Objective insights, meaningful matches: the power of Career Anchors in TAG’s hiring process

At TAG, we believe recruitment is about more than filling a position: we’re shaping futures. That’s why, throughout our recruitment process, we aim to not only identify top-tier talent but also empower candidates with meaningful insights into their professional selves. Achieving that takes more than gut feeling. Among other things, it requires adeep understanding of what truly drives people to excel. Enter our Career Anchors questionnaire.

From consistency to clarity: how TAG makes recruitment meaningful for every candidate

Hiring decisions carry weight. And with weight comes responsibility. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive recruitment process – including the Career Anchors questionnaire – that combines objectivity with a personal touch. As a result, every candidate is assessed on equal footing and with a deep understanding of their ambitions, energisers, and personality. We apply the same standards to all. The result? Consistent outcomes across different interviewers.

Why is this important? Because striving for excellence means making tough choices. Not everyone willbe selected... But everyone deserves to understand why. Whether it’s a yes or a no, we provide clear, constructive feedback, grounded in a robust and transparent methodology.

“A professional recruitment process should be reproducible, objective, andpersonal. Therefore, we ask questions designed to produce answers with minimal variability, ensuring that different interviewers, following the same approach, arrive at similar evaluations. This allows us to treat every candidate fairly and transparently. When you aim for excellence, you must also be willing to say‘no’. And when we do, we want people to leave not just with a generic answer, but with clarity.”

– Peter Verboven, CEO & Chief Cultural Officer at TAG - ‍

From motivation to purpose: the science behind Career Anchors

To move beyond subjective impressions, we rely on tools that bring clarity and consistency. Among them are standardised interview templates, detailed hand-off documents and – most distinctively – the Career Anchors survey.

Do you think that’s just another personality test? Think again! It's a diagnostic tool based on a peer-reviewed psychological framework developed by Edgar Schein. With the academic expertise of Flanders Business School, led by Prof. Bart Van Looy, we've refined the model into a practical instrument that supports both our recruitment team and candidates.

24 carefully curated statements, rated on a scale from 1 to 4: that’s the base of the questionnaire. These statements help surface what people often feel but can’t articulate themselves. The results reveal their core motivators, shed light on their strengths and uncover their individual preferences.

In short: it helps people understand what truly drives them in their career. Intriguing knowledge that might have long existed beneath the surface, quietly influencing choices, but never clearly named.

“The Career Anchors questionnaire gives you insight into who you are. It sheds light on your values, your comfort zone, and where you can still grow. Since completing the assessment, I can better explain my own choices and move forward with confidence. My Career Anchors results are a treasure trove of insights.”

– Wout Van Dyck, Consultant at TAG -

From insight to impact: how Career Anchors guide long-term career growth

Taking the Career Anchors survey opens the door to deep self-reflection. For some, the results are affirming. For others,surprisingly eye-opening. Either way, far from boxing people in, the outcome facilitates an honest, human conversation about long-term growth, for both sides. The more sincerely it is completed, the more powerful it becomes.

For candidates, this process adds value regardless of the outcome. It provides perspective, clarity, and language for ambition. For recruiters, it sharpens the dialogue. We don’t just explore skills; we look for the perfect fit. Are you someone who thrives through mastery? Or do you feel most energised when leading others? Are you driven by challenge, stability, or impact? These insights guide how we design roles, tailor career paths, and align expectations – right from the start.

“What strikes me the most is how often, even when there’s no job offer, someone says: ‘I’ve really learned something about myself.’ That’s what I find most rewarding: offering people a moment of clarity they didn’t expect, and that they’re genuinely grateful for. That’s also why I encourage candidates to take our Career Anchors assessment seriously and honestly. It’s perfectly fine to give yourself a 1 or a 4.”

– Peter Verboven, CEO & Chief Cultural Officer at TAG -

Wonder what fuels your ambition?

Lets find out. Take the Career Anchors survey >>