Help us find the specialist we're still looking for

You may have noticed new posters popping up around APG offices. One reads: “Do you know that specialist we're still missing?”. It’s a lighthearted line - but there’s a serious message behind it. Because even in a time of transition and cost-cutting, APG is hiring.

Not just anyone - we’re looking for specialists. Talent in IT, data, cloud, and security is especially hard to find. Actuaries and board secretaries are also in short supply.

At any given time, there are about 20 to 30 external vacancies posted. Some are particularly challenging to fill. “We need this expertise to achieve our strategic goals,” says APG recruiter Fleur van Lier-Weekers. “Especially now.”

Hiring during a cost-saving period might sound contradictory. But according to Fleur and Irma Bousardt, labor market communications advisor, it’s not. “Not every team is affected by budget cuts,” Irma explains. “Some departments actually need reinforcements to stay future-proof.”

Spotlight on referral this November
That’s why November marks a renewed focus on APG’s referral program, The Connection. It’s not a big campaign - more of a gentle nudge. Posters in break rooms, messages on office screens, a video in the Fact & Fiction series, and a spotlight on hard-to-fill vacancies on the intranet. All with one goal: encouraging colleagues to tap into their networks.

Referral has quietly been a powerful tool at APG for years. Each month, 30 to 60 candidates are submitted through the online form. If your referral is hired, you receive a €2,000 gross bonus. But the program doesn’t run itself. “We’ve found it needs a little push,” says Irma. “Especially now, when people might wonder: is hiring even appropriate?”

That hesitation is understandable, both women agree. Participation is completely voluntary. “We’re not here to pressure anyone,” Fleur emphasizes. “But we do hope people will think along with us. Maybe you know someone from a previous job, your studies, or even your sports club who’s a perfect fit for one of our tough-to-fill roles.”

Referral isn’t just effective - it’s efficient. Candidates referred by colleagues often align well with APG’s culture. And it saves money, especially compared to hiring through external agencies. In times of budget constraints, that’s no small thing.

The initiative runs throughout November, but the bigger goal is long-term: making referral a natural part of how APG attracts and retains talent. “We want to keep building,” Fleur says. “And we’d love to do that together with our colleagues.”