Engineering employers
Investing in the future
In the fierce competition for talented and exceptional employees, companies need to prove that they are forward-thinking and willing to invest in new talent.
New engineering graduates come ready and willing to work and learn from your company. Provide them with something above and beyond the basics by supporting them in completing licensure and becoming a Professional Engineer.
You know already that licensed engineers reduce risks to business and guarantee that your employees are skilled problem-solvers with the education, innovation, and technical skill set necessary to drive your company forward.
Consider the important role that you, as an employer, can play in helping those early in their careers to become invaluable contributors to your company by introducing them to senior engineers who can pass on their knowledge and guide the next generation of engineers in shaping their careers.
When you hire an engineering graduate, the experience they have with your company will be remembered throughout their career. You can give these new professionals a strong start in their professional life and nurture a loyal employee who can grow within your organization by encouraging them to gain their professional license.
Support employees on the path to licensure
If you are hiring engineering graduates for your business, consider discussing their career goals within the frame of an official apprenticeship or training program offered by your provincial and territorial regulator. An official training program will put your new employees in touch with a Mentor who has the knowledge and experience to guide a new engineer – meaning they’ll be more skilled and confident in their work, which will translate to better outcomes in the work they do for you.
An engineering graduate whose work is being supervised within this framework will be focused on learning the competencies required of a licensed engineer, and their work and their abilities will be tracked closely. As it can take up to four years in many provinces and territories to gain licensure, these new employees will be highly incentivized to remain a productive employee at your company, as their future licence requires verified supervised working hours.
Getting started
Not sure how to get started? We have got you covered:
- Take stock of the current support offered. Does your place of employment currently offer any career incentives related to professional development? Can they be adapted to support training and studying for a P.Eng.?
- See what is available. Many regulators offer training programs, professional development, mentorship programs, and more to engineers in training. Our table shows offerings available by provincial and territorial regulator, but an in-depth look at your specific regulator will provide the most information.
- Encourage your employees. Your new engineering employees might not realize the possibilities available to them with a P.Eng. The legal ability to work as an engineer, perform more technical and complex tasks, as well as advance in their career. Provide them with the information they need as part of their onboarding and encourage them to develop the skills they need that will set your business up for success.
- Create a work environment that sets up employees for success. The licensure requirements demand that work done by engineers in training be supervised correctly by a licensed professional, tracked, and matched to specific competencies. Create the space and flexibility that will give your employee a well-rounded work experience that leads to a skilled, highly trained P. Eng.
For employers situated in British Columbia, the Accredited Employer Program, offered by Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC) helps employers attract and retain high-calibre talent, and streamlines the processing and evaluation of applicants seeking licensure. Under the program, engineering companies work with EGBC to offer work environments that ensure engineers in training are able to satisfy the experience requirements when applying for their professional engineer (P.Eng.) designation. They also perform accreditation for employers who develop their own engineering training programs.