How and Where Can You Recruit Civil Engineers?

Hiring for technical roles is more challenging than any other industry. With a limited pool of talent and fierce competition for the best workers, recruitment can feel like a full-time pursuit. The engineering sector employs 19% of the UK’s workforce. And with rapid and sustained investment in infrastructure, civil engineers are in high demand.

Attracting and retaining the best talent isn’t easy, but there are some steps you can take to make your search easier. It all starts with making sure that your job adverts are seen in all the right places. Working with engineering recruitment agencies can also help you to achieve your goals.

Read on to discover how and where you can recruit civil engineers in 2020 and beyond...

Have a presence at events

Events might be temporarily on hold, but when they can go ahead again, you should ensure your company has a strong presence at niche events. The Institution of Civil Engineers is currently offering online events and typically hosts networking events throughout the year. These events will be attended by companies and candidates looking to forge valuable connections.

Consider an apprenticeship

Another way to access great talent is to train it yourself. An apprenticeship will require you to train a candidate instead of formal education. The candidate will be paid while they learn, and they will finish their apprenticeship with a diploma or a degree. There is heavy government investment in high-level apprenticeships to help close the skills gap in the UK.

Post on specialist job boards

A post on a general job site is likely to generate lots of unsuitable applications from individuals using a one-click application system. When you have to sort through lots of unqualified applications, you’re more likely to miss the good ones. This is where specialist job boards come into play. A specialist job board might generate fewer applications, but these will be from relevant candidates.

Consider recommendations

Asking your professional network for recommendations could yield powerful results. Connections are often made on sites like LinkedIn, so it’s worth asking your network if they know of any talented civil engineers looking for new opportunities. Going on a recommendation also removes one layer of uncertainty when employing someone new, particularly if they are recommended by someone you trust.

Use a specialist recruitment agency

If you don’t have the time to sort through applications and keep track of job listings, a specialist recruitment agency can help. For civil engineering roles, it's important to choose a recruitment agency that understands your unique needs. A general agency will generate similar results to posting your job on a general job site. They might also struggle to pre-screen candidates for interviews. This can lead to a lot of wasted time.

Steps to hiring a civil engineer

If you are ready to start your search, you will need to take the following steps to hire your next civil engineer.

1. Define the job role. This is one of the most important steps if you want to attract the best talent. Candidates are put off applying for jobs with vague job descriptions.
2. Conduct a technical interview. This is essential to help determine if a candidate is suitable for a role or if they are too inexperienced.
3. Move quickly. Civil engineering candidates don’t stick around for long since there is a shortage of skills in the UK. Once you start the recruitment process, you can’t hit pause or delay, or you will likely have to start again. If a candidate shows promise, make an offer sooner rather than later or they might be snapped up.
4. Always be on the lookout for talent. Hiring the best talent for your company can be an ongoing pursuit. Create a powerful careers page on your website and the best candidates could come directly to you.