Engineering is an especially complex industry, which is why making hiring decisions is so delicate when it comes to engineering recruitment. Bad hiring decisions can be detrimental in the engineering industry since poor practice can be dangerous. As a result, the cost of a bad hire in the UK engineering industry can affect someone’s health and wellbeing.
Here at BMS Engineering, we can teach you how to recruit engineers in the best way. As recruitment specialists, we know exactly what you should be searching for in a new recruit. From their CV to the interview, there are certain things that you need to look out for to avoid hiring the wrong engineers for your company.
Analyse Their CV
A CV is likely the first encounter that you’ll have with a candidate so, naturally, you’ll need to analyse it. With this being said, you shouldn’t overanalyse a CV and refuse to consider a candidate simply because their CV isn’t what you expect. If their CV suggests that they have what’s required for the role, make sure you interview them before making any rash decisions. Especially in the engineering sector, some of the best candidates have the most limited CVs as they’re not inclined to use embellished language and tend to stick to concise bullet points.
Some managers prefer a bullet-pointed overview, whereas others like a detailed description of day-to-day duties. Everyone is different, so refrain from ruling out a candidate simply because you dislike the formatting and style of their CV.
Look at References
Collecting references can be a lengthy process, but good references are key for any new hire. The employment market is currently densely populated by engineers, but only a handful of them can be considered as the best. Therefore, the best way to narrow down your candidate list is by attaining first-hand information from previous employers. Even if you’re hiring a graduate and they’ve not previously worked in the engineering sector, any information from previous employers will tell you about their attitude to work. A good attitude is the most important aspect of any new recruit as this conveys a willingness to learn above all else.
Know the Specification
Engineering is an extremely varied sector with roles of all levels and specifications. Each specification will require a different set of skills, whilst each level will expect varying amounts of experience. So, ahead of the interview stage, you should know the specification that you’re recruiting for inside out. This will assist you in various aspects of the hiring process, from whittling down CVs for interviews to selecting the right questions to ask. After all, there’s no point interviewing someone with the skills of an aerospace engineer to fill a biomedical engineer’s position. As previously mentioned, attitude is a huge affecting factor of the hiring process, but your candidate still needs the right set of core skills to be successful.
Ask the Right Questions in the Interview
When it comes to the interview, you need to be asking the right questions. In terms of engineering, you should steer away from more generalised questions and instead focus on more technically driven questions. This will demonstrate to the candidate that you’re well-equipped in recognising the needs of your business, but it will also give them the opportunity to display their knowledge. If they’re capable of answering complex questions with confidence, you can firmly say that they understand the role at hand. On top of this, you’ll be able to identify their mindset during the interview process, which will be an affecting factor of how they slot into the company.
Hire the Right Engineers with BMS Engineering
Here at BMS Engineering, we’re confident that we can help you navigate your way through the engineering hiring process. Simply contact us for any further advice or guidance regarding hiring engineers.
