Finding a Graduate Engineering Job- Should I use a recruiter?
There are multiple routes to finding employment as a graduate or young engineer. One of these is using the help of recruiter. This note details important points about using a recruiter’s services to make sure you end up in a role suited to you.
Finding a job
When you're in the final years of your engineering studies, it's crucial to start building awareness of the job opportunities available in your chosen industry. One common way to begin this exploration is by attending graduate career fairs. These events serve as a bridge between students and companies, offering an informal environment where you can get a feel for the types of roles that might pique your interest.
Summer placements also offer a valuable opportunity to establish connections with potential employers and experienced engineers. Sometimes, these relationships, nurtured during your academic journey, can bloom into potential job offers even before you graduate.
However, this path isn't accessible to everyone. Perhaps you're planning to relocate to a different region upon completing your studies, making it challenging to forge connections with local employers. Or maybe your university work experiences have led you to consider a new direction in your job search.
For those facing such circumstances, two common paths to securing a job emerge: conducting your own job search or enlisting the assistance of a recruiter.
Be mindful of the recruiter’s motives
When contemplating the assistance of a recruiter in your job search, it's essential to understand their financial motivations. Recruiters typically earn their fees through commissions once a job placement is successfully made. These fees typically range from 15% to 20% of the annual salary for the specific role (as noted by Alec Hawley in a May 30, 2019 article on 'Recruitment Costs' on startups.co.uk). For roles at the less experienced graduate level, these percentages often lean toward the lower end.
This financial arrangement means that a recruiter's primary incentive is to place you in a job, irrespective of whether it's an ideal fit for you. While it's in the recruiter's best interest to ensure both the employer and employee are satisfied to bolster their reputation, the core motivation remains filling positions. Therefore, it's advisable to regard recruiters as connectors to job opportunities rather than sources of comprehensive career advice or guidance.
Be clear about your priorities and requirement
If you are using a recruiter then it is important to keep sight of what you want in a job, and make this clear to the recruiter. The recruiter may have roles that they are prioritising – for example a client might have a desperate need for engineers for a large project. Any push from the recruiter into particular roles should be met with scepticism. Always ask the question – does this role fit my requirements?
At the start of your relationship with the recruiter set out the role you are looking for – for example it would be ideal to define:
Company size – for example - mid-sized (50-100 people) – in order to ensure a variety of projects and a number of chartered engineers for guidance and mentorship.
Sector – Civil Engineering, focusing on buildings.
Role title and responsibilities – Graduate project engineer reporting to a chartered project engineer for guidance and supervision.
Sometimes there needs to be compromise – there is rarely a perfect opportunity – however being pushed to far from your ideal role should be avoided.
Remember to do your own checks on potential employers
A desktop study of any potential employer should be made before you interview with them. This will help with your interview preparation but also flag up any potential issues. There is further discussion on these topics in previous notes:
- Identifying your ideal employer;
- Identifying a supportive employer. What is the staff turnover at the company, and why?
- Identifying an employer that values technical excellence. How many chartered engineers are there at the company?
- Identifying an employer that values technical excellence. Are the company’s projects recognised and awarded by industry experts?’
It is better for both you and any potential employers to meet and deal without a recruiter
The most advantageous approach to securing a job often involves direct interaction with potential employers. This method offers benefits to both job seekers and hiring companies. Job seekers can save a significant amount of money by bypassing recruiter fees, and the communication during the interview process becomes more straightforward without the intermediary motivations of a recruiter.
Initiating contact with a company directly also showcases your initiative and eagerness to work with that specific employer, qualities highly regarded by potential employers.
By following the guidance provided earlier, you can create a shortlist of your ideal prospective employers. Subsequently, you can explore the company's official website for job openings or, in cases where no suitable positions are advertised, proactively submit your CV as an expression of interest.
It's worth noting that many industry-leading, mid to large-sized companies have transitioned away from relying on external recruiters and have established in-house recruiting teams. This shift underscores the importance of exercising caution when engaging with recruiters, as they may not always have access to the most desirable job opportunities available.
Summary
A recruiter can be used to link you to job vacancies – however it’s important to use your own research and judgement when making accepting any offers through a recruiter. The best jobs are likely not advertised through a recruiter – for your initial attempt finding a job its best to create a shortlist of attractive employers and apply for jobs directly.
Note by Will W
Learn more about good foundations tutoring - follow the link below
