If your company is struggling to find qualified engineering talent, you’re not alone. With technology advancing at light speed, demand for skilled engineers continues to outpace supply. All the while, the most talented candidates aren’t even looking.
The rise of remote work and increased job-hopping has led to a decline in engineering tenures. While engineers used to stay 5+ years on average, tenures are shortening.
However, just because average tenure length has declined doesn’t mean engineers are actively looking. Loyalty and inertia persist. Engineers open to new opportunities may not actually apply for jobs. Factors like the hassle of searching, comfortable compensation, colleagues they like, and meaningful projects contribute to passive mindsets.
The trend toward shorter tenures signals an increase in openness to new roles. However, relatively few engineers follow through on that openness to actively job hunt. Tapping into this “passive but open” pool requires creative sourcing beyond just posting openings.
This hidden market of overlooked, high-quality engineering talent is massive if you know where to look. Here are three tips to find these passive candidates:
Go Straight to the Source
Don’t just post job ads and hope candidates apply. Identify target companies likely to employ great engineering talent for your needs. Reach out directly to passive candidates at these organisations to gauge interest. Many will be intrigued if your opportunity resonates.
Get Referrals from Your Network
Your own engineers, colleagues at client companies and other contacts likely know passive candidates that could be a fit. Ask for introductions. Peer referrals often provide some of the highest-quality hires.
Make It Worth Their While
You’ll need to capture the attention of passive candidates and get them excited. Ensure the role and your company’s mission and culture are compellingly conveyed. Offer remote options, cutting-edge projects and technologies, career growth opportunities and competitive compensation.
But this process takes time, strategic outreach, and industry connections that busy engineering leaders and recruiters may lack. That’s where Thrive Engineering Search comes in.
With over 25 years of industry expertise, including deep technical experience, Thrive Engineering Search utilises proactive, targeted headhunting methods to surface the hidden market of high-quality engineering talent. We tap into our extensive industry connections to identify and engage passive candidates perfectly matched to your needs.
Let us put our specialised expertise to work for you, so you can build an engineering team positioned not just to survive but thrive in any market. Contact Thrive Engineering Search today to start accessing this overlooked pool of talent.
