Checkmark is a recruitment agency specialized in food, chemistry and life science. With 28 years of experience, they have built a large network of companies looking for lab professionals. “We offer a wide range of positions, both in the lab and outside,” Ozan explains. “Think of management roles or positions as a quality employee. A laboratory background is the common thread.”
Alternative route
All recruiters at Checkmark have a background in food, chemistry and life sciences and use this knowledge to find the right match between employer and employee. “We understand the experience of a job seeker and what he or she is looking for, because we come from the same world,” says Ozan. He himself also took a different path. “Nine years ago I graduated with a master’s degree in biology. Then I had to decide which direction I wanted to go. I wanted to go into the business world, but where do you start? That’s how I ended up at Checkmark while looking for work. They also had a vacancy for a recruiter and that appealed to me.”
“It often happens that someone studies biology or chemistry and finds the subject interesting, but doesn’t see themselves working in the lab. During your education, you have a strong focus and often don’t see what else is possible. But there are so many options. For example, you can go into the commercial side, as a sales or product specialist, or work in a role with a lot of customer contact. Are you interested in standards and protocols? Then quality assurance is an option. Or maybe the profession of recruiter suits you,” he adds with a laugh.
Career change
For lab professionals who are also considering a switch, Ozan has two important tips. “Make sure you can clearly indicate why you are interested in a particular field. This can be done by doing extra work during your current job or in your spare time. For example, are you already doing quality work or are your organizational skills evident in a hobby? Then mention this in your CV or cover letter.” The second tip is to start your CV with a short description of yourself. “If you are making a career switch, you probably have little experience with the new position. State that you are consciously choosing this switch and that you have little experience. This makes it immediately clear to the reader.”
Continue studying
Ozan sees more and more job seekers with a university or PhD background. He notes that many universities and colleges do not sufficiently prepare students for the labor market. “Academic educational institutions encourage students to choose an internship within the faculty. An unintended consequence of this is that internships within the business community are underexposed. This significantly reduces the chance of a job in the business community, because they have no experience in a business environment.”
“There is still the idea that continuing your studies is always better, but I hope that students will think carefully about whether they really want to continue studying and what they want to achieve with it. There is currently a huge demand for MBO and HBO students, with vacancies that areoffer many opportunities. At the same time, I see more and more job seekers with a master's or PhD who have been looking for a job for a long time. Many employers do not hire overqualified people. It feels contradictory, but continuing your studies does not necessarily lead to better job opportunities.”
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