Building Stronger Futures with Long-term Partners: Introducing Talentor Estonia

by Manto Antoniotti Solares in — July 2024
Our partners from Estonia were the first ones from the Baltic region who joined the Talentor network more than 20 years ago, and we can say that it has been an incredible journey so far!
Blog 2024 Talentor International Estonia Intro Blog Post

We talked with Talentor Estonia’s Partner, Anneli Salminen, to learn more about the current situation of her company and how being part of an international network of recruitment and selection of executives, such as Talentor, has influenced its business development to continue finding the Leaders for Tomorrow locally and globally.

Hello Anneli, many of our Partners already had the pleasure of meeting you, others are eager to do so or to get to know you better. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My career in the area of recruitment started in 2016 after having worked 20 years in the insurance business. In 2016 I finished my second education in psychology and decided to change my career. When I started working in HR area I realized that I have a passion for recruitment. Years ago I used to work in sales which I was great at. I feel that in some ways there are similarities between sales and recruitment and as I flourished in sales I believe I’m good at recruitment also!

Can you tell us a little bit about Talentor Estonia?

Talentor Estonia was founded 20 years ago and I joined the team as Partner in 2021. Over the years, the size of our team has fluctuated, but our primary focus has always been executive search.

We collaborate with both local and international companies of varying sizes. We take great pride in our Estonian clients, many of whom are highly ambitious and successful. It is our privilege to assist them in finding talented team members.

Besides executive search services, we offer a range of other recruitment solutions, such as interim recruitment partnerships. We support our clients through the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding to outplacement.

What would you like to emphasize about the search for talent and recruiting in Estonia?

Estonia's small, open economy presents both advantages and limitations. This dynamic is mirrored in the recruitment field. While our talent pool is limited, our candidates are eager to embrace new challenges if they are drawn to a company's business concept, values, and opportunities for personal growth. In a small country like Estonia, the employer's reputation and the hiring manager's personality are crucial.

Factors such as an aging population, the demand for specialized roles, and economic shifts compel companies to be more flexible. They must create opportunities for retraining, promote diversity, and be open to international recruitment.

Why did your company join Talentor?

We decided to join Talentor network to be part of the international community, which is particularly important in a small country and gives us a competitive edge.

The value of the Talentor network lies in the blend of accessing international experience and knowledge while retaining the autonomy to operate as an independent entrepreneur, making decisions for your own company.

The Partners of Talentor have the same values, which gives everybody a sense of security and belonging. Being able to ask for advice from your colleagues at any time is very important in a small company.

Do you have a particular moment, situation or collaboration within Talentor that you would like to highlight?

We hold annual meetings with other Talentor enterprises, which are highly valuable for sharing experiences and new trends, and for creating a safe space to discuss our challenges and concerns. Additionally, small focus groups for marketing, generalists, IT, production, and other industries regularly convene to exchange knowledge and enhance their practices. These gatherings provide an excellent opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and share insights on overcoming failures.

What do you think has surprised Talentor partners the most about the Estonian market?

The partners have been surprised by the fact that Estonia has the highest number of unicorns per capita in Europe.

If you had to say the 3 main benefits of belonging to Talentor, which aspects would you choose and why?

  • First, being a part of an international network of Executive Search companies, rated as one of the Top 40 Executive Search providers globally.
  • Second, the many Cross-border projects in cooperation with the Talentor partners.
  • And third, the practical support of other partners and close collaboration with focus groups like the active Marketing Practice Group.

At Talentor, we are pleased to know our partners' perspectives on what being part of our network means to them and how cross-border collaborations have helped their companies grow, and to face challenges in their local markets.

We are happy to have partners like Talentor Estonia characterized by its dynamic and adaptable nature to growing our community in their country and region by finding the leaders for tomorrow: highly skilled Estonian professionals open to embracing new challenges. Thank you Anneli for sharing this interview with us, we appreciate your company’s commitment and loyalty to Talentor for so long! And we look forward to many years together!

For more information and to contact Talentor Estonia directly, click here.

Talentor International Team Manto Antoniotti 2

Manto Antoniotti Solares

Marketing Consultant