Let me start by saying I don’t mean your physical attractiveness.  I mean in the job market. 

There’s a lot to consider from both an employer and would-be employee perspective when looking for your next move.  Right now, many of these considerations are under the microscope a lot more than usual, especially for candidates, as it’s very much an employee's market currently. 

So, from an employer perspective what’s important? 

Website 

At the end of the day your product or service is the most important aspect of your business however your website needs to also show your WHY and your HOW.  Trust me, candidates are looking for answers to these questions.  This means you need to show WHY you are in business.  The HOW is showing your core values and how you operate on a day-to-day basis.  If you don’t know your WHY you won’t know your HOW.  

Remember it’s your brand – be proud of it and give your website some love! 

You also need to show the breadth of your work – this is an opportunity to show off your key projects and especially the types of work you conduct.  Great visually appealing photos help, along with details about the projects.  Trust me your prospective employees love this. 

People 

Who are your people?  Younger engineers particularly, are looking for their next mentor or leader along with a culture where they can fit.  They want to see if you can offer this to them.  Your people are your culture and reflect the vibe in a business.  Again, visually appealing smiling headshots are also vital. Remember most people now live online, and obtain a lot of their understanding of the world, from the web. 

Word of Mouth 

This last point is actually one of the most important ones.  There will always be natural attrition in a business.  People leave.  Their life cycle at your business is very important for you longer term.  Please don’t only view your employees as money making machines.  They are human beings with a life outside of your business.  Make sure if they are leaving your business, they are your advocates.  They are essentially your best marketers and their time with you is very important.  You don’t want them to become your biggest detractors.  Beers on a Friday and weekly fruit bowl are nice to have, but it's not the main driver for prospective employees. 

If you’re a looking for work, what’s important? 

Why? 

You need to be clear and understand why you are seeking new employment.  This is important as it gives the prospective employer understanding of your thinking around your suitability to their business. 

Also, be careful if you are spending 6 months here, 8 months there etc.  It doesn’t look good on your CV unless you have a very good reason for leaving.  It’s ok to decide early on if an environment isn’t right for you so understand what works for you. 

Your CV 

It needs to show your experience, but it can’t just have bullet points. You need to show exactly what you did or do and it needs to be clear and concise.  If you are listing specific projects, it needs to detail what your involvement was.  It will help the prospective employer decide if you are someone they would like to interview.  This is your advertisement. 

Also, no more than a few pages.  I can’t say this enough.  Keep it concise and leave something for the interview to expand on.  I’ve been given 20-page CVs before and they’re a nightmare to navigate.  Keep to the important key aspects. 

The Interview 

How you prepare is key.  You can’t just walk in and expect to nail it.  Preparation involves some investigation.  Who is interviewing you, why are they interviewing you, key aspects they’ll be looking for - think about it from their perspective.  The interviewer wants to learn more about you from you, and if they feel you come across well and are prepared, they’ll remember you whether you get the job or not.  This is your marketing presentation. 

They will be looking for someone who can come into their business and fit in.  That includes ability to conduct the work they do, fit into their team from a cultural perspective, and be good to work with. 

There is a lot to cover on this topic, however, these are my just some of my thoughts from a recruiter's perspective.  All of these points help me to place engineers in the right businesses for them.   

If you’re an engineering employer or engineer needing assistance to find their next employee or employer, get in touch with me - simone@mojofit.co.nz.