How important are prerequisites in the engineering space?

A Master’s degree in electrical engineering, leadership and business management training, and an EWRB Licence. With an everchanging job market, how important is it for candidates to meet employer’s pre-requisites on a position description?

The Current Climate

The unique circumstances of the global pandemic has sent shockwaves through the global job market and New Zealand has not escaped its effects. With border closures and heavy regulation around entry to New Zealand, we are simply not receiving international talent into the country.

This has resulted in employers fighting to retain their essential employees and those same employees wanting to stay in their stable roles.  Employers are incentivising retention through new rewards & recognition, flexible working conditions, and counter offers to resignations.

The resultant state of affairs has led employers to be more inclined to “look outside of the box” for the best fitting candidates. This means that opportunities which were once out of reach may have been re-categorised into a new scope.

As a candidate, what does this mean for you?

Don’t let the requirements on a position description scare you away from applying for your dream job. No, this doesn’t mean to apply for anything and everything but rather to assess the criteria and consider why it has been included as well as what it is.

For example, a Senior Project Management role may have a pre-requisite skillset gained through  formal qualifications related to “leadership and business management training”. However, the skills can be gained via different facets such as being naturally embedded during a tenure of Project Management, supervising roles, or being a Leading Hand. Maybe add a quick example of years experience e.g. “15 years experience in the sector”

On the other end of the scale, some roles have set education requirements or qualifications to make sure a job can be done safely or to a high standard. However, don’t let this rule the opportunity out for you as traits such as culture, personality, and aptitude can make you the right person for a trainee or apprentice role. I have seen Control Room members from a variety of non-engineering backgrounds that have worked their way up through the ranks.

What can you do?

If you’re not sure about a role, reach out to a specialist agency within your field to better understand the ‘prerequisites”. We can help you decipher which are non negotiable and as local engineering consultants we can consult on your behalf.

It would be my pleasure to speak with you if you’re considering a new role or change in career path within the engineering space. Please feel free to reach out on 03 467 7224 or you can email me at Daniel@fluidrecruitment.co.nz

Published by Daniel Cooper