Boualem Chafa بوعلام شافع’s Post

"If you are hiring in a candidate-short market, you need to establish a 'why.' "Why would a candidate want to join us?" For instance, if you operate in Power Delivery or Renewables, you likely have an ad out for a 'Substation Engineer.' And it's probably been on your website for the last 5 years and will likely stay there for the next 5 years...👵🧓 But have you actually considered why a substation engineer would want to leave their current role to join you? This could be due to culture, salary, benefits, professional development, remote working, work-life balance, etc. (It's not free fruit, an on-site gym, an office dog, swanky chairs) - although these are great, they are perks, not a reason to leave your job! Yes, you can use an industry expert (b19 Consulting is pretty good, I've heard), but they still need a 'why'. If you haven't figured that out yet, then that's likely the main reason your job is still advertised... #whatsyourwhy

Good Opportunity

💡TOP-TALENT TIP THURSDAYS Interested in securing the services of the best SCADA/EMS/ADMS/DERMS professionals in the renewable energy market? I headhunt the most experienced every day and here's some advice to all smart grid technology leaders on how to get them to join your team. TIP - GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY! Yesterday I spoke to a manager who has a target to hire 2 SCADA engineers...every month! How I asked? He told me he has a TA team of 8 strong looking to add a 9th, but...the delivery of quality candidates is still lacking. He understood because SCADA is such a small niche skill set, but he's not allowed to use specialist services like mine either due to budget restrictions. So...I asked again...how?! Well he said...I'm proactive. He essential does the job himself and headhunts! Now whilst frustrating, as his time could/should be more efficiently invested elsewhere, he gets it. His team, his people, are the single most important factor to determining his success. Hiring, training, motivating and supporting them is all he cares about. This is an exceptional leader (if you'd be interested in an introduction to them, DM me!) who is willing to get his hands dirty to get the very best talent out there. Are you? #hiring #recruiting #renewables #renewableenergy #EMS #SCADA

Is there a fast and easy way to identify which job applicants, particularly for high-risk solar panel installation, are more likely to exhibit undesirable behaviors in the hiring process? Good news: There is. It’s called “integrity testing,” an online behavioral survey assessing honesty, trustworthiness, and dependability—crucial traits for solar panel installers who often work independently and at heights. Placing a test at the start of the hiring process helps you avoid: ✖️ Hiring an applicant who later fails a test, crucial in high-safety jobs. ✖️ Being discriminatory and not applying the test equally. The results we obtained from Safer Hire (one of the integrity testing firms that we recommend) are quite impressive for solar industry employers: ✅ Reduces the frequency and severity of workers’ comp claims. ✅ Increases the quality of employees hired, crucial in technical and high-risk jobs. ✅ Decreases employee turnover. ✅ Especially terminations due to safety violations. → The average return on investment for solar companies is significant!🤑 #Solarcontractors #solar #solarinstallation #solarpower #renewables Milestone Risk Management

At the CEC two opportunities in leading Benchmarking for Energy Efficiency.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK! 🙌🏼 This week I met someone who I genuinely felt, I could help them improve the quality of their life. 90% of the time I meet experienced SCADA/EMS engineers and leaders who are happy or content in their work. Occasionally, I meet someone in a bad spot, who isn't happy and wants out asap. This week I meet a talented senior SCADA Engineer who is in such a situation. They spoke of a toxic culture and lack of leadership, which was illustrated when I asked, if he'd spoken to his current bosses about how he feels. I always advise people to do this prior to exploring the market! It could save you the time and energy of having to do so. But he advised, people who have voiced unhappiness prior, had been forced out shortly after....WOW. This was a sad and alarming story. So, why on earth would this be my highlight of the week? Because whilst it's nice to help people take the next step in their career growth, it's even more fulfilling to help someone in a difficult situation. We've all been there in our career's and know it impacts not just your work, but your entire life outside of it. If I'm able to help find them find their next role, I know I'm having a huge positive impact on a lot more than just their job. I relish my role when I get that opportunity, it just means more. FYI - they have over 8 years experience with SCADA, extensively in both configuration and O&M phases, 4 years in renewable projects (solar, wind, BESS) and are available at a highly competitive value. DM me SCADA leaders if you'd be interested in meeting them! #HR #hiring #recruiting #renewables #renewableenergy #EMS #SCADA

From Power System Engineer to Grid Connection Manager 🛣 I recently had a chat with a Power System Engineer who’s exploring a shift to becoming a Grid Connection Manager and thought I'd share some insights from our chat that might be helpful if you're considering a similar move. What We Discussed: 😊 Transferrable skills: As a Power System Engineer, you’ve got strong technical & software expertise, regulatory & compliance knowledge, project management skills & analytical skills. These are all super valuable when transitioning to a Grid Connection Manager role. You already understand grid operations which will help a lot in your new role! 👌 Is there a need in the market? YES. The need for Grid Connection Managers is on the rise with the growth of renewable energy projects. This role is crucial for managing how new energy sources connect to the grid, and your background is a great fit for this. 📣 Tips for getting started: Aside from connecting (no pun intended) with a recruiter, you can chat with colleagues in the grid connection space, check out relevant certifications, and stay updated on industry trends. Also, PM me and I can share some great newsletters to follow!📰 If you’re thinking about a career shift or just curious about opportunities in the energy sector, let’s chat! I’m here to help and would love to connect and explore different career paths available to you. 🤗 #storytime #careerpath #careerdevelopment #hiring #engineers #renewableenergy

💡TOP-TALENT TIP THURSDAYS Interested in securing the services of the best SCADA/EMS/ADMS/DERMS professionals in the renewable energy market? I headhunt the most experienced every day and here's some advice to all smart grid technology leaders on how to get them to join your team. TIP - IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL, DO IT IN TIMLEY MANNOR First impressions are everything in an interview process and having to cancel is never a great one to make. Having said that, everyone understands that sometimes life happens and it's unavoidable. But, there is little to no excuse for doing it last minute. It screams to the other party "I don't respect your time". I had an example of a manager who canceled one minute before the interview was set to begin. The senior SCADA professional had rearranged travel plans to make the interview. Needless to say, they were far from happy. They withdrew from the process and were so disgruntled, they'd never consider interviewing with that company or manager ever again. Now, you might consider that reaction to be a tad short-sighted and over-emotional. But ultimately, it cost the company a chance to hire a very experienced engineer with one of the rarest skill sets in the field. Not to mention, the reputational damage in our very small, highly-competitve sector. All of which could have been easily avoided with more planning and prioritization. In conclusion, if you have to cancel an interview, do it as soon as possible, because it really does matter. How many times have you backed out of an interview meeting on short notice? #hiring #recruiting #renewables #renewableenergy #EMS #SCADA

TOP-TALENT TIP THURSDAYS Interested in securing the services of the best SCADA/EMS/ADMS/DERMS professionals in the renewable energy market? I headhunt the most experienced every day and here's some advice to all smart grid technology leaders on how to get them to join your team. TIP - QUICK, EFFICIENT INTERVIEW PROCESS So many senior engineers and leaders in my network share that their interview experience was a big factor in their decision to join a company. It creates an impression of the business, both consciously and subconsciously. When a process is efficient and it's clear why you're meeting each person at each stage, it shows the company is well-organized. When feedback, subsequent rounds and offers are all rolled out quickly, it shows that the business is serious about hiring and creates a positive momentum. I've seen this develop a level of excitement in talent that has got them to accept offers from companies that initially were not their first choice. These individuals are elite and never short on options, so focusing on the seemingly small details of your hiring process, can make a massive difference. It also will facilitate you being in a position to offer ahead of your competition and often, those who offer first, not always best, wins the race for top talent. How quick and efficient is your interview process? #hiring #recruiting #renewables #renewableenergy #SCADA #EMS