Michelle Mol
‘What energises you?’, is what Michelle Mol always asks a candidate. ‘A crucial question, because I believe someone can only truly excel if they are doing work they are passionate about. It’s not just about a person’s capabilities, but also, more importantly, about what drives them and what makes them happy. At TNO you can feel the passion everywhere. That’s what makes working here so special.’
‘As a recruiter for the Energy & Materials Transition unit, I’m always on the lookout for scientific talent in the field of wind and solar energy. For example scientists, engineers, consultants, and business developers. I also recruit new colleagues for the service organisation, which comprises the departments finance, HR, legal, marketing and communication and ICT.’
International
‘TNO is highly regarded worldwide. I’ve recently hired scientists and process engineers from Australia, India, Costa Rica, Poland, Switzerland, and Germany, to name a few. In a while I’ll get in touch to find out how they’re getting on at TNO. Seeing someone come on board, grow, and develop, that makes me happy.’
From CEOs to scientists
‘While completing my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Hotelschool The Hague, I undertook an internship at the Radisson Hotel Group’s headquarters in Belgium. That’s where I found out that recruitment and executive search are right up my street. People around me told me that my energetic drive and genuine interest in people make me ideally suited to this kind of work.
At Odgers Berndtson in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district I learned the ropes of the executive search profession, also known as headhunting. I specialised in Boards of Directors, Supervisory Boards, and management. Eventually, I took up the role of Research Manager with YESS Boer & Croon.
Switching from CEOs to scientists was a conscious decision for me. At TNO I find the challenge of attracting scientific talent just as exciting as working with top executives. Here it’s not just about having the right person in the right place, but about contributing to innovations that make a real difference. That motivates me every day.’
Wish list
‘Choose something that makes you happy’, a teacher once advised me. I’ve always continued to do that. It is even how I ended up at TNO: after five years of executive search, I wanted to work for an organisation that makes an impact, offers a good work-life balance and a job that energises me, and also allows me to work with passionate colleagues. That’s exactly what I found at TNO.
Everyone I talk to here is so passionate about what they do. When I was just starting out, I asked a colleague to bring me up to speed on solar energy. She immediately grabbed a presentation and demonstration model. I’m familiar with solar panels, but at TNO this technology is being integrated into a thin film 3 millimetres thick, for example. This can be used anywhere: from window frames through to roads and bus shelters. It’s super cool to see these innovations.’