Saar switches from recruitment to payroll

Passion for HR

Saar Verwimp graduated with a Master of Pedagogical Sciences ‘Education and Training Sciences’ from KU Leuven in 2017. “During my studies, I became fascinated by everything to do with Human Development. That’s why I decided to do a postgraduate course in Human Resources Management at the EHSAL Management School. The extra knowledge I gained would prove very useful at the start of my professional career.”

That career started at UHasselt, followed by Saar’s first HR work experience at a consultancy firm. In April 2021, she moved to TriHD. “That’s when my career gathered pace,” she says. “In scarcely a year’s time, I’ve already learnt a great deal, both in terms of content and my personal development. I’ve taken the leap from recruitment to payroll, a field that really appeals to me. Because of my technical mentor’s targeted on-the-job guidance, I’ve successfully completed my first payroll project. I’m now working on a second payroll project for the client Duomed. And I’ve found an excellent sparring partner in Oona Noyen, who has been appointed as interim HR manager there through TriHD. We get along extremely well!”

In focus at Duomed

Aartselaar-based Duomed has been a European distributor of medical equipment for many years. “We supply various comprehensive solutions for clients in the hospital sector,” Oona confirms. “Our range of products is extremely broad: from radiology monitors to maternity beds. We operate today with some 380 employees from five different entities. The acquisition of a smaller player, planned for early July, will see our workforce grow to around 500 employees. To help put payroll administration on the right track in our fast-growing company, we were looking for a permanent HR officer. Saar turned out to be a perfect match for our required profile.”

Wanted: determined and proactive team player

In March this year, Oona and her colleagues rolled out the red carpet for Saar. “The HD Consultant I was looking for had to be a team player who combines the required HD expertise with a sense of initiative, a proactive approach, and the necessary perseverance to complete assignments professionally. Over the past few months, we’ve already seen how Saar lives up to our expectations. And what we appreciate even more is that she chooses to think outside the box in a constructive way. She takes the initiative to analyse certain internal procedures and improves them where necessary.”

Versatility as an added plus

Saar adds: “The combination of my academic background, several years of work experience, and a challenging corporate culture at TriHD means it feels very natural for me as a Payroll Partner to go the extra mile for a client like Duomed. Like all my fellow HD consultants at TriFinance, I’m flexible and versatile. Clients appreciate this all-round approach, which at the same time ensures that my job always remains interesting and instructive. I’m also convinced that the right attitude and interest can compensate for any lack of work experience.”

The importance of a positive working atmosphere

How would Oona and her colleagues at Duomed describe Saar? “Saar’s congeniality and proactive approach are second to none. I’m amazed at how seamlessly she has integrated into our team in just a few months. Her cheerful character and upbeat attitude radiates to the colleagues, instantly creating a positive atmosphere on the shop floor.” Does Saar agree with this assessment? “Absolutely! Elements such as a positive working atmosphere and a terrific team spirit are extremely important to me. In fact, they score just as high as classic motivators, such as job content, autonomy or remuneration.”