Finding specialised talent, such as engineers, project managers and site managers for niche construction industries is tough at the best of times. Employers carrying out construction projects for sectors like battery tech, pharmaceuticals and data centres often have to work even harder to find candidates who are across the intricacies of these types of builds.
Having a multi-pronged recruitment strategy will give your business the best chance of hiring the right talent without creating project delays, which can put a real damper on earnings!
Many companies approach us when they’ve exhausted multiple avenues for finding specialised construction engineers and other professionals, but many more are not covering all bases in their search for talent. It helps to understand which strategies you could adopt when hiring people for niche projects.
Whether searching for a construction project manager with solid data centre experience or are looking to hire structural engineers for a pharmaceutical lab project, here are a few ways to expand your search for talent beyond posting job ads.
Do Comprehensive Research
Well-resourced recruiters and hiring managers carry out market mapping (or talent mapping) to identify the whereabouts and ambitions of potential candidates. Talent mapping includes analysing the current skill sets and experience your current employees have and comparing those to the roles you’re expecting to recruit for in the future. This helps identify the gaps in your team and where you could start looking for people externally.
Use Specialised Online Platforms
Relying on job ads obviously isn’t going to cut it, particularly as the talent you need is unlikely to be actively searching for a role. But advertising your positions on niche job boards – especially those focused on the construction industry – can help as a starting point. On these sites, you’re more likely to find a few potential candidates for a construction site manager position than using a mainstream website filled with entry level jobs. Similarly, online forums and community websites focusing on construction and contractors can help uncover the potential talent you need.
Broaden Your Search to Include International Talent
Inevitably, employers encounter the limitations of trying to recruit from a local pool of candidates. In today’s job market, the most in-demand PMs and engineers are highly mobile and dispersed throughout a range of geographies.
By extending your search to other countries, you can tap into a bigger reservoir of talent that has more cross-cultural project experience. A project manager who is familiar with overseeing engineers from a variety of backgrounds can be found locally – but not always!
Highlight Why the Job is Meaningful
When creating the job description and communicating about the role, consider it from a potential candidate’s point of view.
Many highly skilled professionals are attracted to projects that significantly impact or contribute to meaningful goals – such as sustainability, innovative technology, or supporting a local community, to name a few examples.
Articulating and sharing your company’s vision and the impactful nature of your projects can be incredibly persuasive. From the initial job ad to candidate interviews, look for opportunities to highlight how the role will contribute to broader objectives and make a tangible difference.
Provide Comprehensive Support for Relocating Staff
The decision to relocate for a job is not a small one and can be highly stressful! If your organisation is approaching candidates from abroad, it helps to offer them dedicated support for moving to a new city or country for a position.
This support can range from relocation packages and housing assistance to integration services that help new hires adjust to their new environment.
This level of support can be particularly appealing to mid and senior-level construction professionals with family and mortgage commitments, making them more likely to choose your company over others.
Tap into Referrals
Encouraging your existing employees to refer qualified candidates from their networks can be a highly effective strategy. When handled sensibly, referrals come with an inherent level of trust and understanding of your company’s culture and the specifics of the role.
Connect with a UK and Europe Construction Recruitment Specialist
While there are several strategies for hiring construction managers and engineers for niche industries, many require a fair amount of time or financial resources. Engaging with a recruitment specialist who understands your industry – whether it be battery tech, pharma or data centre construction – will help you find the right talent quickly and efficiently.
Konstrukt is your go-to partner for recruiting top talent in the niche construction sector. Whether you seek to hire structural engineers, an experienced construction site manager, or a construction project manager for your next venture, our expertise and expansive network are at your disposal. Contact our team today to see how we can help build your team and support your project goals. Together, let’s build the extraordinary.
