Top 10 Traits We Look for in Employees
Fall is the beginning of recruiting season for most companies, including LTY. Although we recruit talent all year, we are especially busy in September and October at college career fairs trying to attract the best and brightest of the next generation of engineers. One of the most common questions we are asked is, “What are you looking for in an employee?” Here are the top 10 qualities we look for in our LTY team members:
Technical Expertise
For our technical positions (our engineering design team), we only hire candidates with Bachelor of Science degrees in engineering from accredited universities. We are stringent about this criterion, hiring candidates with degrees that have extensive coursework in mechanical and electrical design. We have similarly stringent requirements for our administrative positions.
Professional Credentials
In addition, we ask that technical candidates have an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or a Professional Engineer license from the State of Texas. If they do not, we require them to take the test within the first six months they are employed at LTY. We provide professional development funds for review courses and testing fees, and accomplishment of this goal is tied directly to their annual performance appraisals.
Willingness to Learn
Engineers, by nature, are curious. But in the world of engineering consulting, it is easy to get slowed down by meeting deadlines and completing tasks. We want people who love learning, who are always looking for better ways to complete their work, and who inspire their teammates to do the same.
Communication Skills
Engineers are not known to be great communicators. But in the world of engineering consulting, stellar communication skills are a must. Our team members must be great listeners. They must be able to listen to our clients and translate our clients’ wants and needs into action. They also must be able to communicate very technical information in writing and orally. This does not come easily to most people and is a skill we continually practice in our office.
Time Management
Managing multiple projects with varying deadlines is part of the consulting environment. Our LTY team must be able to demonstrate excellent time management skills. Our clients depend on us to meet our deadlines so they can meet construction deadlines so they can get students and teachers into new and renovated school buildings on time.
Integrity
Doing the right thing even when no one is watching, keeping their word, and having the best interests of our clients in mind are top priorities at LTY. We screen for integrity during employee interviews, and this is another of our core values that is measured during performance appraisals.
Initiative
In the world of engineering consulting, our team members must be able to assess and think independently. They must be able to anticipate changes and adjust quickly. They must be able to identify potential problems, present solutions, and adjust to constantly shifting timelines and priorities, which requires someone who is able to assess quickly and think outside the box.
Teamwork
The first mark of a good teammate is that he/she consistently performs his/her own tasks with excellence. We are looking for people who perform with excellence and inspire others to do the same, who are willing to share their expertise with others, and who are open to “more than one way” to get a job done. Ultimately, we are looking for people who put the best interest of the team above their own personal success.
Leadership
We are looking for the candidate who knows how to get the work done when the work is tough. We are looking for the candidate who will stand up for the right thing when they have to stand up by themselves. We want our team members to guide and impact outcomes, be supportive, encourage different perspectives, and encourage each other to work together to accomplish common goals. We are so committed to leadership that we provide leadership training.
Vision
In our deadline-driven world, it is easy to get bogged down by daily tasks. It is critical for our team members to remember the “why” behind every project. We must take the time to understand LTY’s vision and mission. We must get to know every client and understand their mission and vision. We must understand and work toward helping our clients accomplish their goals.
The world of engineering consulting is tough but very rewarding. It takes a special breed of candidate to be successful at both making our clients and our business look good. We are choosy when we interview, but being selective gives us a team of people who are not only technically sound at their jobs, but they are also high-quality individuals. What top-10 traits do you look for you in your own candidates?
If you enjoyed this list, make sure to check out next month’s list: “Top 10 Must-Haves in Electrical Design.”
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