Finding skilled staff, where are they hiding?
Discussion
We have three vacancies open at the moment for staff, including welding, fabrication, general “old school” engineering, product design, through to a full ops manager position. Salaries ranging from approx £20k to £40k and negotiable.
We’ve been running an advert for the ops position on reed.co.uk for nearly a month now and only received one single half decent application.
Does anyone have any pointers on finding good hands on skilled people, or do they simply not exist anymore? We have huge potential to grow our British manufacturing & export business if we can build on our team of skills.
We are based in Bedfordshire and appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thank you.
We’ve been running an advert for the ops position on reed.co.uk for nearly a month now and only received one single half decent application.
Does anyone have any pointers on finding good hands on skilled people, or do they simply not exist anymore? We have huge potential to grow our British manufacturing & export business if we can build on our team of skills.
We are based in Bedfordshire and appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thank you.
Not far from where I live is an "employer" I went for an interview there in May this year. My skills are completely 100% transferable. Same manufacturer, similar working practices. Standards etc. Would require a very small amount of 'on the job' product knowledge training, but that wouldn't stop me from walking in on Day1 and making them money as I would pick that up over a couple weeks.
I eventually got a letter saying "Cheers, but no" Fair enough, I went elsewhere and got more money and closer to home so Win Win.
I KNOW they still haven't filled this job. We never discussed money or any "perks" during this 1st Interview. So I don't think that any bearing on matters. I gather they've had in the region of 15 interviews (from who knows how many applicants) in the last 6 weeks alone.
They're clearly looking for the impossible candidate. Are you sure you aren't doing the same?
I eventually got a letter saying "Cheers, but no" Fair enough, I went elsewhere and got more money and closer to home so Win Win.
I KNOW they still haven't filled this job. We never discussed money or any "perks" during this 1st Interview. So I don't think that any bearing on matters. I gather they've had in the region of 15 interviews (from who knows how many applicants) in the last 6 weeks alone.
They're clearly looking for the impossible candidate. Are you sure you aren't doing the same?
Rich_W said:
They're clearly looking for the impossible candidate. Are you sure you aren't doing the same?
No, with basic hand skills and common sense these jobs could be filled. Trouble is most people under the age of 50 seem to lack these, as they do not appear in any part of our society these days when training young people for real jobs.EINSIGN said:
Rich_W said:
They're clearly looking for the impossible candidate. Are you sure you aren't doing the same?
No, with basic hand skills and common sense these jobs could be filled. Trouble is most people under the age of 50 seem to lack these, as they do not appear in any part of our society these days when training young people for real jobs.Mr GrimNasty said:
Marvellous. I'm relegated to the ranks of the feckless dumbed down society according to you. Nice to be considered young though! The real rot didn't set in until after 'O' levels were replaced, so people that left school prior to 1988 should be fine!
Age is irrelevant, but it clearly appears when the old and skilled retire they are not being replaced. I am also looking at taking on a couple of apprentices in the new year. Its extremely frustrating when trying to do the right thing!Have you compared your adverts with other companies advertising similar roles? Maybe you're a less attractive option for job seekers either due to salary, location, company reputation or something else.
Not that I have any figures to back this up however it wouldn't surprise me if this time of the year was the hardest time to fill vacancies.
Not that I have any figures to back this up however it wouldn't surprise me if this time of the year was the hardest time to fill vacancies.
monkey gland said:
Have you compared your adverts with other companies advertising similar roles? Maybe you're a less attractive option for job seekers either due to salary, location, company reputation or something else.
Not that I have any figures to back this up however it wouldn't surprise me if this time of the year was the hardest time to fill vacancies.
I agree, and we will be trying alternatives in the new year. We are extremely innovative and believe in rewarding good talent, however I do believe the candidates also have to impress, it shouldn't be just the employer pulling teeth.Not that I have any figures to back this up however it wouldn't surprise me if this time of the year was the hardest time to fill vacancies.
EINSIGN said:
Age is irrelevant, but it clearly appears when the old and skilled retire they are not being replaced. I am also looking at taking on a couple of apprentices in the new year. Its extremely frustrating when trying to do the right thing!
What are you looking for in your apprentices?My cousin is based in Northampton, 19 or 20, has completed a college course in carpentry but couldn't find a local apprenticeship so is currently cladding buildings in/around London. He is also fairly mechanical and works on his own cars.
For the sympathy vote he very recently lost him Mum and if something was available with more prospects and he was a good fit for the job it would be a bit of a lift for him.
Stevenj214 said:
What are you looking for in your apprentices?
My cousin is based in Northampton, 19 or 20, has completed a college course in carpentry but couldn't find a local apprenticeship so is currently cladding buildings in/around London.
For the sympathy vote he very recently lost him Mum and if something was available with more prospects and he was a good fit for the job it would be a bit of a lift for him.
Cannot promise anything but PM me and I will have a chat in the new year. Come the spring time we are looking to develop a new range of outdoor wooden furniture, we have a large CNC router etc..My cousin is based in Northampton, 19 or 20, has completed a college course in carpentry but couldn't find a local apprenticeship so is currently cladding buildings in/around London.
For the sympathy vote he very recently lost him Mum and if something was available with more prospects and he was a good fit for the job it would be a bit of a lift for him.
Cut N paste the advert on this thread.
Remove your phone number and email address though so it's not classed as a ad. I'm curious now.
e.g. You may think there are lots of Plumbers. So offer low wages. Which misses the point that the best plumbers want paying the best money and that's who you SHOULD be employing in any case.
Remove your phone number and email address though so it's not classed as a ad. I'm curious now.
Zad said:
Sounds like you are pre-judging your applicants before they have shown you what they can actually do. From your attitude I am surprised anyone wants to work for you at any salary.
Intersting point. Sounds like it may be more accurate. So I was right when I suggested OP wants the "impossible candidate" but thinks the skills are easy to come by, when apparently they aren't. Maybe this is also related to the wage expectations vs offers.e.g. You may think there are lots of Plumbers. So offer low wages. Which misses the point that the best plumbers want paying the best money and that's who you SHOULD be employing in any case.
Edited by Rich_W on Saturday 24th December 17:35
EINSIGN said:
No, with basic hand skills and common sense these jobs could be filled. Trouble is most people under the age of 50 seem to lack these, as they do not appear in any part of our society these days when training young people for real jobs.
The problem was in the recession of the early 90s - loads of engineers were made redundant (me included) and engineers in Bedford/shire were 2 a penny. Unsurprisingly, many retrained to be employed elsewhere and now when engineers are wanted again - our skills are considered to be out of date. At the same time, engineering wasn't an attractive proposition to the youngsters growing up and seeing that the manufacturing industries were being replaced by the service industries.OP
I am a merchant navy engineer with 9 years sea going experience working on some of the biggest 2 stroke engines in the world (sulzer, MAN engines), on board vessels I work in a small team of 4 engineers and 2 general motor men. My role on board is 3rd engineer and as such my job responsibilities include the maintenance (including daily running/brake down and planned major overhauls etc) of medium speed diesel generators and the associated electrical alternator plant. I am the one who completes all associated paper work for all maintenance carried out on this plant and report it back to our companies technical dept.
I am in charge of ordering my own spare parts and updating stock etc.
I keep an engineering watch of 24 hours every 3rd day were I am in charge of the engine room reporting to the chief engineer (my head of department).
I am also the vessels safety officer and am in charge of communicating any safety issues to our companies safety dept.
My skills are completely transferable and I also have experience of working on HV and LV electrical systems/ fridge plant/air compressors and sewage systems.
I have a HND in marine engineering as well as an NVQ and medical first aid certificates.
I can weld arc/gas and tig to a competent standard
I have rebuilt several classic motor bike, including engine rebuilds etc and am on here now as I have started taking an interest in cars.
I haven't really been looking at a move to a shore side job and to be honest I am earning more money doing what I am doing, but as you can see I can string a sentence together and all my engineering skills are completely transferable. There are plenty of merchant navy engineers out there with similar skills/qualifications to my self who might be interested in a job like this, you could try advertising in the numast union newspaper "the telegraph" as most uk seafarers are members of this union.
I am a merchant navy engineer with 9 years sea going experience working on some of the biggest 2 stroke engines in the world (sulzer, MAN engines), on board vessels I work in a small team of 4 engineers and 2 general motor men. My role on board is 3rd engineer and as such my job responsibilities include the maintenance (including daily running/brake down and planned major overhauls etc) of medium speed diesel generators and the associated electrical alternator plant. I am the one who completes all associated paper work for all maintenance carried out on this plant and report it back to our companies technical dept.
I am in charge of ordering my own spare parts and updating stock etc.
I keep an engineering watch of 24 hours every 3rd day were I am in charge of the engine room reporting to the chief engineer (my head of department).
I am also the vessels safety officer and am in charge of communicating any safety issues to our companies safety dept.
My skills are completely transferable and I also have experience of working on HV and LV electrical systems/ fridge plant/air compressors and sewage systems.
I have a HND in marine engineering as well as an NVQ and medical first aid certificates.
I can weld arc/gas and tig to a competent standard
I have rebuilt several classic motor bike, including engine rebuilds etc and am on here now as I have started taking an interest in cars.
I haven't really been looking at a move to a shore side job and to be honest I am earning more money doing what I am doing, but as you can see I can string a sentence together and all my engineering skills are completely transferable. There are plenty of merchant navy engineers out there with similar skills/qualifications to my self who might be interested in a job like this, you could try advertising in the numast union newspaper "the telegraph" as most uk seafarers are members of this union.
EINSIGN said:
We have three vacancies open at the moment for staff, including welding, fabrication, general “old school” engineering, product design, through to a full ops manager position. Salaries ranging from approx £20k to £40k and negotiable.
If I was a welder I would probably choose to work in the O&G industry. A large multiple of the salary offered whilst only working for 100-150 days a year.Is there anyway to automate the roles?
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff