ORIGIN OF THE LINKS.
"The Links" is a Switzerland based company created by Juliette Jain in 2022. It's a unique and innovative service in the field of on demand specialists brokerage.
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Private companies or public institutions in search of specialists for a limited scope project, for a long term leave replacement or to fill in a need before the recruitment of a permanent employee often have difficulties to find a trustworthy partner who can guide in the selection and recruitment process of the right resource. "The Links" is a B2B model that addresses these needs with a solution proposed within 48 hours.
The concept is in response to market trends and worldwide employment structure evolution encountered by the founder when delivering human capital management and head hunting services.
THE FOUNDER: JULIETTE JAIN.
Juliette Jain has more than 20 years corporate experience mainly in the services and consulting industry with business and HR leadership skills and experience.
She served in a Big 4 for 14 years as Head of HR, business management processes leader and project manager.
She founded "The Links" in order to answer to the rising needs of on demand specialists on the market. She also founded JAIN Sàrl – Personal Branding & Development in 2018 with the mission to grow leaders into the next level of their career. In addition she is a freelance HR consultant and head hunter with Move UP SA.​
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Juliette holds a Master of HR as well as a coaching PCC certification from the International Coaching Federation.
Clients choose Juliette for her natural affinity for helping her clients to succeed, as well as her sincere and pragmatic personality. Authenticity, persistence and the ability to put herself in her clients’ shoes are some of the qualities she brings.
INTERVIEW: Juliette Jain explains transition management with The Links
The founder of The Links explains through a few questions how she came up with the idea of creating a company that bridges the gap between companies and consulting firms. Crisis management, change management, transition missions, specific business projects, temporary work - Juliette Jain responds with great adaptability to all needs. Discover her interview!"
Can you explain to us in a few words your professional background and what led you to create The Links?
One of the big milestones in my life was my years with Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC). It is a large consulting company, which notably does auditing and consulting, and in which I stayed for 14 years. For 10 years I had operational HR responsibilities (recruitment, internal employee management), including planning consultants for clients. It’s a complicated position that requires good strategy and organization.
This allowed me to perfectly master the functioning of service and consulting companies.
I then completed an HR master's degree as well as a coaching certification and that's when I became the Swiss Head of HR of one of the three service lines (Advisory) in Zurich. In this role, I implemented HR strategies in the department and I was a member of the Leadership Committee. During these 14 years at PwC, I was really able to experience and immerse myself in everything that constitutes a consulting company.
This professional experience allowed me to discover a facet of the Human Relations profession which led me to create The Links, according to this business model. Without this, I probably would never have known that consulting companies “loan” talent, just like temp companies.
Back in French-speaking Switzerland, I set out on my own, firstly as a career coach. I have also been a freelancer for the company Move UP in Gland for 4 years, which offers headhunting and HR consulting services.
This is where I realized, especially after Covid, that the market had changed:
- the rapidly growing talent shortage means a longer time to fill a position,
- companies are working more and more in project mode, which was less the case before,
- experienced candidates no longer necessarily have a single job, they often combine several activities in parallel. New models are emerging.
I then had the idea of creating The Links. I partner with service and consulting companies that lend talent.
​What is the difference between a temporary or recruitment agency and The Links?
I only work with people who have consultant DNA, who are used to juggling several positions and carrying out transition missions. I can also place teams, which regularly work together, in cohesion, according to their expertise. Groups of people who know each other and who manage each other.
If I had to summarize the advantages of The Links in three key words, I would say:
- Flexibility
- Simplification of life for the requesting company
- Reactivity
Unlike a temp company which must go through a process of searching for a matching candidate, I can respond to a need in just 48 hours by providing an immediately operational profile.
​In what cases could a company call on The Links to search for talent for a new mission?
In my opinion, there are 4 situations that justify using the services of The Links for a transition mission:
1. The company has already hired its employee but he will not start for several months. In the meantime, she needs someone to transition and fill the position in question.
2. An employee in one of the company's key positions (accounting, payroll, team management, project management, etc.) is on leave. You must be able to carry out your function during your absence.
3. The company wants to outsource services. We are then looking for talent over the longer term.
4. A strategic project (IT migration, takeover, merger, reorganization, etc.) is planned in the medium term and the company needs help to carry it out. However, she does not have the time, resources or contacts to find the project manager she can trust to carry out this task.
​Can you give us a concrete example for which delegating the search for talent to The Links is an advantage?
Let's take the example of a company that is missing an accountant because the employee has burned out. She therefore has no one to make the closings and her need is urgent.
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When we get in touch, we define a budget together. I then approach the companies in my portfolio, I negotiate the price according to our discussion, I give the prerequisite criteria (specific software to know, a minimum level of seniority, their specific skills, languages, etc.).
In the following 2 days, I receive a CV and a price which I send to the requesting company. Once their choice has been made, I organize a tripartite meeting during which a contract is signed.
We then stay in touch. For example, if the company encounters a legal problem during the accounting closing, I provide them with a lawyer - ideally part of the same company as the rest of the team set up - who can respond to their request.
​What is the advantage of going through an intermediary like The Links rather than going directly to a talent provider?
Often, my clients do not know this recruitment model and how it works, nor how to be quick and efficient in this process. They don't have the time or the necessary contacts.
For my part, I make their work easier by getting straight to the point and providing them with a quick response to their needs and emergency situation.
​What is your greatest pride with The Links?
Offer an innovative service on the job market and open a new niche that makes life easier for professionals with quality service.
​What are your preferred areas for which you can provide the best talent-company match to successfully complete a major project?
The sectors of activity that I master best are the fiduciary, finance and consulting professions, the management of transformation projects, support for change and legal compliance.
I am also used to working with IT and digital transformation, leadership and governance, supply chain, human resources, etc. teams.
​What would you like to say to companies reading your article who are hesitant to entrust you with the search for an on-demand specialist, an experienced manager or a transition executive?
Trust me ! I can simplify your life very quickly, while providing you with a quality service that will compensate for the shortage of talent and your problems of lack of resources.
Whatever the context: outsourcing, crisis situation, restructuring, mergers, delicate missions, The Links puts in place an effective action plan to ensure a good transition in your company at short notice.
CONTACT THE LINKS.
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Want to give your talents more visibility via our network ?
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Need an interim manager or a specialist for a limited period of time ?
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Have an idea on how we can collaborate ?
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Looking for more information on "The Links" ?
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We would love to learn more about you, your business needs and how we can contribute to your success.