On paper, yes. But the question we keep coming back to is this: can company years really be compared to regular years? Or can a company age both forward and backwards in time – depending on market shifts, experience, and pace?
When We Select turns 15 in january 2026, we don’t just want to count years. We want to talk about experience, pride, and what has truly shaped us. That’s why we bring together two perspectives from our journey so far: Patrik Jankevics, one of our co-founders, who was there when it all began and who is still here today, working closely with customers and nurturing the relationships that have been at the core of We Select from day one. Alongside him is Alexandra Vult, our current CEO, who is leading We Select into its next chapter. Together, they look both backward and forward on the journey that has made us who we are.
Patrik on the history, the journey, and pride
Hi Patrik! When you look back at the early days, what was the original vision and what turned out differently than you expected?
“When we started We Select, it was really based on a simple observation: recruitment shouldn’t cost three months’ salary, regardless of role. At the same time, we believed that candidates deserve transparency – to know which company they’re applying to and to have a good experience throughout the process, whether they move forward or not.
The vision wasn’t completely clear from the start, but at its core, it was about making recruitment more accessible and less expensive. I probably thought everyone would immediately understand and buy into our concept – that it would become a kind of self-playing piano with recurring customers. That wasn’t quite how it turned out.
When we later started working with social media and developing our own recruitment system, it was initially for our own needs, to avoid manual candidate sourcing and instead use the system to get closer to both candidates and customers. Looking back now, it’s clear that almost everything has changed along the way.”
When you look at We Select today, what are you most proud of that we’ve built, protected, or dared to change?
“What I’m most proud of are the customer relationships we’ve built over time. There are customers who genuinely appreciate We Select – how we work, how we advise, and the close, honest dialogue we maintain.
Choosing to move away from manual recruitment and instead focus on becoming best-in-class in social media–driven recruitment is, to me, our greatest success. Letting go of what was then our largest revenue stream during 2019-2020 was without a doubt the boldest decision we’ve ever made. It was a crucial step toward building a scalable We Select and laying the foundation for the journey we’re still on today.”
Alexandra on how old we really are and where we’re headed
Hi Alexandra. From your perspective as CEO, how old does We Select feel today?
“It’s always hard to be completely objective about your own age, whether as a person or as a company. But if age is about time, and time leads to experience and insight, then We Select is undoubtedly experienced. With 15 years in the recruitment industry, we’ve seen multiple shifts and trends come and go.
At the same time, we’ve never been stuck in a “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset. On the contrary – we’ve been change-driven, curious, and quick to adapt.
In organizational development, people sometimes talk about a “company year” being equivalent to several calendar years in terms of learning and maturity. In that sense, We Select has lived a fairly intense life. So maybe it’s 15 years on paper, closer to 50 years in learning and maturity – but at the same time only five years old in how it feels, as a modern scale-up with both solid experience and high pace.”
What most clearly shows that We Select is more than just “15 years on paper”?
“The clearest sign is our constant willingness to challenge ourselves. Our way of working has never been static – it’s shaped by how candidates, customers, and technology actually change, not by how things were done in the past.
There’s a culture of decision-making and fast course correction, something you usually associate with younger companies, but in our case it’s grounded in many years of experience. That combination of confidence and adaptability allows us to try new things without compromising quality.
You can see this in our offering as well. We don’t sell solutions that are convenient for us – we build what’s relevant right now and designed to evolve over time. That comes from having lived through several phases and learned what truly creates value.”
Looking ahead, what do you want We Select to be known for in the years to come, and what should we never lose along the way?
"In a few years, I want We Select to be known as the company that truly brought HR and marketing together – and turned recruitment into a strategic business priority. I want more leadership teams to see the value of a well-thought-out recruitment plan in the same natural way they see the value of a marketing plan.
We should be known for driving the evolution of recruitment marketing by combining tech, data, and creativity into a unified approach that delivers measurable impact – for the business, the organization, and the candidate experience.
At the same time, we can never stop questioning ourselves or being curious. Our strength lies in making bold decisions, daring to let things go, and continuously evolving our products and services as the market changes.
Our first 15 years aren’t something we lean back on – but they are the foundation that allows us to think longer-term, take greater responsibility, and continue driving change. And finally, we should never forget to have genuinely fun together. That’s absolutely essential to our continued success."
15 years in. Far from done.
Yes, 15 years can mean many things. For us, it’s less about the number and more about the experience behind it – what we’ve learned, the relationships we continue to nurture, and the drive that keeps us moving forward.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of We Select since our start in 2011. To those who’ve been with us along the way, contributed, shaped, and left their mark – and to those who are with us today, taking We Select into 2026 and beyond. With curiosity, ambition, and a clear direction, we’re just as excited about what’s ahead as we are proud of what we’ve already built.
