Building relationships is key

Helland joined Omega 365 in April, while Dahl began her role as Department Manager during the summer in Norway. Both praise their transition to the consulting company and look forward to building up their respective departments with consultants in the coming years.  

“The goal is to build a department of competent and skilled consultants. We work systematically within the system and the database we’ve developed, while also looking into our network to see if there are any interesting names,” says Dahl, emphasizing that there’s also an ethical side to networking.  

“It’s important that we handle our network responsibly. People need to trust us and feel confident that we act with integrity,” she affirms.  

“The most important thing is that we are approachable and show genuine interest in the person sitting across from us. We need to understand what they can do and what they want to work on in the future. It’s also important to present the opportunities within the company, which can include long-term projects, not just the ones that are currently open,” Helland adds.  

Extensive experience 

Helland is approaching eight years in the industry, where he has worked with both consultant placement and permanent recruitment for various sectors and projects, both nationally and internationally. He also holds a bachelor's degree with a specialization in HR and personnel management, along with additional training in team leadership, which he feels is highly valuable in his versatile role as a Department Manager at Omega 365 Consulting.  

“Our goal is to continue bringing in talented consultants while also maintaining strong follow-ups with our clients and partners. This allows us to offer long-term and exciting projects for our consultants, both at home and abroad,” he says.  

“As someone who grew up in Ølensvåg and ran around with the Omega logo on my soccer jersey since childhood, I’ve seen how much a company like Omega gives back to and means to the local community. That, in itself, is a motivation for me in my daily work,” he adds.  

“But perhaps the most motivating aspect is when new candidates reach out to me based on recommendations from other consultants in my department. It confirms that I’m doing something right and underscores the importance of strong relationship-building and follow-up.”  

Strong industry knowledge 

Dahl has been in the recruitment industry for over 15 years, working with both permanent and consulting roles. For the last 13 years, she worked on the client side as a team lead, with Omega 365 as one of the main suppliers. She sees her familiarity with the supplier side as a great advantage, having gotten to know Omega 365 from a different perspective. She also has extensive experience in customer service and holds qualifications in social pedagogy and IT.  

“As Department Managers, it’s important to match the right candidate with the project, to understand and address the client’s needs. It’s crucial to encourage candidates to think about why they are the right fit for a role, making it easier for us to promote them to clients. We prioritize listening to candidates, building trust, and mapping out their experience and their future aspirations,” she explains.  

“We’re undergoing a generational shift and transition, so we must ensure that the valuable experience and expertise of senior staff are passed on to younger professionals who will drive development toward a more sustainable future in our fields,” she adds.  

For Dahl, it was essential to choose an employer that is well-established, with a good reputation in the industry and excellent managers and colleagues.  

“Sharing knowledge, inspiring each other, being a team player, while also respecting and adapting to differences in our daily work, is incredibly important. We need to pull together, set clear goals and frameworks, and make sound decisions. Often, open and honest communication is the most effective approach,” she states.  

Helland joined Omega 365 in April, while Dahl began her role as Department Manager during the summer in Norway.

The importance of networking 

Most of the companies they work with in Stavanger are still in the oil and gas sector.  

“However, we are seeing more clients from renewable energy sources and other green sectors,” Helland notes.  

“And we shouldn’t forget the importance of building strong relationships with our clients, not just our consultants. We depend on satisfied clients who might recommend us to others. A referral from someone they know is worth much more than a call from us, which naturally feels less personal,” Dahl says.  

Although networking can feel like a full-time job that extends beyond regular hours, both are clear that they've become better at distinguishing between work and personal time.  

“Work-life balance has become ingrained in us, especially after the pandemic, when it was even more important to separate work and private life. Flexibility is crucial for all of us now, and as Department Managers and recruiters, we are always somewhat on the job even after hours, whether we’re in meetings or social settings where we can establish new connections with clients or candidates,” says Dahl, who lives in Sola and aims to cycle more to work when spring arrives.  

Recharging the batteries 

Both agree that finding time to recharge is essential, which often involves both food and outdoor activities.  

“With two teenagers, ages 17 and 20, and a Maine Coon cat at home, life is busy. I also enjoy cooking and baking cakes and pastries. I might have a bit of a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate,” says Dahl with a smile.  

“I recharge both with others and with some alone time. A bit of physical activity (often with a competitive element) is never a bad thing, and I usually get that through football and golf. I also rarely turn down an evening with cheese, crackers, wine, and a good movie – and anything from Ace Ventura to Notting Hill to John Wick will do the trick,” Helland concludes.