A contract engineering recruiter can make a big difference when you’re building a technical team. They can find the best engineering specialists to help your business innovate and scale. But hiring a contract engineering recruiter can be tricky. You need to find someone who can instantly jump in and start finding you top talent. 

Here are some things to look for when hiring a contract engineering recruiter for your business:

• Knowledge of Engineering Roles - Engineering is not a narrow field. There are a lot of engineering roles, and the talent you need to hire can vary widely depending on the needs of your business. For example, a software engineer has a much different skill set than a DevOps engineer. When hiring an engineering recruiter, make sure they have an understanding of the different types of engineering positions. A good engineering recruiter will have knowledge of top programming languages (like Python, Java, C++, etc), frameworks (React, Django, Ruby on Rails, etc), development tools, (Git, Docker), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and more.

• A Network of Engineering Contacts - In a field like software engineering, an experienced recruiter will likely already have a pool of candidates they can contact. Even if they didn’t place someone in a role, they likely have a "rolodex" of entry, mid-level, senior engineering candidates and managers. They’ll also have access to passive talent, candidates who aren’t actively looking for work but are open to the right opportunities. Finding top engineering talent is difficult as is, so having a network is essential for engineering recruiters.

• Keep Up With Engineering Trends - Technology evolves rapidly, and engineers need to constantly learn new skills. Top recruiters need to keep up with the trends. Recently, AI technology improvements, cloud-native infrastructure, Web3, advancements in cybersecurity, microservices architecture are newer skills that top engineering candidates should have. A savvy recruiter has the knowledge and understanding to help you find talent with the engineering skills you're looking for.

• Clear Communication on Contract Terms - When hiring a contract recruiter, regardless of their specific area of expertise, make sure you’re clear on the contract terms. You both need to be aligned on scope of work, timelines, the fee structure, and other key contract points.

How to write an effective job post

You know what to look for in a contract engineering recruiter, but how do you find the right one? A well-targeted and effective job post is a good place to start. The right job post can help you connect with top recruiters and avoid applications from recruiters who don’t have the qualifications for the role. Here’s how to craft an effective engineering recruiter job post:

• Clearly Call for “Engineering Recruiters” - Of course, your job post needs to be upfront about the expertise you require. Make sure you use keywords like “contract engineering recruiter” in your job listing. You can even be more specific depending on the roles you need to fill. Keywords like “full-stack developer recruiter,” or “software engineering recruiter,” may narrow down the field, but it’ll also ensure you get those highly specific candidates applying to the position.

• Specify Your Engineering Roles You Need - It can be helpful to explain the engineering roles you need to fill. This helps a recruiter understand if they have the bandwidth to take on your project. Are you looking to scale a development team or are you focused on filling specialized roles like cloud engineers or hardware engineers? Being specific can help you find the right recruiter for the job.

• Emphasize the Need for an Engineering Network - We’ve already mentioned the importance of having a pre-existing network. The fact is, engineering roles for startups can be difficult to fill. By saying you want someone with a technical network, you’ll ensure you get experienced, proven recruiters applying for the position who can start connecting you to talent quickly.

• Offer Competitive Compensation and Flexibility - Recruiters specializing in engineering are in high demand. Be sure to offer competitive compensation to attract high-quality candidates. Include details about commission structures and whether the role allows for flexible or remote working arrangements. Competitive compensation and flexibility can make your offer more appealing to experienced recruiters.

With the above tips in mind, here’s an example of what your job post might look include:

Example:

• We are looking for an engineering recruiter with proven experience hiring engineers, specifically full-stack developers, cloud architects, and hardware engineers. Familiarity with hiring for skills such as Python, Java, AWS, and Kubernetes is preferred.

• Our company specializes in developing cloud-native applications. We need a recruiter who can help us hire engineers with experience in microservices, AWS, and containerization.

• The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering network with a proven track record of filling technical roles. 

• We offer a competitive commission structure with incentives for successful placements, as well as the flexibility to work remotely.