How Hordijk connected with technical talent through the Delftse Bijbaan event

For many companies in the manufacturing industry, it’s a challenge to find students who are not only technically strong but also eager to get hands-on experience. During the Delftse Bijbaan event, Hordijk was able to connect with dozens of TU Delft students in an accessible way. This led to valuable conversations, four résumés, and new insights into the interests of young technical talent.

Hordijk EPS develops and manufactures moulded EPS and Piocelan products for applications in the construction, packaging, horticulture and industrial sectors. The company combines in-house product development with advanced production processes to create innovative, insulating and protective solutions. At the Delftse Bijbaan event, the company was looking for two types of students: talent for a robotics project and students seeking hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment.

What made participation valuable was the event’s format. Students visited the companies in small groups, allowing for many conversations to take place in a short amount of time. Over the course of ten rounds, Hordijk spoke with dozens of students. The robotisation project, in particular, attracted a lot of interest.

“It was well organized. Every few minutes, a new group of students would join you at the table. That way, you can talk to a lot of people in just one afternoon.”

At the same time, it was noticeable that there was less interest in hands-on work on the production floor. Yet that is precisely where Hordijk sees opportunities for students to combine technical knowledge with practical experience.

The collaboration with TU Delft was not new to Hordijk. Through Anske Plante, the company had previously participated in a student challenge and established contacts with startups from the TU Delft network. The Delftse Bijbaan event served as a natural follow-up to that collaboration.

“It takes little effort, and you get to speak with many students in a short amount of time. That alone makes it worthwhile.”

Although the robotisation project has since been postponed until next year, Hordijk received four relevant résumés. For the company, the event primarily confirmed just how easy it can be to connect with technical talent from vocational schools (MBO), higher professional education (HBO), and universities (WO). Hordijk has some practical advice for other companies: don’t come alone.

“If there are this many students again next time, it’s better to have two people there.”

Delft Part-Time Jobs at a Glance

Profiles sought: students for robotics projects and hands-on technical work
Students spoken with: approximately 70–80
Resumes received: 4
Interested in: talent for innovation and production processes
Website: www.hordijk.nl

Curious about how your organization can connect with students or explore other collaboration opportunities? Contact Anske Plante or keep an eye out for the next edition of Delftse Bijbaan on November 18 at The Green Village.