The Story of Founder Sjaak Geerlings

Persevere and go for it

In 2011, IFJ moved to its current location, which has expanded over the years into what it is today. Fifteen years ago, Sjaak, along with his brother, ran a flower export business. At that time, they already employed several UZK workers from Poland. However, the problem was that these employees spoke only Polish. After selling the export business when his brother decided to emigrate, Sjaak decided to pursue his plan of starting an employment agency. This agency would hire people who were already proficient in English or were willing to learn it through a language course facilitated by IFJ.

From the very beginning, Sjaak made sure to stay well-informed. For example, he traveled to Brabant to visit VIA, an organization similar to the current ABU and NBBU, to get advice on certificates, laws, and regulations. His goal was to establish an agency that stood out positively from the rest. This is how he came into contact with Tres Dijkshoorn, who runs a consulting firm in the staffing industry and is still involved with IFJ to this day. They had an instant connection, and Tres has been a constant advisor and supporter. Together, they worked on building a strong reputation for IFJ through NBBU membership, staff training, SNF certification, and securing all the necessary permits. To achieve this, Sjaak attended evening school, which was a significant challenge. As a result, IFJ was not positioned as a low-cost provider but was one of the few agencies that had everything well organized for its temporary workers. This was appreciated by clients, who began choosing IFJ in large numbers from 2011 onwards, having already experienced dealing with dishonest agencies, which were still rampant at the time. It pains Sjaak that there is still no government licensing system in place, as good agencies like IFJ, with all the proper certifications, are often lumped together with fraudulent companies.

Sjaak’s background in the export sector was also an advantage. He knew exactly what was needed at the auction, and he applied this knowledge at IFJ by hiring the right people. The staff knew their field and could act quickly and effectively. Since then, IFJ has grown and now serves other industries as well.

Despite the setbacks and the realization that recruiting and placing people is no easy task, Sjaak has no regrets about how he approached it. He worked closely with his employees, always available day and night for both clients and temporary workers. He continually returned to help workers find solutions to problems they couldn’t initially see themselves.