4 HR Challenges Engineering Firms Experience

Finding, attracting, and securing top talent is important, but it’s only the first piece of the puzzle for engineering firms. To develop a high-performing workforce and reduce employee turnover rates, firms must also focus on post-hire challenges to ensure employees operate efficiently and productively while retaining their morale.

It’s important to note that if HR challenges are not dealt with effectively, other areas of the business including financial performance and project management also suffer.

Here are some of the most difficult hr challenges engineering firms have to deal with regularly

Challenge #1 – Sourcing Qualified Candidates

Qualified engineering talent is a challenge, especially if your firm is looking for highly specialised skills. Because talented employees are in short supply, many qualified and skilled engineering candidates are probably being scouted by one or more other firms too. By leveraging candidate relationship management tools, you will have a greater impact and success rate on your ability to find, attract and secure the best candidates for the job role you need to be filled.

Challenge #2 – Benchmarking Compensation Packages

The difference in pay and benefits can be the difference between securing the employee you want, retaining the talent you have, and also losing talent to your competition. A competitive compensation package is always identified as the top challenge when referring to acquiring new talent. If you haven’t yet benchmarked your compensation package against the industry standard, there’s a good chance you haven’t and won’t source qualified talent as your offer will always be beaten out by your competition.

Challenge #3 – Fostering a Meaningful Employee Experience

A positive employee culture not only means high levels of employee satisfaction where meaning and mutual values are present, but it also means working in a supportive environment that fosters growth and development. By promoting diversity and inclusivity, promoting fun and humor, establishing an employee recognition program, and making use of employee feedback, your engineering firm can be transformed from the ground up which means employees will stay with your firm longer and also be more loyal to their jobs.

Challenge #4 Not Enough Investment in Education & Training

Creating an environment where employees are experienced to handle industry challenges and tasks is crucial. Ongoing training is also effective for reducing turnover and retaining talented employees to learn new skills and develop their professional growth. Whether this is through engineering workshops, courses, or speaking engagements, engaging in education and training will lead to higher job satisfaction.

If there is something I want you to know about me right away, it’s that I have a passion for supporting business owners. I believe in the future of South Africa and that there are so many opportunities out there to be successful and to make a change to our economy.

I want to be part of that change by providing businesses with core HR and Labour Solutions that will not only result in legislative compliance but actually positively impact their bottom line.

Over the years I have gained practical HR experience working in various sectors such as mining, construction, financial services, and corporate legal. As a business owner myself, I can relate well to businesses and what their needs are.