Electric Evolution: Hiring in the e-Mobility Sector (Vol.2)

Welcome to the 2nd edition of my Electric Evolution Newsletter! Your go-to source for all the latest developments, trends, and insights in the world of electric vehicles, electrification and battery technologies.

Whether you're a seasoned industry professional or are just starting to explore the exciting world of e-Mobility, this newsletter is for you. Stay informed, stay ahead of the curve, and join the conversation about the future of this exciting field.

If you're interested in contributing to an upcoming edition or collaborating on a future project, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Hiring in the e-Mobility Sector

Recruiting for niche e-mobility skills is challenging due to a shortage of qualified candidates with constantly evolving skill requirements. The highly competitive industry demands employers to offer competitive salaries, benefits, and incentives to attract and retain top talent, while some niche skills may require relocation, further limiting the pool of candidates. Hiring and recruiting for these skills requires a significant investment of time and resources, and a proactive and flexible approach.

To overcome these challenges, employers and recruiters must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in the industry, assess the skills and competencies of candidates, and find those who possess the most relevant and up-to-date expertise. As a professional, I often communicate with companies about their hiring challenges and the difficulties they face in recruiting suitable candidates in a candidate-lead market. By staying updated and being proactive, employers and recruiters can attract and retain top talent in the field of e-mobility.

Some of the typical difficulties encountered when recruiting...

“The salary expectations of candidates are exceeding our budget.”

“We are encountering difficulty in finding candidates with the necessary skillset and experience.”

“We have interviewed several engineers, but they seem to have numerous job opportunities and other processes.”

“We are struggling to find engineers who align with our business culture.”

“The CVs we are reviewing are not a suitable match for the roles we are hiring.”

It is difficult to identify the exact issues a business may be facing without having a comprehensive understanding of their hiring process, location, market trends, salary ranges, and other related factors. However, there are some general hiring guidelines that companies can follow to address these challenges:

Length of Hiring Process

If you find that you are losing potential candidates to other companies, it may be worth reassessing your hiring process.

While a thorough process is beneficial for both parties, a long and drawn-out hiring process can negatively impact your placement success rates.

Typically, a two-stage interview process, conducted over a two-week period starting from the review of the candidate's CV, should suffice to evaluate their cultural fit, skillset, and experience. This approach can help prevent losing candidates to other companies and keep them engaged with your opportunity.

A breakdown in the hiring process can also cause candidates to question their suitability for the role, the calibre of your interviewers, and your project processes.

Keep it short, play it safe.

Specialist Recruiters

If you are receiving CVs that don't match your requirements, there may be a few reasons for this.

It could be due to a lack of understanding from the recruitment consultant, who may not have enough experience or knowledge of the position.

Alternatively, it could be due to unrealistic job specifications, with an extensive list of required skills that are difficult to find.

Working with a specialist recruiter who speaks with potential candidates daily can help address these issues.

They can quickly determine whether an individual is suitable for the role and discuss areas of flexibility in the job specifications to widen the search for candidates. Additionally, an experienced recruiter can benchmark salaries and experience levels to provide a realistic timeline and overview of how "fillable" a position is.

It is important to choose a recruiter who has not only experience in your sector but also in the specific type of roles you are looking to fill.

Would you go to a Ford garage to buy a Lamborghini?

Attracting Top Talent – The Importance of LinkedIn

One of the key factors in successful hiring is the ability of a company to attract potential employees.

It is surprising how many people I talk to about job openings who have never heard of the companies I mention within their industry. This could be due to various reasons such as company size, marketing, location, or other areas.

Fortunately, there are several effective ways to generate interest and keep potential employees informed and engaged with your company, particularly on LinkedIn.

Some methods include creating consistent marketing videos about your company, conducting employee interviews on video, showcasing projects, offering guided tours of facilities, and creating online brochures.

If you were selling a Koenigsegg for less then a Corsa and no one knew about it, no one would buy it…

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How has your experience been with hiring in the e-Mobility sector?

Have you encountered any challenges in finding the right candidates? Have you made any adaptations to your hiring strategy to keep up with the changing times? And on a positive note, what improvements have you made to drive business growth?

Electric Vehicle of the Week

MOKE International - The Electric MOKE

MOKE International made a significant move in 2022 by launching the Electric MOKE, becoming the first 1960s automotive brand to go fully electric. I appreciate how they have preserved the classic look of the car in its redesign.

With a maximum speed of 80km/h and a range of 120km, the MOKE is perfect for short trips to picturesque destinations.

I am looking forward to seeing these at the Cornish Seaside in the not-too-distant future.

Collaboration of the Week

CAKE – ridecake.com x Polestar

CAKE and Polestar have collaborated to provide a solution for urban mobility, addressing the growing list of issues associated with city transportation such as traffic, pollution and parking problems.

Polestar and CAKE have introduced a new electric mobility bundle that combines the all-round road capabilities of the Polestar 2 with the inner-city convenience of the CAKE Makka.

This unique solution allows the bike to be transported and charged directly from the car while on the move, enabling a perfect logistical symbiosis that reduces city traffic and pollution.

“This initiative is the next step in our brand collaboration and it gives us a chance to tackle broader mobility challenges. The lightweight bike connects with Polestar 2 via an ‘umbilical cord’ that allows it to charge from our car, ready to tackle inner cities as well as have fun off-road,” says Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

News and Insights

The e-mobility industry continues to grow and evolve, with several key players making recent headlines. Below are the latest developments in the world of EV's, batteries and electrification.

Volta Trucks is set to launch its electric truck, the Volta Zero, in the US at the ACT Expo trade show in early May this year, and is planning to accelerate its operations in the country. The company is expected to provide some units of the Volta Zero in Classes 6 and 7 to American customers for fleet testing by the end of 2023, with the market launch to follow shortly thereafter.

Tesla has sold 161,630 electric cars in the USA, placing the company significantly ahead of its competitors. During the same period, General Motors sold 20,670 electric cars and Ford sold 10,866, respectively.

NIO蔚来 a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has initiated the installation of its third-generation battery swap stations in ten Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, among others. As of 13th April, the company has established 1,342 battery exchange stations throughout China, including 351 that are located along highways.

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If you are in the market for a new role please get in touch via LinkedIn or send an email to [email protected]

Would you like to share your thoughts or any news? Join the conversation on LinkedIn by following the?#ElectricEvolution ?hashtag and stay tuned for biweekly polls on my page to share your valuable insights.

Until next week, keep e-Innovating!

#ElectricEvolution