Where do you look for jobs, and what makes you apply?

[Hen1983]

Sort of what the title says. Where do you go when you are looking for jobs, what are the things about an advert or company that make you more likely to apply and what are the things that put you off?

I work within an Engineering firm, but please don't feel you have to be an Engineer to answer. As part of my role, I'm involved in recruitment and am seeing first hand how few female applicants we receive. As a female Engineer myself, I know that we are in the minority from the point at which we apply to study at university, but I suspect that we may not be advertising in the right places, or possibly there is something that is putting women off applying.

I figured that asking women was probably the way to find out what pitfalls we should be avoiding, and this is the biggest community of women that I'm involved in.

I'm applying for anything that remotely offers any hope at the moment!

Perfect fit is impossible (subject degrees, subject experiences), because I've changed my role so many times and my last job has nothing to do my degree but I've done well! But once I look around for a fresh start, the barrier is substantial to overcome!

Mainly been applying online, the general job engines. A few recruiter's website to store and keep my CV searchable.

I don't use LinkedIn (probably a huge mistake). But I don't like to boost about my "glorious achievements" on cv. People do that, but I found myself with goosebumps and blushed face when I read my cv (even though it's all honest).

I last worked in engineering firm and thankfully gained opportunities to move up and did really well at my last role, but maybe hard to get back into due to fewer opportunities comparing with other industry, plus people might hold doubt in me because my irrelevant career start!

I look on environmentjob and I look for a skills match and not too prescriptive about eg how many years experience in a specific role. So I would apply for a role that talked about looking for someone with a flair for writing and communication, a passion for nature and incorporating environmental improvements into projects, experienced with working in partnership in the environmental sector. I want opportunities to be creative and I want flexibility over my day and ability to choose to wfh a fair bit. I would disregard any job that asked for evenings, weekends or overnight stays or shifts due to family commitments. I would avoid anything that specified I had to be enthusiastic, a completer finisher, dynamic or able to confidently lead others (even though I'm a line manager now it just sounds like it's asking for a personality type rather than some coaching/ line management experience for example). I would be put off for example from something asking for experience writing applications for permits/ licenses even if I had advised on or issued those permits/ licenses as it's different. I love adverts that say if you think this role would be a great fit for you but you don't meet all the criteria please send in your application with a covering letter as it gives me confidence they're looking for someone who has relevant skills/ experience who can do the job rather than someone who already has the same job title in another company. I've got many years experience but I don't want to spend time applying for something if it looks likely I'll be sifted straight out due to essential criteria. If a job asks for Gis experience as essential for instance I now don't apply as even though I did it at uni and in a previous role I don't really like using it. So best not to include essential criteria that's optional as most roles I've had have specified for instance gis knowledge and then not needed me to use it, desirable would be OK. Also needs to be more pay than I'm currently on or amazing benefits eg 4 day standard working week for full time pay to justify the effort to change role.

Forgot to say as well- offering part time option/ job share/ flexible working makes a job massively more appealing to me.

I look for companies that have a good reputation, so their employees are regularly seen at professional webinars (not just the recent graduates), being upfront with the pay and key responsibilities, anything saying competitive salary usually isn't worth any effort in application past a non tailored CV in response.

Op, May I ask where you suggest an engineering student looks for a job and summer job/internship? Are there any specific websites that you would recommend for engineering?

I work in a VERY large, multinational engineering firm, not in recruitment or an engineer though.

We have loads of female engineers but I would say 75% are not from the UK and come in through the grad recruitment process, over that LinkedIn is used a lot. I think our stat is at 26% female.

We also have a very well established STEMP programme, and drive from on top to establish D&I. All sorts of things now, I am re selecting my benefits for the year and one of the options is menopause counselling.

Thank you for all your thoughts. I can see from this that there are definitely some areas that we can improve, and as I look across our advert it is clear that some of the wording may be putting people off. For example, talking about particular site based opportunities is not going to inspire those with caring responsibilities to apply.

I really appreciate your ideas and views. Anyone who is interested interested in an job in Engineering, drop me a DM!

@idontlikealdi we are also a very big multinational engineering firm but probably not the same one, we select our benefits during December.

@user2207 It depends a bit on what sort of engineering they are doing. For example, I work in a consultancy firm which means that much of my work is office based design work. Other companies do much more site based work. In general I think approaching companies directly often works well, I know that we use summer and industrial placements as a way to recruit staff directly onto our graduate schemes so they then don't have to apply for a graduate role. It works well for us as a business, but also the students who have a slightly easier final year as a consequence. It's how I ended up working for a firm many years ago.

I’m not in engineering but I won’t apply for anything that doesn’t have salary clearly stated, if there’s the opportunity for flexible working hours, compressed hours etc I’m more likely to apply and if there’s working from home I’d want to know the balance of office v home.