How Woonzorg Flevoland modernised their recruitment with WhatsApp Hiring

Every year, the recruiters of Woonzorg Flevoland face the challenge of filling 400–500 vacancies. The diversity of the target group necessitates a flexible approach to communication. Since switching to WhatsApp Hiring, recruiters have immediately noticed the difference: faster responses, more engagement, and a process that feels modern.

About Woonzorg Flevoland

Woonzorg Flevoland is a healthcare organisation in Lelystad and Almere ( The Netherlands), active in elderly care, including nursing, care, and home care services. The search for helpers, caregivers, and nurses is an ongoing process. The recruitment team consists of four recruiters who are jointly responsible for hundreds of vacancies every year.

We spoke with Stefano van de Sant, Interim Team Leader for recruitment. Since April, he has been focusing on improving processes and repositioning the recruitment team. WhatsApp Hiring now plays an important role in this.

The challenge: a broad target group and difficult communication

Due to the large number of vacancies and the diversity of candidates – ranging from trainees and care professionals to staff positions at the head office – Woonzorg Flevoland encountered several obstacles.

"Basically, we recruit almost every target group you can think of", says Stefano. "From practical to theoretical training, and from status holders to people with long careers. This requires flexibility: you can't approach everyone in the same way. Both tone and communication channel need to be adjusted constantly".

In addition, many healthcare workers were difficult to reach due to irregular shifts. Emails disappeared in spam filters, phone calls and voicemails were rarely answered. The result: slow responses, missed candidates, and a high number of no-shows at job interviews, even on the first day of work.

"With such a broad target group, you notice that a single communication channel doesn't work", Stefano summarises. The search for a better solution thus became inevitable.

The solution: WhatsApp Hiring

In June 2025, Woonzorg Flevoland started using WhatsApp Hiring, an integration within Tellent Recruitee. The ATS was implemented in January and expanded during the summer.

WhatsApp Hiring added significant value to the system: applications from WhatsApp are automatically linked to the ATS, making it easy for recruiters to track. This is a lot easier than keeping track of many separate emails or having to call back again and again. 

“Our target group wants mobile and easy contact. WhatsApp fits in perfectly with that.”

Stefano van de Sant

Interim Teamleider Recruitment

Applications come in through the careers page, LinkedIn, Indeed, and referrals. Candidates are then contacted via WhatsApp. For the younger target group, QR codes are also placed on posters and advertisements. Candidates can start a conversation in WhatsApp 24/7, ask questions, and apply directly. 

WhatsApp as a common thread: from job application to first day at work

At Woonzorg Flevoland, WhatsApp is not only important during the application phase; it continues to be an essential means of contact even after that.

• Candidates receive reminders via WhatsApp for job interviews and start dates to prevent no-shows.
• To ensure important emails with documents, such as employment contracts, do not end up in spam, candidates receive a notification via WhatsApp. This means the email is opened faster, and the agreement is signed smoothly.
• Leading up to the first day, candidates receive personal updates and congratulatory messages, including practical information like collecting uniforms or access badges.

In this way, WhatsApp forms a common thread throughout the candidate journey, from the first contact to the first day of work.

The result: faster communication and a better candidate experience

Within the first few months after going live with the integration, recruiters observed that they could reach candidates more quickly via WhatsApp. The candidate experience has also improved: the application process feels a lot more modern and accessible.

"Interns and other young target groups respond well to WhatsApp. They are also more forgiving towards the chatbot. But WhatsApp Hiring also offers a solution for candidates without a computer or email, as is often the case with vacancies for domestic support", says Stefano.

‍

Verpleegkundigen en verzorgenden gebruiken zowel e-mail als WhatsApp, maar reageren in de praktijk merkbaar sneller via WhatsApp. En dat betekent: minder vertraging in het sollicitatieproces.

Volgens Stefano doet WhatsApp Hiring ook iets met het imago van het bedrijf: “Sommigen zeggen letterlijk: wat leuk dat ik een appje krijg, wat snel en modern zijn jullie.”

Nurses and caregivers use both email and WhatsApp, but in practice, respond noticeably faster via WhatsApp. And that means fewer delays in the application process.

According to Stefano, WhatsApp Hiring also positively affects the company's image: "Some people literally say: how nice that I get a message, you are so quick and modern".

To the future

With WhatsApp Hiring, Woonzorg Flevoland has taken a good first step towards a faster and simpler application process. In particular, reaching candidates is now noticeably easier.

At the same time, the new workflow requires a behavioural change for hiring managers – the managers who contact candidates after the initial screening by recruiters. 

Where they used to use their own mobile phones, communication now takes place centrally via Tellent Recruitee. This provides greater structure and professionalism, but still requires a bit of getting used to.

In the coming period, Stefano wants to further optimise the use of WhatsApp Hiring. This might include: 

• The addition of QR codes on the updated careers page
• Offering more training for jobholders 
• Performing a numerical analysis of the results.

He concludes: "It's a fantastic contemporary product that fully responds to the needs of both companies and candidates. It simply lives up to your expectations".

‍

Just like Woonzorg Flevoland, you can use WhatsApp Hiring to communicate faster, reach candidates more effectively, and modernize your recruitment process. Try WhatsApp Hiring for free or book a demo.