Philip Deberg from Dessel has been putting up the Christmas tree in Turnhout and Herentals every year since 2006. 'It has become a tradition and so I can pop in for a chat. After all, they have done so much for me.'

After Philip got his secondary education diploma, he started to retrain through evening classes. But during the day, Philip did not sit still. He went to the Select HR office in Geel to look for interim work. 'That way I had a lot of freedom. I could basically quit every week,' but that was not the case. 'I stood there every Friday to sign my contract for the next week. In time, they no longer had to call me and it was an obvious fact that I was standing there.'

'They couldn't get it put together'

And so began the Christmas tree tradition. 'One Friday evening in December, I came in and saw Nele messing with her Christmas tree. It was one of those plastic ones and she couldn't get it put together. I was there anyway and lent a hand. When Nele moved to the Turnhout office, Philip put up the tree there too. And then, when the office in Herentals also opened its doors, he thought it only logical to put up the Christmas tree there too. 'I couldn't make them sit down then,' he says.

'Real people who are always there for you'

Philip hasn't let go of Select HR since that first Christmas tree. He first found work there on an interim basis for five years and is now permanently employed by Astra Sweets in Turnhout thanks to Select HR. 'Select HR is actually completely different from an interim office. Nothing is too much to ask. They are also real people who are always there for you. If you need to pick up a C4, they take the time to chat. They don't just let you down.

One phone call and I know they will look for me

Meanwhile, Philip is permanently employed by his current employer. But if he wanted to change jobs, he knows where to go. 'I only have to make one phone call and I know the whole team will be looking for a new challenge for me. They know me by now. They know perfectly who I am, what I do and which job suits me. I have worked for several companies through Select HR and have never had to do a job against my will.'

Philip still occasionally tries to pop into the office. 'With the holidays, I come to put up the Christmas tree, that way we can catch up again. After all, they have also done a lot for me. A job is not nothing in a lifetime.'