STEM Careers – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
You may not be familiar with the term STEM but you will be hearing more about it in discussions about education and careers. STEM represents an acronym meaning careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As certain sectors continue to grow and others stagnate, more and more employment opportunities are in industries that are part of the STEM classification.
Currently, there is a lack of qualified STEM employees and statistics show that it is negatively affecting the operations of 40 percent of companies within the biotech sector, while more than 33 percent of firms report skill shortages among staff. To ensure Canada’s workforce is prepared for these new career options, and the change in the professional landscape, the federal government allocated more than $1.6 billion in funding over five years to go towards research and innovation.
With this growth, it is estimated that more than 70 percent of new jobs created by 2018 will happen in the higher skilled occupations in industries like the applied sciences, mining and many more. At Fusion, many of our current positions are part of the STEM classification. Roles like Senior Mining Engineer and Applications Engineer continue to be mainstays on our job board. With sustainable energy and environmental aspects being key areas of the required experience and knowledge for these STEM positions.
The five main sectors that experts say are likely to need new STEM workers include mining, biotechnology, oil and gas, electricity and the environment. Jobs within these sectors are virtually limitless, leading to well-paid, rewarding careers as bioengineers, physicists, chemists, geologists, engineering technicians, just to name a few. However, despite the rapid growth it is still quite difficult to connect qualified candidates to positions that have a rapidly growing skills shortage.
Using a staffing firm like Fusion Career Services can help you find candidates for these positions. Here are a few tips to help you successfully work with a staffing firm to attract and retain talented, STEM employees.
1. Be open and detailed about the job requirements. Having a good understanding of the job details and requirements and relaying the most important factors to your staffing firm is the first step to hiring a successful candidate.
2. Have a smooth quick hiring process. Your hiring process should be easy and seamless. Your hiring manager should have the leeway to make important decisions and act quickly on the recommendations of your staffing firm.
3. Act quickly when you have a strong candidate. This is very important with high demand STEM positions. If a candidate has the skills and education, and is a good fit for the company, act quickly to secure them.
4. Be flexible, consider candidates that have 80/90% of the qualifications. With STEM candidates being so highly sought after, be flexible and if a candidate isn’t fully qualified, consider potential training for the balance.
5. Use the staffing firm as your trusted advisor. Leverage the vast amount of knowledge your staffing firm has and use it to your advantage. This will increase your chance of successfully hiring a great candidate.
The need for STEM workers will continue for many years to come, understanding the industry and the education required to fill these roles is just the first step to ensuring your organization can stay ahead of the curve by attracting and retaining great employees.
