Saradha Selvendran
Please tell us a few words about yourself and your career path.
My name is Saradha Vathana Selvendran, I also go by the name of Shar, and I work as a Talent Acquisition Partner for RHI Magnesita in the Rotterdam Office. At the moment of this interview, I am at my parents’ home in India. I really appreciate the flexible working policy of our company – it allows me to stay longer with my family while getting work done.
Having graduated last February, I started working with RHI Magnesita on 1 March 2022. I’m excited to celebrate my 1-year anniversary with the company!
Why exactly did you apply for RHI Magnesita?
I was about to finish my studies when one fine day I came across the job ad on LinkedIn. I found it catchy, and I could totally see myself in this position; the tasks sounded interesting. So, I decided to apply. What also backed up my decision was that the company was invested in a lot of recycling efforts and sustainable development goals. I like it when a company cares about the environment and goes extra mile!
By the way, RHI Magnesita was not completely unfamiliar to me. As I grew up in Dubai, my father’s office was just across RHI Magnesita’s Sales Office!
What is your current role and how does your day look like?
I currently work as a Talent Acquisition Partner. In a nutshell, no day is the same. Sometimes, I talk to hiring managers about what type of candidates they’re looking for. It’s important for me to understand what each department does and which skill set or experience is required.
Other days are packed with interviews. I enjoy talking to the candidates, understand what they have to offer and if they would be a match with one of our positions.
One of the key skills I picked up over the last months is sourcing, which means, I look for candidates on various media platforms and see if they could be a good match. Overall, I would say I have a good balance of different tasks, which I enjoy on a day-to-day basis.
How did you get interested in this field?
Growing up, I was always extroverted. I get a lot of my energy from speaking and interacting with people. In Psychology and HR, people are always your main “raw material/stakeholders”. I studied HR Management and Psychology, and I find it interesting to see, how organizations are made up by different types of people. Bigger picture consists of small particles. Hiring these people to bring the organization forward comes with a large responsibility. Reading on these topics has made me understand the importance of hiring the right talents and has made me even more interested in and passionate about this field.
What’s the most unexpected skill you’ve gained at RHI Magnesita?
Two skills: attention to detail and having the mindset to accept mistakes.
Since I work constantly with job ads, I have a better understanding of the importance of small details such as formatting, spacing, delivering the right information, etc. Working closely with skilled colleagues has definitely rubbed off on me!
Secondly, I have accepted that it is okay to make mistakes and that they help you learn. In the past, I would really overthink my failures… But now, being surrounded by supportive team members at RHI Magnesita, I’ve learned that it’s totally fine! Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new, right?!
What’s the best part about life at RHI Magnesita?
I could go on for days, as I really enjoy it so much! The best part of the job is the colleagues I get to work with. They are extremely supportive, passionate, and encouraging! I’d say they’ve become more than just colleagues; we have become friends.
Also, I am the youngest one in the team, but any small idea that I have ever brought forward was always discussed or even picked up. This has made me feel super valued from day one.
Lastly, during my visit to our production plant in Veitsch, Thomas Ikert, our Head of Plants Commodities, mentioned that some of the blue-collar workers' families have been with our company for decades. Hearing this fills me with pride that I am employed by a company that remains robust and prosperous despite facing numerous obstacles.
Any advice to people who consider applying?
Just do it! Here are some tips from my side:
- Read the job advert, don’t screen it.
- When you read the job ad, make sure you can see yourself in the role and resonate with it.
- Ensure your application is in English (especially if the job ad is in English).
- Do not overload your CV – just list the information that could be relevant for us to assess your profile.
- Please answer all our application-related questions truthfully!
- Do not wait too long until you submit your application, as some roles are closed fast.
- Read about the company before the interview.
- Make sure you also stay connected to RHI Magnesita on all our media platforms.
- Last but not the least, stay tuned for an amazing candidate experience 😊