Recruiting Young Engineers to the Pulp & Paper Industry - Perspectives from Recent Graduates

In the recent past there has been a lot of discussion in the pulp, paper and power industries regarding the recruitment of young engineers. There is a growing concern of a shrinking talent pool and a pending human resources crisis. There are several published papers that discuss strategies for educating and recruiting up and coming engineers. This paper, however, discusses the expectations and perspective on the job market from the point of view of recent engineering graduates. A survey was conducted of 30 near-graduate and recent graduates of various engineering disciplines asking their motivations for choosing their particular field. From experiences on a university campus, the most effective recruiters are those who actively go after students by: providing meaningful co-op/internship experience as well as by being involved with on-campus information sessions and events. Furthermore, the pulp & paper industry has unique challenges and opportunities with regard to adapting new technologies and the potential benefits to the environment. These attributes of the industry, if presented compellingly, can be used to more effectively attract young engineers.