Remote or hybrid work has become a mainstream practice since the COVID-19 pandemic. 75% of global workers and managers now say remote or hybrid work is part of the new norm. But is this across every industry? How could a highly tactical and collaborative job such as Engineering be a part of remote work culture?
If you want to increase your talent acquisition and retention rates of top performers, the surveys say Engineers want remote work. 80% of Engineering professionals in 2022 reported they wanted to work remotely or hybrid in 2023. We will help explain the benefits of including remote work in your TA strategy and how to make mobile work possible in a hands-on profession.
Benefits of Remote Work for Engineering
Engineering has often been considered a gruff occupation that needs its workers to be on-site. While Engineers may not always have the luxury of typical white-collar jobs, many parts of Engineering can still be done remotely.
The critical reason remote work is so important in 2023 is the need for more talented Engineers. During the Great Resignation in 2021, many skilled Engineers left their jobs for better work-life balance conditions. It’s become challenging to recruit the same talent level as before without being flexible with how Engineers work.
There are three benefits remote work brings to your talent acquisition process:
It Saves on Cost.
Many job-seekers will be swayed to a company if they offer remote work. Many consider it more important than a higher salary. Offering flexible work options saves on the cost of hiring and office space.
It Attracts more Candidates
Remote work attracts 7x the number of candidates. Your competitors know this, and it’s a big reason why more firms are offering remote work. It’s garnering a high number of professionals who wouldn’t apply otherwise.
Remote Work Increases Job Satisfaction
Employees with remote work options report higher job satisfaction than those without. Mobile work helps employees operate where they want to, thus, increasing loyalty and retention.
It should be noted that many Engineering firms want to provide virtual work to their employees, but they’re unsure how. Here are proven ways you can count on your Engineers to get the job done in remote or flexible working conditions.
Engineering Jobs that Perform Well for Remote Work
Not all Engineering jobs need to be on-site or in an office. Professions like software development, computer engineering, and system engineering are seeing many remote options. As the world becomes more digital, more tasks required from hardware and civil Engineers are becoming digital too.
If your employees are sitting in front of a computer more often than not when working, consider remote work.
Consider Hybrid Options
One major downside to remote work is the loss of collaboration between co-workers. Engineering managers know this, and it’s cited as a top reason why they don’t want to venture into it. Face-to-face collaboration is paramount to business success. But this can be solved through flexibility and hybrid options.
When essential collaboration is needed between co-workers, make it clear that they must be in the office. Try to strike a deal with employees that if you have hybrid work options, essential meetings should be done on the day everyone is in the office. If everyone cannot be physically in the office, then make sure everyone knows where to connect.
Remote work does not need to mean the end of face-to-face collaboration. It only means you have to work with your employees to ensure that there are options for that collaboration. Most employees are eager to work with managers to confirm everything is running smoothly when working remotely.
Hire Self-Starters with Strong Communication Skills
Virtual work takes skill and focus. These skills need to be clearly defined between employer and employee. When hiring a potential candidate in Engineering, uncover how motivated the candidate is before hiring them. Mobile work requires extra legwork of an employee to guarantee tasks are completed on time.
Strong written and verbal communication skills should also be accounted for when hiring remote workers. The younger generation of workers entering the workforce is well-adapted to the digital nomad life. They have had to grow up either studying or working during the pandemic, and digital remote work is almost second nature for them. Consider attracting tech-savvy millennial and Gen Z workers who are well-versed in remote work.
Make Hardware Possible
Any mechanical Engineer will know that working with hardware is difficult remotely. Hardware requires a physical structure to show its pieces, shape, and any defects to the model. Editing Engineering hardware can be more easily accomplished in person. Nevertheless, you can use some essential tools to make editing hardware less challenging.
3D Printer
3D printers are a must-have tool for Engineers who need to explain the size and shape of an object before it is made. Some can come as low as $300. SolidWorks and Formlabs provide great 3D printers for Engineers to prototype their ideas.
GrabCAD Workbench
This software allows Engineers to view and manipulate a 3D file without installing any software. This will enable you to see a 3D rendering of an option to rotate and study without having to send 2D screenshots.
A Good Camera
A good camera is essential to maintain quality control when team members collaborate to build a project. Sometimes things like imperfections are missed by the human eye, and sharing photos with your team members can catch something. Because remote workers are away from their coworkers, having a quality camera on your phone can make communication more efficient and manageable.
Matchfield can help you find Remote Workers.
Matchfield knows the Engineering industry. Engineering is an innovative and forward-thinking industry, but change can be challenging. We can help deliver you workers who understand how to make virtual work possible in Engineering and eliminate the risks of hiring remote workers.
Call us today to find out how to get a high quantity and quality of Engineers with remote work.