For VolkerWessels, recruitment is not a supporting process. It is an important driver of growth. With thousands of employees and various operating companies, it is essential that recruitment processes are organized in a clear, scalable, and efficient manner.
That is why VolkerWessels decided to discontinue using the Connexys Bullhorn recruitment system. The ambition was clear:
Switch to a new, fully operational recruitment environment within one month.
Building a scalable recruitment framework together
This is an ambitious goal, especially for an organization with multiple companies, many recruiters, and diverse roles in the recruitment process.
The challenge was not only in the technical migration. The new environment had to be immediately usable for the entire organization, without any loss of information and without recruitment coming to a standstill.
Together with VolkerWessels, Matchlab developed an approach based on our recruitment framework. The goal: to combine speed with structure.
Within a short period of time, a new environment was set up with multiple Recruitee licenses. This allowed each operating company within VolkerWessels to work in its own environment, while the underlying structure and processes were set up centrally.
Careful data migration and targeted training
An important part of the project was also the data migration from the old system to Recruitee. Job openings and active recruitment processes from Connexys Bullhorn were carefully transferred to the new environment, so that ongoing procedures could continue without interruption and no valuable information was lost.
Recruiters from various companies within VolkerWessels were trained to manage their own environments. We also organized walk-in sessions and targeted training courses for HR, team leaders, reviewers, and other vacancy holders.
This meant that everyone knew exactly what was expected of them before going live, and the organization was able to quickly continue working in the new environment.
Insight, overview, and a scalable design
The new recruitment environment was designed with a clear starting point: segmentation where necessary, overview where possible.
Within VolkerWessels, various companies operate relatively independently. Examples include KWS and VolkerWessels BVGO (Construction & Real Estate Development). For this reason, multiple Recruitee environments have been set up. This keeps information separate and ensures that teams only have access to their own data.
At the same time, we have technically brought together the vacancies from these different environments on the VolkerWessels job platform. This creates a single central location for candidates where all vacancies are visible.
For the candidate, it feels like a single platform. Behind the scenes, the structure of the various organizations remains intact.
Result: clarity, transparency, and a better candidate experience
Within one month, a fully functional recruitment landscape was in place.
VolkerWessels successfully migrated from a legacy system to a modern recruitment environment that focuses on clarity and transparency.
Recruiters have better insight into their pipeline and can collaborate more efficiently with hiring managers. For candidates, the process has become clearer and more accessible. Job openings can be found in one central location, and the application process is more transparent.
The new environment therefore not only provides a technical improvement, but also a better candidate experience.
Proud of an ambitious operation
A migration of this scale within a single month requires cooperation, focus, and trust.
Recruiters, HR teams, and hiring managers worked closely together to facilitate the transition. Thanks to training sessions and a clear structure, the organization was able to adapt quickly, and the recruitment process continued as usual.
The result is a recruitment foundation that is ready for further growth.
Image source: FD
Curious to find out how your organization can organize recruitment more intelligently?
By combining technology, structure, and collaboration, we create a process that not only works faster but also better suits candidates and teams.



