By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Companies are increasingly hiring contract engineers to supplement the capabilities of in-house teams and assist with heavy workloads. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor found that 65 percent of employers plan to increase their use of flexible staffing to meet their future talent needs. But even if you work with several […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman When it comes to recruiting software engineers and developers, competing against the likes of Google, Facebook and Apple isn’t easy. These talent magnets have built robust brands and have become experts at enticing a new generation of contract and full-time workers. Before you raise the white flag, consider that several engineering managers […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Technical competence alone won’t advance your career. You need experience with a variety of projects, a take-charge attitude, and a network of influential contacts to become a recognized expert, manager or owner-partner at an engineering firm. But it can take years to amass experience in these areas as a regular employee. Becoming […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman According to a recent survey by Electronic Design, nearly 51 percent of engineers reported that their companies were having a hard time finding qualified candidates. Couple that with the fact that only 64 percent of engineering professionals feel they are adequately compensated, and it’s easy to see why compensation planning needs to […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Your education, skills and project experience may get you an interview, but it’s your performance during the interview that will get you a contract engineering assignment. To impress the engineering manager and earn his trust, you’ll need to convince him beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re the best person for […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman On the surface, it seems like the passage of mandatory paid sick leave laws in some 25 jurisdictions might have little to no impact on engineering firms or their employees. But if you dive into the specific laws, you’ll find that employers, including staffing firms, need to comply with new notice and […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Engineering managers count on third-party recruiters to find talented professionals for contract and full-time positions, even on short notice. But relying on a reactive, last-minute approach to talent acquisition and outsiders may result in higher bill rates and fewer engineering candidates to choose from in a competitive labor market. Treating recruiters as […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Are you stuck in a rut? Do you feel under-challenged and unfilled? If it seems like your engineering career has hit a plateau, here are six activities to get you moving forward again. In fact, proactively engaging in one or more of these activities can broaden your skill set and give you […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Getting new contractors up to speed quickly and keeping them in the loop can put an added burden on busy engineering managers and project managers, who already spend as much as 90 percent of their time communicating. Fortunately, a project communication plan can help newcomers receive essential information and assimilate swiftly, as […]
Read More
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Having healthy relationships with several engineering managers can lead to more contract assignments, recommendations and even referrals. Plus, building positive associations with your colleagues and boss can make the time you spend working on projects more enjoyable and satisfying. While each relationship will be unique, here are some general ways for contractors […]
Read More
