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2 minute read
Key figures of the collaboration
Collaboration since
2006
Number of hires
8About BUHLMANN
For over 70 years, BUHLMANN has been a recognized technical partner in the Belgian railway sector. The company collaborates with major players such as SNCB, STIB, De Lijn, TEC, and Lineas, and operates in signaling, electromechanical systems, rolling stock, and railway infrastructure maintenance.
In an environment where operational continuity and technical reliability are essential, BUHLMANN manages complex projects requiring engineers who can combine technical expertise, autonomy, project management skills, and strong on-site presence.
The Challenge
As part of a strategic replacement and to ensure continuity of critical projects, BUHLMANN was looking for a very specific profile: an industrial engineer in electromechanics or electricity, experienced in technical project management, not junior, and able to quickly integrate into a highly demanding and operational railway environment.
Beyond technical skills, cultural fit was a major factor. The candidate needed to thrive in a pragmatic, collaborative, and low-hierarchy structure, with a strong field orientation and a hands-on approach to projects.
Given the tight labor market for such scarce profiles, BUHLMANN was looking for a partner capable of going beyond a standard recruitment approach and conducting a truly targeted search.
The solution
Thanks to a partnership established in 2006, Profile Group already had a deep understanding of BUHLMANN’s technical, human, and cultural challenges. This field knowledge enabled a fast launch of a precise and highly targeted search aligned with the client’s needs.
The process was structured around several key elements:
• a detailed intake to precisely define technical and human expectations for the role;
• fluid, direct, and transparent communication between the client and the consultant;
• quick, structured, and actionable feedback on presented candidates;
• continuous and iterative adjustment of the search based on client feedback.
According to Brice Bühlmann, the effective collaboration between BUHLMANN and Profile Group is based on a fine understanding of the required profile, as well as rapid and targeted adaptation based on feedback. Thanks to this iterative approach, the candidates presented quickly evolved towards the ideal target profile. Listening to feedback and implementing it quickly brought real added value to the team.
BUHLMANN highlights the added value of Profile Group’s active listening and responsiveness: one of the most differentiating factors lies in its ability to offer a truly tailor-made approach.
Finally, this process—sometimes complex due to the rarity of the profile and the high demands of the context—was also marked by perseverance from both parties. Both BUHLMANN and Profile Group demonstrated consistency, rigor, and determination to stay aligned with the objective, maintain direction, and ensure a high-quality outcome despite necessary adjustments along the way.
The Results
The assignment led to the identification of a candidate who met BUHLMANN’s high technical expectations while fully fitting into the company’s culture and operational reality.
Beyond the recruitment itself, this collaboration highlights the importance of:
• a deep understanding of complex technical environments;
• a partnership based on listening and continuous adjustment;
• a proactive and targeted search approach;
• and strong responsiveness in handling feedback.
After more than 15 years of collaboration and 8 successful hires, BUHLMANN now considers Profile Group a trusted partner for the recruitment of specialized technical profiles. The recruited candidates are multilingual industrial engineers (French, Dutch, English, with German as an asset), specialized in electromechanics or electricity, with experience in technical project management and a strong field-oriented and troubleshooting mindset.
To summarize this collaboration in a few words, Brice Bühlmann describes Profile Group as professional and efficient.
