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Entry Level or Seasoned Candidate: Who Should I Hire for My Engineering Openings?

on March 3, 2022 in Engineering Clients, Hiring Advice

 

If you’re looking to add a new engineer to your team, you might wonder whether it’s better to choose an entry-level candidate or a more seasoned professional. Like anything else in life, the answer is that it depends. There are pros and cons to both options. Here are some things to consider when hiring engineers.

Entry Level

Hiring engineers, who are fresh out of school can be tempting, but is it right for your company? Think through these advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

  • Less expensive
  • Eager to prove themselves
  • Willing and able to learn

Cons

  • Lots of competition to recruit them
  • May expect more flexibility than you can provide
  • Typically need more training before they are ready to fully contribute

Seasoned Professionals

Engineers with some experience under their belts may seem like a logical choice, but is it the best option? Here are some pros and cons.

Pros

  • Generally ready to go on Day One
  • Proven track record
  • May bring a specific, unique skill set in a targeted area of expertise

Cons

  • More expensive
  • They may be stuck in their ways or insistent on following certain procedures
  • Recruiting can be tough since you need to offer something better than they already have

Ultimately, there is no right choice for most engineering firms. If you need to bring someone on board who has a targeted skillset or specific experience, choosing a seasoned pro makes sense. If you want someone you can mold to your company’s ways of doing things, hiring engineers straight out of school is the best option.

But if you fall in the middle and are simply looking for someone who can do a good job, you probably won’t want to rule out candidates solely based on whether they have experience. An engineering recruiting firm can help you recruit and screen candidates of all backgrounds, ensuring that whoever you choose is a strong addition to your team.

Build A Forward-Thinking Engineering Team With PEAK

If you are looking for talented engineering professionals who can help your organization achieve its goals, contact the experts at PEAK Technical Staffing today to learn how we can help you access cutting-edge talent.

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