Péter Varga for HR portal: the fastest get the best candidates

Manpower Hungary Managing director Péter Varga recently featured in HR Portal, one of the country’s most respected HR platforms.  

In an in-depth interview, Péter shared his perspective on how recruitment is evolving— the importance of speed, changing candidate expectations, and successful hiring strategies. 

These themes are reflected in Manpower Hungary’s recent growth. Demand for flexibility has driven a doubling of our temporary staffing and outsourcing services, especially in the IT and creative sectors. At the same time, we’re addressing white-collar talent shortages through focused headhunting and proactive sourcing. 

Prioritizing quality and remaining agile in the HR market 

Manpower Hungary is focusing strongly on temporary staffing, outsourcing, and white-collar PERM recruitment, with demand for flexible workforce solutions driving major growth—our temp and outsourcing services doubled last year.  

As companies navigate uncertainty, they're increasingly relying on freelancers, gig workers, and project-based professionals, especially in IT and creative sectors.  

In permanent recruitment, we're addressing market challenges like a shrinking talent pool and longer hiring cycles by intensifying headhunting efforts to secure top candidates. 

The fastest get the best candidates 

One of the key takeaways from the interview with Péter is the growing importance of speed in recruitment. As candidate expectations shift and talent competition intensifies, quick and efficient processes have become a major differentiator.  

As Péter points out, “The fastest get the best candidates.” 

In many cases, companies lose out on great talent simply because their hiring process takes too long. Beyond that, long recruitment cycles can damage a company’s reputation—candidates remember how they were treated and how quickly decisions were made. 

At Manpower, speed doesn’t mean rushing—it means having clear communication, aligned decision-makers, and a realistic timeline.  

In most cases, if the role is well-defined, we can introduce candidates within a few days. A full selection process typically takes between 15 and 30 days.

What makes a good HR consultant? 

A good HR consultant thrives in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment—which is why continuous learning is key.  

At Manpower, we invest in strong training and career development, helping junior consultants grow fast while keeping our seniors engaged and evolving—many of whom have been with us for years, bringing valuable experience and stability.  

Our consultants often work with multiple clients at once, which helps them adapt quickly, learn fast, and gain broad industry insight—a big reason why many juniors prefer starting their careers in recruitment agencies. 

Read the full interview with Péter Varga, Country Manager, now available on HR Portal.