From a recruitment company to a human-centric talent acquisition consulting firm
Written by: Jeroen Van Ermen from Talent Business Partnerson January 28, 2025
In this interview with Yoni Szpiro, founder and CEO of Generations Recruitment, we explore how authentic leadership and genuine human connections can transform the recruitment industry. With over 15 years of experience, Yoni shares his journey of building a recruitment firm that stands out through its commitment to caring, innovation, and lasting relationships.
What inspired you to enter the staffing and recruitment industry? Was there a specific experience that sparked your passion?
Yoni Szpiro, founder and CEO of Generations Recruitment: "I entered the recruitment industry quite by chance after completing my studies in political science and international relations. My first job, found through an employment office in Brussels, led me to a recruitment firm named Antal International. What started as a role I stumbled upon soon became a passion. The balance between interpersonal dynamics and the commercial aspect of recruitment fascinated me. It's a field that constantly offers variety and a deep understanding of the employment landscape, which keeps me engaged and motivated."
What's a challenge you've overcome, and how has it shaped you as a leader?
Yoni Szpiro: "Navigating a highly structured, financially-driven environment was a significant challenge. My previous workplaces focused heavily on metrics and revenue, often overlooking the human element. At Generations Recruitment, I've prioritized meaningful connections, ensuring our focus remains on elevating both talent and companies. This human-centric approach has shaped my leadership style, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity to create sustainable and impactful relationships."
What sets your agency apart from the competition, and how do your clients and candidates benefit from this unique value proposition?
Yoni Szpiro: "At Generations Recruitment, what sets us apart is our commitment to deeply understanding both our candidates and clients. Initially focused purely on recruitment, we have evolved into true experts in talent acquisition, integrating a holistic approach that embeds recruitment within the broader talent acquisition cycle.
Beyond matching talent to companies, we support organizations in defining their employer promise through dedicated workshops and our GRAM methodology. We also provide hands-on support by deploying our consultants to help translate these employer promises into tangible talent acquisition strategies, manage recruitment campaigns, and ensure a seamless onboarding experience.
This comprehensive approach benefits both clients and candidates by fostering trust, inclusivity, and sustainable relationships, ensuring long-term success for all parties involved. It is this human-centered philosophy, embodied in our motto ‘Because we care,’ that makes the difference.”"
What core values guide the culture and decision-making within your agency?
Yoni Szpiro: "At Generations Recruitment, our core values of Fairness, Sharing, Caring, Proactivity, Positivism, and Working Towards Excellence guide our culture and decision-making. We ensure equal opportunities, promote knowledge sharing, offer personalized support, anticipate market needs, foster a positive work environment, and strive for excellence. These values translate into creating an authentic and enriching experience in recruitment, setting us apart in the industry."
How do you ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in your recruitment practices?
Yoni Szpiro: "We ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in our recruitment practices by implementing a comprehensive DEI charter. We've trained our consultants with an expert in the field to ensure we actively work to limit biases and uphold these principles in all our engagements. This commitment helps us validate our DEI engagements with both clients and candidates."
What strategies do you use to build and maintain long-term relationships with clients and candidates?
Yoni Szpiro: "Building and maintaining long-term relationships with our clients and candidates goes far beyond transactional interactions—it’s about deep, meaningful engagement. We immerse ourselves in our clients’ realities, taking the time to understand their evolving challenges with empathy and strategic perspective. This allows us to not only respond to their needs but to anticipate them, offering tailored solutions that align with their broader talent acquisition strategy.
Our approach is rooted in continuous dialogue and proximity. We go beyond recruitment by acting as trusted advisors, whether through regular check-ins, strategic discussions, or informal moments that reinforce our partnership. We also extend this philosophy to our candidates, ensuring they feel supported throughout their journey. From celebrating their first days with thoughtful gestures to maintaining long-term connections via our annual GR Alumni event, we create an ecosystem where relationships thrive over time.
Ultimately, our strength lies in our ability to blend proximity with perspective—being close enough to grasp the nuances of our clients’ realities while maintaining the distance needed to offer a holistic, strategic vision of their talent challenges."
How do you measure success for your agency beyond financial performance? What key KPIs do you track?
Yoni Szpiro: "We measure success for our agency beyond financial performance by tracking key KPIs like the Net Promoter Score (NPS) for both candidates and clients, including those who weren't placed but participated in our process. Currently, we have a satisfaction rate of nearly 92% across all respondents, reflecting a high level of satisfaction with the experience working with Generations Recruitment. We also track the Employee NPS, which indicates that over 85% of our employees are satisfied working at Generations Recruitment. This highlights our commitment to maintaining a positive internal culture."
What are you most proud of when it comes to your agency's achievements, and what impact do you hope to make in the world through your work?
Yoni Szpiro: "I am most proud of having built a company that's been thriving for over 15 years, known for its authenticity, quality work, and flexibility. Being recognized as a serious and innovative firm, pioneering motivational recruitment through tools like G.R.A.M., is incredibly fulfilling. Moreover, seeing former employees and candidates return or excel in their careers, reflects the positive and lasting impact we aim to have in the recruitment world."
What do you see as the three most significant changes in the recruitment industry over the past five years, and how has your agency adapted to them?
Yoni Szpiro: "The past five years have seen significant transformations in the recruitment industry. Firstly, the rise of remote work post-COVID required increased flexibility, which we swiftly integrated by adapting our working hours and balancing office presence with remote work. Secondly, the emphasis on diversity and inclusion led us to develop a DEI charter to ensure an inclusive environment. Finally, we have continuously enhanced the candidate experience, particularly through tools like G.R.A.M., to personalize and optimize every interaction. These adaptations have allowed us to remain agile and continue delivering high-quality service in an ever-evolving context."
What role does technology play in your recruitment processes, and how are you leveraging it to meet the evolving expectations of clients and candidates?
Yoni Szpiro: "Technology plays a crucial role in our recruitment processes, allowing us to be forward-thinking and efficient. We leverage tools like AI for creating interview notes and streamlining job descriptions, which reduces administrative time and increases our focus on genuine interactions. Automation tools also keep us up-to-date on candidate availability and ensure transparency with a synchronized ATS and website, allowing clients and candidates to track their progress in real-time. This blend of technology and human touch helps us meet the evolving expectations of our clients and candidates effectively."
It's evident that Generations Recruitment's success stems from its commitment to human-centric values. In an industry often dominated by metrics and numbers, Yoni has created a company culture that prioritizes authentic connections and meaningful relationships. Through innovative approaches like G.R.A.M. and a strong dedication to DEI principles, Generations Recruitment is setting new standards for what modern recruitment can achieve.
What inspired you to enter the staffing and recruitment industry? Was there a specific experience that sparked your passion?
Yoni Szpiro, founder and CEO of Generations Recruitment: "I entered the recruitment industry quite by chance after completing my studies in political science and international relations. My first job, found through an employment office in Brussels, led me to a recruitment firm named Antal International. What started as a role I stumbled upon soon became a passion. The balance between interpersonal dynamics and the commercial aspect of recruitment fascinated me. It's a field that constantly offers variety and a deep understanding of the employment landscape, which keeps me engaged and motivated."
What's a challenge you've overcome, and how has it shaped you as a leader?
Yoni Szpiro: "Navigating a highly structured, financially-driven environment was a significant challenge. My previous workplaces focused heavily on metrics and revenue, often overlooking the human element. At Generations Recruitment, I've prioritized meaningful connections, ensuring our focus remains on elevating both talent and companies. This human-centric approach has shaped my leadership style, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity to create sustainable and impactful relationships."
What sets your agency apart from the competition, and how do your clients and candidates benefit from this unique value proposition?
Yoni Szpiro: "At Generations Recruitment, what sets us apart is our commitment to deeply understanding both our candidates and clients. Initially focused purely on recruitment, we have evolved into true experts in talent acquisition, integrating a holistic approach that embeds recruitment within the broader talent acquisition cycle.
Beyond matching talent to companies, we support organizations in defining their employer promise through dedicated workshops and our GRAM methodology. We also provide hands-on support by deploying our consultants to help translate these employer promises into tangible talent acquisition strategies, manage recruitment campaigns, and ensure a seamless onboarding experience.
This comprehensive approach benefits both clients and candidates by fostering trust, inclusivity, and sustainable relationships, ensuring long-term success for all parties involved. It is this human-centered philosophy, embodied in our motto ‘Because we care,’ that makes the difference.”"
What core values guide the culture and decision-making within your agency?
Yoni Szpiro: "At Generations Recruitment, our core values of Fairness, Sharing, Caring, Proactivity, Positivism, and Working Towards Excellence guide our culture and decision-making. We ensure equal opportunities, promote knowledge sharing, offer personalized support, anticipate market needs, foster a positive work environment, and strive for excellence. These values translate into creating an authentic and enriching experience in recruitment, setting us apart in the industry."
How do you ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in your recruitment practices?
Yoni Szpiro: "We ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded in our recruitment practices by implementing a comprehensive DEI charter. We've trained our consultants with an expert in the field to ensure we actively work to limit biases and uphold these principles in all our engagements. This commitment helps us validate our DEI engagements with both clients and candidates."
What strategies do you use to build and maintain long-term relationships with clients and candidates?
Yoni Szpiro: "Building and maintaining long-term relationships with our clients and candidates goes far beyond transactional interactions—it’s about deep, meaningful engagement. We immerse ourselves in our clients’ realities, taking the time to understand their evolving challenges with empathy and strategic perspective. This allows us to not only respond to their needs but to anticipate them, offering tailored solutions that align with their broader talent acquisition strategy.
Our approach is rooted in continuous dialogue and proximity. We go beyond recruitment by acting as trusted advisors, whether through regular check-ins, strategic discussions, or informal moments that reinforce our partnership. We also extend this philosophy to our candidates, ensuring they feel supported throughout their journey. From celebrating their first days with thoughtful gestures to maintaining long-term connections via our annual GR Alumni event, we create an ecosystem where relationships thrive over time.
Ultimately, our strength lies in our ability to blend proximity with perspective—being close enough to grasp the nuances of our clients’ realities while maintaining the distance needed to offer a holistic, strategic vision of their talent challenges."
How do you measure success for your agency beyond financial performance? What key KPIs do you track?
Yoni Szpiro: "We measure success for our agency beyond financial performance by tracking key KPIs like the Net Promoter Score (NPS) for both candidates and clients, including those who weren't placed but participated in our process. Currently, we have a satisfaction rate of nearly 92% across all respondents, reflecting a high level of satisfaction with the experience working with Generations Recruitment. We also track the Employee NPS, which indicates that over 85% of our employees are satisfied working at Generations Recruitment. This highlights our commitment to maintaining a positive internal culture."
What are you most proud of when it comes to your agency's achievements, and what impact do you hope to make in the world through your work?
Yoni Szpiro: "I am most proud of having built a company that's been thriving for over 15 years, known for its authenticity, quality work, and flexibility. Being recognized as a serious and innovative firm, pioneering motivational recruitment through tools like G.R.A.M., is incredibly fulfilling. Moreover, seeing former employees and candidates return or excel in their careers, reflects the positive and lasting impact we aim to have in the recruitment world."
What do you see as the three most significant changes in the recruitment industry over the past five years, and how has your agency adapted to them?
Yoni Szpiro: "The past five years have seen significant transformations in the recruitment industry. Firstly, the rise of remote work post-COVID required increased flexibility, which we swiftly integrated by adapting our working hours and balancing office presence with remote work. Secondly, the emphasis on diversity and inclusion led us to develop a DEI charter to ensure an inclusive environment. Finally, we have continuously enhanced the candidate experience, particularly through tools like G.R.A.M., to personalize and optimize every interaction. These adaptations have allowed us to remain agile and continue delivering high-quality service in an ever-evolving context."
What role does technology play in your recruitment processes, and how are you leveraging it to meet the evolving expectations of clients and candidates?
Yoni Szpiro: "Technology plays a crucial role in our recruitment processes, allowing us to be forward-thinking and efficient. We leverage tools like AI for creating interview notes and streamlining job descriptions, which reduces administrative time and increases our focus on genuine interactions. Automation tools also keep us up-to-date on candidate availability and ensure transparency with a synchronized ATS and website, allowing clients and candidates to track their progress in real-time. This blend of technology and human touch helps us meet the evolving expectations of our clients and candidates effectively."
It's evident that Generations Recruitment's success stems from its commitment to human-centric values. In an industry often dominated by metrics and numbers, Yoni has created a company culture that prioritizes authentic connections and meaningful relationships. Through innovative approaches like G.R.A.M. and a strong dedication to DEI principles, Generations Recruitment is setting new standards for what modern recruitment can achieve.
Visit Generations Recruitment's company profile to get in touch