Over two thirds of engineers (70%) say they are yet to reach their full potential and have more to give at work. Staff feel they can give more despite engineering being one of the most professionally fulfilled industries in the UK.

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/12/2013 -- Two in three of Britain's engineers feel they have more to give in their career in order to reach their full potential.

Amid increasingly positive economic signals, Britain's engineers are showing they are not prepared to rest on their laurels. According to research by Randstad Construction, Property and Engineering , the specialist engineering recruiter, 70% of engineers feel they are yet to reach their full potential.

This ambition within the engineering sector comes despite the fact the industry has some of the highest levels of professional fulfilment compared to other sectors in the UK. Two thirds (66%) of engineers describe themselves as professionally fulfilled – above the UK average of 62%.

Owen Goodhead, managing director of Randstad Construction, Property and Engineering said: "Positive signals for the UK economy seem to be appearing every week which is fantastic news if we're to achieve a sustainable recovery. What is even more encouraging though is that despite being one of the most professionally fulfilled sectors in the UK, those working in engineering have the ambition to advance even further."

Being the best that you can be
British engineers feel that the most important influence on being able to achieve your potential comes from your personal characteristics. More than a two fifths (43%) of staff in the sector feel this is the case.

Adaptability is viewed as the most important personal characteristic. Two thirds of engineers (66%) feel adaptability is vital in order to achieve success in the sector. Determination is viewed at the next most important character trait (60%) and having a strong work ethic is seen as the third most important characteristic (59%).

Support from your employer is seen as the second most important factor in helping you achieve your potential within construction. Two fifths of staff (39%) feel that training, development, good leadership and culture are key to success. This is closely followed by support from mentor at your place of work which is seen as important by 29% of those working in the industry.

Roadblocks to success
Across the UK workforce as a whole, your individual characteristics are seen as being both the key to achieving your potential at work as well as the most likely roadblock to your success. More than a third (36%) of Britain's most fulfilled staff say that it is the individual themselves who provides the biggest barrier to reaching their potential.

Within the engineering sector, the proportion of those who feel the individual provides the biggest barrier to success is much higher at 68%.

Owen Goodhead, said: "The engineering sector has been suffering from a shortage of talent for some time thanks to lower graduate levels, restrained immigration and a loss of talent abroad. Many businesses are crying out for skilled employees and are willing to provide support to help their talent flourish. This is likely why such a large proportion of engineers feel it is the individual themselves who provides the biggest barrier to success. The opportunities to succeed are out there, it's up to the engineers themselves to make sure they make the most of them."

"It is vital that anyone who hopes to achieve more in their professional life understands what will help them do so and what may provide a barrier. And who better to glean this advice from than those who understand what fulfillment and success means to them and how they can continue to achieve it in the future."

Randstad recently launched the How I Became platform, inspired by the real stories of real people who are fulfilled at work. The platform contains films from people who work in a range of business sectors, from education to finance providing key pieces of advice designed to help future candidates on their path to professional fulfillment. The hub is designed to be a dynamic place to find career boosting advice.

Owen Goodhead, said: "Those with the passion and purpose to drive their career forward and reach their potential have a lot to offer others who may feel at a crossroads in their professional lives. We believe in helping people find fulfillment at work which is why we have set up the How I Became platform in order for real people to share their experiences and advice. We invite anyone keen to pass on their thoughts on how to achieve fulfillment at work to visit the site and share their experiences."

About Randstad CPE
Randstad CPE is part of the Randstad group, one of the leading recruitment & HR services providers in the world with a top five position in the UK and a top three position in fifteen countries including the US, France and Germany.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

According to specialist recruiter Randstad CPE, only half (50%) of engineers are happy with their work-life balance due to an increase in high profile engineering projects.

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/22/2013 -- Engineers are among the least happy professions in the UK when it comes to their work-life balance, according to research carried out by engineering specialist recruiter Randstad CPE.

A survey of 2,000 employees revealed that those working in utilities (94%) and insurance (90%) were most happy with their work-life balance, despite those sectors having some of the longest average working weeks in the UK. Those least happy with their work-life balance were accountants (42%) – yet accountants have a shorter average working week than the UK average. Just half (50%) of engineers were happy with their work-life balance, despite the profession having a shorter average working week than the UK average.

Randstad also compared the findings to the amount people in each sector were paid. The results suggest the amount people earn does not affect how happy they are with their work-life balance. For instance, those working in media and leisure are among the lowest paid in the UK, with average gross weekly earnings of £402.50 – yet these are some of the happiest sectors in the UK in terms of their work-life balance. By contrast, those working in financial services and accountancy earn far more than the national average, but are the least happy. Engineers earn well above the average weekly salary, yet are among the least happy with their work-life balance.

Owen Goodhead, managing director of engineering specialist recruiter Randstad CPE said, "We know work-life balance isn't just about pay – but we know there's more to it than just hours as well. Social workers aren't motivated by high salaries, while employees in construction, insurance and IT all work longer hours than the national average. It appears employees in these sectors find their work particularly rewarding. It may also have a lot to do with the blending of work and personal lives. These people are passionate about their jobs and have a greater sense of integration between their professional and personal lives."

SECTORS HIT HARDEST BY THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND AUSTERITY MEASURES

Sectors hit by hardest by government austerity measures and the effects of the global financial crisis are less happy with their work-life balance – as are those working in white-hot industries. Professionals in engineering and rail are feeling overstretched, as are education and nursing professionals, along with those working in the financial services and accountancy sectors.

Owen Goodhead said, "Engineering professionals have been hammering away at The Shard for years and are now busy trying to finish Crossrail for 2018-19. 8,000 people are working across 40 sites to build 26 miles of new tunnels and stations and 14,000 people are needed in the project's supply chain. HS2 will only add to the frenetic pace – rail and engineering specialists' work-life balance is set to remain out of kilter."

LONGER HOURS – HIDDEN BENEFITS

The destabilising of an employee's work-life balance as a result of the recession may have hidden benefits. People who embarked on their careers after August 2007 have developed professionally as part of very lean teams compared to those who started in the previous six. This has pushed some employees into working longer hours but as teams have attempted to manage workloads on a reduced workforce, high-flying junior employees have taken on the work of more senior colleagues. They have upskilled rapidly, creating a new generation of hyper-talented, passionate professionals. A separate market intelligence report carried out by Randstad found that 70% of financial services professionals had stepped up to much more demanding roles through sheer necessity. The 'all-hands-on-deck' mentality created during the recession meant that 73% considered themselves to be working at a higher level than their job title suggested, and were looking for the recognition and reward that they believed their achievement deserved.

Owen Goodhead said, "'Accelerated learning' in small teams with stretched staff can speed up development allowing passionate high flyers to shine and improve their promotion prospects. A lot of the best candidates we see – the top 15% – have seen their careers progress and gather speed, having worked in smaller, thinner, tighter teams. A new cohort is emerging in Britain's workforce which, thanks to the financial crisis, has excellent experience – albeit, perhaps, at the expense of their work-life balance."

About Randstad CPE
Randstad CPE is part of the Randstad group, one of the leading recruitment & HR services providers in the world with a top five position in the UK and a top three position in fifteen countries including the US, France and Germany.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm