This session will explore how DJI has made speed a cornerstone of its recruitment strategy, guiding candidates from first contact to final selection within just three weeks.
We will present the structure and philosophy behind The Pulse (Hartslag), the new national recruitment approach developed to respond to persistent staffing shortages. Starting from a fragmented and slow process, DJI analyzed how to improve efficiency while maintaining high standards. A key question was whether recruitment criteria could be adjusted to attract more candidates - and if so, how to do this without compromising on quality.
The outcome: psychological testing was redefined as advisory rather than decisive, giving management greater discretion in hiring. The new method was piloted at five sites and has since been rolled out nationally.
Key results include:
• Significantly reduced turnaround times
• Higher conversion rates
• Increased satisfaction among both candidates and hiring managers
By early 2025, the inflow of staff had outpaced outflow. In 2023, DJI recorded a net gain of +178 employees; in 2024, this rose to +518. The first quarter of 2025 shows continued growth.
Most prison locations have now reached full staffing levels. Moving forward, The Pulse will remain DJI’s standard recruitment method. For certain prisons with persistent shortages, additional recruitment investment will be made.
We will conclude with key lessons learned and practical insights for organizations facing similar workforce challenges. After that we have some time for answering questions of the audience.
Moderated by Kathleen Van de Vijver, Board Member, ICPA, Belgium
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Jaco Hoogendoorn
Strategic Advisor HR, HR Programmanager, Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI), Netherlands
Jaco Hoogendoorn is an experienced HR professional who has built his career shaping and strengthening HR strategy within national, regional, and local government organizations in the Netherlands. His journey began at a Police organization, where he established and led a department responsible for recruiting, selecting, and training young police officers.
Over the years, he has developed cross-government collaborations between municipalities, safety regions, and water authorities, focusing on creating internal and external labor markets. These partnerships have been designed to provide growth opportunities for employees while helping organizations retain valuable talent.
In 2022, he joined the Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) during a period when staff outflow exceeded inflow and the labor market was under significant pressure. His assignment was to design a future-proof recruitment department while working toward a positive balance between inflow and outflow. In 2023, he developed the Hartslag approach—a method based on closer cooperation between recruitment and operational teams and placing the candidate at the center of the process. This approach became the foundation for the new recruitment department, which launched in 2024.
Since 2025, he has been serving as a Strategic HR Advisor, guiding DJI's national leadership on workforce strategies and long-term personnel planning. He brings a collaborative approach and a deep commitment to connecting people with meaningful careers in public service, while continuously striving to enhance DJI’s role in society.
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Toon Molleman
Deputy Director, Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI), Netherlands
Dr. Toon Molleman is the deputy director of prisons and immigration detention at the Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI). He previously worked as a prison director of the penitentiary institution of Arnhem and Leeuwarden. Dr. Molleman received his PhD in 2014 at Utrecht University (Methodology & statistics) by creating a benchmark for prisons. During his PhD research, Dr. Molleman worked at the Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) of the Ministry of Justice and Safety.
