Bain & Company

Client Objectives 

In 2018, Bain & Company approached Tides Recruitment to support the launch of their new Innovation Hub in Berlin, home to the ADAPT team. Their objective was to build this team from the ground up, requiring niche technical expertise and high-quality talent in a competitive market.

Organisation Overview 

Organisation Size: 20,000+ employees globally
Recruitment Scope: 8 full-time engineering hires, including 3 management-level roles

Challenges 

Technical Barriers: Direct applicants and candidates from other sources were consistently failing technical interviews

Talent Misalignment: The internal recruitment team, based outside Berlin, lacked local insight into the city’s highly international tech ecosystem

Language Skills: A majority of candidates lacked the advanced English communication skills required for client-facing roles

Market Complexity: Bain required hires for five unique and technically demanding roles, including Director of Machine Learning

 Our Strategy 

• Our senior recruitment team identified and approached the most relevant talent in and around Berlin with personalised outreach 

• In-person meetings were arranged with shortlisted candidates to deliver tailored presentations on Bain, the Innovation Hub, and specific career paths 

• Candidates were guided through the process with detailed insights, helping them understand the firm’s culture, expectations, and long-term opportunities 

• This face-to-face, consultative approach helped us build strong candidate relationships and uncover exceptional talent aligned with Bain’s vision 

Solutions and Results 

• 8 full-time hires, including 3 at management level 

• 5 complex job titles successfully filled 

• 1 in 5 conversion rate from candidate introduction to hire 

• Over 90 percent offer acceptance rate 

• 100 percent retention, with all candidates passing their probation period 

• Our local market knowledge and high-touch approach enabled us to meet Bain’s standards despite language and qualification challenges 

Testimonial 

Vaibhav Singh Director, Bain & Company 

“Courtney helped me to get recruited at Bain & Company. He was very professional and knew the advantages of working in an international firm like this. Without his introduction to the company I would have been quite apprehensive to join. 

He helped me navigate through the entire journey of the recruitment process, from an initial introductory call to carving out the final contract. Kudos for being available outside office hours and even on weekends. 

I would really recommend him for his professionalism and dedication to helping the hiring manager find the right talent while motivating the candidate to go through the process.”