Over the last couple of weeks, a surprising number of the engineers we have spoken to don't live in Queensland yet. They will land between November and January, and most will have accepted a role before they get off the plane. If your plan is to meet them when they get here, you will probably be too late.
Key takeaways
- Many engineers heading to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast are still interstate or overseas.
- They arrive between November and January, and most accept a role before landing.
- Employers who wait until arrival will probably miss them.
- Engineers moving should start talking to employers before they travel.
The engineers who are not here yet
The pattern is clear in our recent conversations. One is a structural engineer across the ditch. Another is a structural engineering manager overseas with PR sorted and flights booked. A third is a very experienced drafter in Melbourne who is ready for the Sunshine Coast.
None of them is a vague prospect. They have made the decision and are lining up what comes next. Our Civil & Structural Engineering Recruitment work shows how many of these people are out there. If you only look at candidates who already live locally, you are seeing just part of the market.
- A structural engineer across the ditch
- A structural engineering manager overseas, PR sorted and flights booked
- An experienced drafter in Melbourne, ready for the Sunshine Coast
Why waiting until they land is too late
These engineers arrive between November and January, and most will have accepted a role before they get off the plane. By the time they are unpacking, the decision has already been made, and not necessarily in your favour. A plan built around meeting them on arrival simply starts the conversation after it has finished elsewhere.
It helps to ask a simple question of your own hiring plan: when does our first conversation with a relocating engineer actually happen? If the answer is after they have landed, the timing needs to move. The engineers are making choices now, so that is when employers need to be part of the picture.
If your plan is “we'll meet them when they get here”, you'll probably be too late.
What employers are doing now
The employers who succeed start conversations early, while candidates are still interstate or overseas. They interview remotely rather than waiting for a face to face meeting, and they make clear offers that cover the move to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast.
Being specific helps. Candidates with flights booked want to know the role, the timing and the support on offer. They are also weighing up a big personal change, so a prompt, straightforward answer builds confidence. If you are hiring, talk to us about reaching relocating engineers before they arrive.
For engineers making the move
If you are planning a move to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast, start talking to employers before you travel. Do not wait until you land to look around, because the best roles may be gone by then. Having your timing, your PR situation and your preferred location clear makes those early conversations easier for everyone.
You can see current roles on our job board today. This post draws on a LinkedIn post by Simone Roberts, and you can learn more about us too.
- Civil and structural engineering recruitment
- Building services recruitment
- Current roles on our job board
See also: Contact Us
