We’re delighted to welcome the newest recruit to our Singapore office, Neal Beets, who joins the technology desk as a Manager to flesh out our IT security remit. Get to know Neal in his first Q&A with Oliver James…

So first things first Neal, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background

My background lies in technology sales, covering everything from insurance to internet and telephone connections, so the move into IT recruitment was a natural fit for me. I started out my career at Spilberg, where I became a .NET consultant for the Amsterdam region, winning ‘Rookie of the Year’, and being promoted to Lead Consultant. Ultimately, I was entrusted to build a new brand for our company, called Tergos. In making the switch to management, I oversaw this operation which started with nothing and transformed into a successful start-up within one year.

Why OJ Singapore?
As much as I love home, I’ve always felt there’s more to the world than Holland. So far, I’ve lived in England for three years, done a semester abroad during university, and travelled to Asia after my Master’s degree, so travel has definitely played a pivotal role throughout my formative years. Funnily enough, it was actually a guy I met in Indonesia who advised me to check out recruitment!

Why did I choose Oliver James at this point in my career? Because I’d been exploring the IT security market for several months, and could see great viability in the APAC region. I heard that the business was considering expanding into this sector, so I decided to reach out. After speaking with Oliver, James and Toby, I realized a position here was an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse. Not only am I part of this amazing international company with room to grow, I get to prove myself within an exciting discipline and thriving region.

What disciplines will you cover?

My work will focus on IT security, which comprises all technical, governance and risk-related roles.

What level/type of candidate will you place?

I’ll mainly be handling senior positions, ranging from hands-on technical positions such as IAM specialists and PEN- testers to VP/Director positions overseeing cyber and information security teams. On the non-technical side, I’ll be searching for auditing and risk specialists, as well as VPs and Directors.

What does your future at OJ look like?

Over the next year, I’ll be building up my team and making sure all the companies looking for IT security specialists know that we’re the recruitment firm to trust. After that, who knows! The beauty of working at company like Oliver James is that there’s no limit to your progression – whether that’s here in Asia or in one of our 11 other global offices. What I am certain of is that I’m excited to see what the future brings. 

For opportunities in IT Security, contact Neal Beets today on neal.beets@ojassociates.com or +6569022791.