When technology and sector knowledge drive complex technical searches: the partnership between Mapei and Reverse

The Client

Mapei is a leading industrial company in the chemical sector for construction, founded in 1937 in Milan and now led by the third generation of the Squinzi family. With over 13,000 employees worldwide, 106 plants and a presence in 59 countries, Mapei demonstrates solid and responsible growth, in Italy and worldwide, maintaining a strong family identity while operating in international markets and 26 Product Lines.

In terms of recruiting, Mapei hires over 150 resources per year in Italy alone, for very diversified roles, from business to product management, from engineering to research, from IT to commercial. All roles that require specific technical skills and often a deep knowledge of the sector.

But what distinguishes Mapei is the centrality of people. As Silvia Di Tacchio, Regional Talent Acquisition Manager, emphasizes: "We are a company with a strong focus on people. For us, they represent a fundamental value, and it is essential to orient our activity by putting people at the center. It is not only important to focus on growth and business, but it is fundamental to look at the relational dimension and softer aspects, such as collaboration and team spirit. This is also reflected in our approach towards suppliers, who for us must become true partners with whom to forge an effective, transparent, quality collaboration aimed at achieving the common goal of attracting and integrating the best people for our reality."

The challenges

The complexity of recruiting at Mapei is articulated on several fronts, each of which represents a specific challenge that requires dedicated skills and approaches.

A technocratic company with highly specialized needs

As Silvia Di Tacchio clearly emphasizes: "Mapei is a company strongly oriented towards specialization and technical know-how, where most job opportunities focus on technical skills that can concern the business area, the engineering area related to Operations, the Research and Development area, the IT area, and others. We know very well that the labor market for these types of figures has particularly changed and we must be competitive at all levels."

This dimension pervades the entire organization: it's not simply about finding generically qualified professionals, but about identifying first and then engaging people with very specific, often niche, technical skills who can easily fit into our context and contribute to the company's growth, embracing our philosophy and values.

Organizational complexity and high volume of hires

Given the organizational complexity and breadth of departments, Mapei finds itself simultaneously managing heterogeneous searches for which a structured selection process is required, aimed at maintaining a high quality of evaluated profiles.

Success in completing searches therefore requires continuity and consistency in approach, as well as the ability to respond promptly and effectively to the most urgent needs.

Cultural alignment in a strong family values context

Technical expertise is not enough: candidates must resonate with a distinctive company culture, characterized by family values, attention to the individual, and a long-term growth orientation. As Giulia Sedazzari of Mapei's Talent Acquisition team emphasizes: "What we have appreciated, and what we seek every time, is a supplier, a partner who understands not only the technical profile, but also the context and the approach the candidate must have."

Finding this delicate balance requires that recruitment providers also have a deep understanding of the company's identity, in addition to the ability to evaluate the behavioral and motivational skills of candidates with an ethical approach towards the proposed candidates.

The solution

The collaboration with Reverse is based on two elements that Mapei has identified as essential: a deep knowledge of the sector and the ability to operate with a truly consultative approach. From the initial agreement, the partnership has evolved into a continuous collaboration on diversified projects characterized by three distinctive pillars.

1. A technological dashboard that makes a difference

The element that immediately captured Mapei's attention, right from the first contact, was Reverse's dashboard, a technological platform that represented a real differentiating factor, as it enhances an approach of transparency and sharing of the work being carried out.

The dashboard is not simply a visualization tool, but represents a paradigm shift in how research progress is managed and communicated. The platform offers a real-time, complete, and structured view of the entire search process and a comprehensive and immediate overview of profile mapping.

As Giulia Sedazzari explains: "For difficult searches, it is necessary to provide the line with mapping tools, data, numbers, in the spirit of transparency and sharing. Thanks to Reverse's dashboard, the work behind each search becomes visible and shareable, helping the manager understand what the market responds to."

Silvia Di Tacchio emphasizes a further aspect of the dashboard: "This tool provides ordered and organic timelines, fundamental in situations of particular urgency."

2. Sector knowledge and understanding of company culture

What truly makes the partnership work is the depth of understanding that Reverse has developed regarding Mapei's context, both from a sectoral and cultural point of view.

In fact, in addition to careful analysis of motivation for change, when necessary, Reverse, through Collaborative Recruiting®, activates specialized Scouts who can support the main consultant to delve into particularly complex technical aspects or to validate very specific skills. This ability to access vertical sectoral competencies when needed represents an additional element of flexibility and value.

The ability to "see" the fit between candidate and company is the result of a mutual investment in the relationship. On the one hand, Mapei has opened the doors of its organization, sharing with Reverse not only job descriptions but also values, internal dynamics, and distinctive features of the company culture. On the other hand, Reverse has dedicated time and attention to truly understanding this context, asking questions, and immersing itself in the company's specificities. This is not something that can be improvised: it requires the willingness of both parties to build a deep and shared understanding.

3. A truly consultative approach

The relationship with Reverse stands out for its ability to be a true strategic partner, going beyond the simple role of a recruiting services provider to assume a 360° consulting function.

This consulting approach manifests itself in different ways. First of all, in active listening to needs and willingness to discuss.

The Job Reputation Analysis, in particular, proved to be a valuable tool for making strategic decisions that go beyond a single search: understanding the company's positioning in the labor market, validating attraction strategies, and identifying any areas for improvement in the Employer Value Proposition.

Secondly, in the speed of response, particularly appreciated in a dynamic context like Mapei's. Giulia Sedazzari explains: "The speed of response we received convinced us to continue with multiple collaborations. We are a dynamic company, where priorities can change quickly and new needs can emerge in a short time. Having quick and effective responses allows us to proceed functionally."

Silvia Di Tacchio effectively summarizes what a true partnership means: "When we entrust a project, we seek a real sharing of all information to work in a win-win perspective."

It is this principle of reciprocity and transparent information sharing that characterizes the relationship between Mapei and Reverse, transforming it from a simple client-supplier relationship into a true strategic partnership.

The results: a collaboration that continues to grow

The partnership between Mapei and Reverse has been consolidated over time through numerous searches, concrete results, technology that makes a difference, and above all a relationship of trust built through transparency and competence.

In summary: the success factors

The partnership between Mapei and Reverse is therefore based on three pillars that integrate to create mutual value:

1. Technology at the service of transparency

The dashboard offers complete visibility over the entire search process: contacted profiles, reasons for refusal, feedback, market analysis. This tool allows real-time updates and operational autonomy for the HR team, facilitating dialogue with Line Managers.

2. Sectoral competence and deep cultural understanding

Sector knowledge translates into the ability to precisely map the market, identify companies from which to draw talent, and activate specialized Scouts when necessary. But it goes beyond: it means proposing technically prepared candidates who are culturally aligned with a company with a strong family identity.

3. 360° consulting approach: data-oriented, fast response and execution

Detailed market analysis, Job Reputation Analysis, and data for a continuous and strengthening collaboration, demonstrating how technological tools, sector expertise, and a strategic approach can integrate to generate value in the recruitment of complex technical profiles.