Article about PEAK Technical Staffing in San Diego
We invite you to read this issue of the San Diego Business Journal in which PEAK Technical Staffing, USA is referenced several times – including that the company is one among few placement firms that emphasize engineering only. The article talks about the choice many firms are making to use engineering contractors more aggressively, challenges… Read more »
Engineering Solutions to Today’s Talent Shortage
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Engineers are among the toughest spots to fill in the U.S., with 49 percent of employers struggling to find talent. In fact, employers advertised more than 280,000 open engineering positions in 2013 – setting a new high. While Congress and universities have enacted programs to support the education and future development of… Read more »
Screen for Success: What to Look for in Contract Engineer Resumes
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Engineering managers instinctively look for a stable work history with no employment gaps when reviewing resumes. While those may be valid screening criteria for professionals seeking regular full-time employment, it would virtually eliminate experienced engineering contractors who have earned their stripes by hopping from project to project. Naturally, formatting, presentation and grammar… Read more »
Six Tips for Converting Interviews into Contract Engineering Assignments
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman If you say all the right things during interviews, and still can’t seem to land a contract engineering assignment, perhaps the problem is not what you’re saying but how you’re saying it. Since only 7 percent of communications effectiveness is based on content, your attitude about yourself, your teammates and your engineering… Read more »
Strategic Hiring: When It Makes Sense to Hire a Contract Engineer
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Business leaders have embraced a new strategy for coping with frequent swings in the economy. To avoid tumultuous and costly hiring and layoff cycles, managers are increasing their reliance on professional contractors, free agents and other contingent workers. It pays to know when it makes sense to hire a contract engineer. June,… Read more »
The Three P’s of Technical Interviews for Contract Engineers
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman While interview questions vary by company and assignment, some questions are designed to explore your technical knowledge. For example, software engineers may be asked to solve a series of coding problems on a whiteboard, while civil engineers might be asked how they determine the size of elastomeric bearings. Whether the queries explore… Read more »
The Ties that Bind: Keep Valuable Engineers from Flying the Coop
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman If you’re not worried about losing key members of your engineering staff, perhaps you should be. According to a recent survey of nearly 700 engineers, 61 percent may look for new jobs in 2014, and 40 percent say they’re actively seeking new positions. Surprisingly, engineers with a wandering eye don’t necessarily want… Read more »
Knowledge Transfer Tips for Engineering Contractors
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Experienced contractors have discovered foolproof ways to transfer solutions, methods, procedures and designs over the course of an engineering assignment. Naturally, they follow the firm’s protocol for archiving drawings and recording design-related information and changes. But savvy veterans take additional steps to leave a navigable trail for future engineers to follow. “Don’t… Read more »
What Engineers Really Want from Employers
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Onsite bowling allies, climbing walls and free scuba certifications are just some of the extravagant perks dangled in front of talented engineers by top employers like Google and Chesapeake Energy. While engineering professionals want a competitive compensation package and a few creature comforts, they aren’t always motivated by hefty salaries or quirky… Read more »
How to Be a Team Player without Ruining Your Engineering Career
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman You’ve probably heard the expression there’s no “I” in team. But must your personal goals always take a backseat to the priorities of your engineering team? The short answer is: no. While being on a team requires give and take, with some forethought and finesse, it’s possible to advance your contracting career… Read more »