Top talent is always in demand. Even as manufacturing unemployment remains high, engineers ranked eighth among the 10 U.S. jobs most in demand in 2010, according to the annual Manpower Talent Shortage Survey.
"Employers are already struggling to fill engineering positions, and demand continues to grow," says Rich Hutchings, vice president at Manpower Professional, a provider of specialized engineering talent. "This talent mismatch, between the open positions and the candidates with the right skills to fill them, presents an enormous challenge for employers."
That means employers need to put their best foot forward in recruiting top engineering talent. Manpower Professionals offers these tips to help:
- Showcase your cutting-edge technology. Engineers want to work for companies that are technologically advanced and in line with, or ahead of, the competition.
- Identify the need for creative solutions. Engineers are problem-solvers and will lean toward positions that allow them to use such skills to develop innovative engineering solutions.
- Reinforce the possibility for advancement. Like most professionals, engineers want opportunities to advance. Make the advancement opportunities clear, and reinforce that they are an important part of the organization overall.
- Focus on how the position helps the bottom line. Manpower Professional says engineers want to be part of projects or departments that affect the corporate bottom line.
And, ultimately, pay well, offer good benefits and show flexibility. Not surprisingly, compensation, benefits and workplace flexibility are differentiators in attracting top talent. They can tip the scale when engineering talent is considering one company over another.
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