INTERVIEW

Tomasz Lisewski:

“It’s not so easy to change career”

In February, Tomasz Lisewski, the former managing director of Philips Polska, became the managing director of the Barrett Group Europe, an agency that helps high-level managers to make career changes. Bulletin talked to him about his new company.

Can you tell us something more about the Barrett Group and what you do for managers looking to change position?

"After leaving a corporate life, I realised that it’s not so easy to change career and find your next role because the recruitment industry serves the needs of companies first.

So I started to look for a different, better way. In the US, I found a model that works for individual executives, helping them to target the industries and companies of their choice and getting them in front of the decision-makers to present their value directly. This is the socalled unpublished job market, which represents 75% of executive recruitment. That’s why I joined the Barrett Group and that’s what we help executives to achieve in Europe." You have extensive experience on both the Polish and Dutch markets. How does this experience help you in your new position?

"It helps me a lot because the executive job market has become a Europe-wide game. More and more companies are recruiting across Europe now, and more and more executives are open to moving to another country. So understanding how the markets work in different countries, also including Germany, the UK and Switzerland, is an advantage."

What has changed in your industry due to the COVID-19 virus?

"Many European companies have obviously put hiring on hold, planning to start it again in Q3, but a number of companies are also still continuing with their recruitment, building their bench up so they are ready for when their business opens up again. It’s also very selective by industry. Some industries, especially travel and hospitality, have been very negatively affected, but others, such as IT, healthcare, food and groceries, are doing quite well and are still hiring. Therefore, if someone wants to find a new role, it’s better to start now because the longer they wait, the more competition there will be for fewer posts."