memories for Michael Weindel of the last attempt to strengthen the team: “We advertised a position two years ago and had a lot of applicants, but none of them were suitable. Because we simply don’t have the capacity to fully train someone, we needed an automation technician with professional experience in PLC programming and process control technology. And those are rare.”
Because the last attempt to attract applicants independently was not only unsuccessful, but also meant a significant time commitment for the already overworked team, professional support was needed this time.
“As a small company, we simply can’t handle the many tasks that arise from a job posting, from selection to interview,” says Michael Weindel. “You have many interviews and little success. To save this time and additional costs, we wanted to rely on an experienced partner this time, especially for the pre-selection process. That’s why we chose Riverstate.”
In GEAL mbH’s small team, comprised of interdisciplinary technicians and engineers, everyone handles their own projects independently. This trust provides employees with a great deal of freedom and flexibility, but it also requires compatibility on a professional and personal level, which characterizes the friendly atmosphere.
“Most of our employees are essentially project managers,” explains the managing director. “They can work on their projects independently and organize their time flexibly, even while working from home. To make this work, we place great value not only on technical expertise and professional experience, but also on the human element. Everything simply has to be just right.”
To find talented individuals who meet these requirements, Riverstate worked with GEAL mbH on the setup day to develop a tailor-made candidate profile. “Riverstate worked with us to develop an employer brochure that conveys a good impression of the advertised position and our company,” says Michael Weindel. “Of course, you can’t create something like that professionally yourself, so that really impressed us.”
While GEAL mbH had to deal with numerous unsuitable applications during its last independent search, Riverstate compiled a high-quality shortlist from which Michael Weindel and his team were able to select the right talent. This made it easy for the team to focus entirely on their day-to-day business even during the search.
“The quality of the candidates with Riverstate was significantly higher than when we searched independently,” says the managing director. “We were only presented with candidates who exactly matched our requirements. The fact that we didn’t have to deal with applicants who weren’t a good fit for the position was a huge advantage for us, especially in terms of time.”
The third candidate, an automation engineer with experience in PLC programming and process control technology, was a perfect fit. From initial contact to acceptance, the process took approximately three months, and Riverstate supported us every step of the way. “Riverstate introduced us to the first applicants promptly and guided us reliably through the process,” says Michael Weindel. “We were always served promptly and felt in good hands.”
The managing director found Riverstate’s approach positive in that special consideration was given to the company’s reputation: “We have several partners and regularly work with other companies, and of course, we don’t want to poach their talent. We were able to define a blacklist and whitelist with Riverstate in advance to avoid any misunderstandings.”
There were no surprises regarding costs either. “Riverstate is transparent,” says the managing director. “We knew exactly what costs to expect and when. Of course, recruiting is an investment, but because we were introduced to suitable candidates in a short time and were able to focus on our projects during that time, it was ultimately worth it.”
With the new employee, the company can not only better manage its current order book, but also has greater security in its strategic future planning: “The fact that Riverstate was able to fill the vacancy quickly relieves the pressure on the entire GEAL mbH team, which is already fully utilized even with a full staff. With Riverstate, we were able to find a candidate who will help us cover our current projects while also looking further ahead with us.”
Should the need for new talent arise again in the future, GEAL mbH already has a partner just a phone call away. “We felt well looked after at Riverstate and were able to recruit an employee who is a perfect fit for us, and that’s ultimately what counts,” says Michael Weindel. “If we need someone again, we’ll definitely turn to Riverstate next time.”
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