The world’s leading expo for wind energy will be the international career platform on Recruiting Day

The global wind industry with its dynamic development gives exciting and varied career opportunities, more than practically any other sector. These opportunities are showcased in particular on the Recruiting Day on Friday 30 September, when the world’s leading wind industry fair becomes the international job exchange for the wind industry. Anyone interested can find out all about the career opportunities and make direct contact with potential employers, careers consultants and educational institutions.

Rapid rise in the number of jobs

The number of employees in the global wind industry has more than doubled from 500,000 at the end of 2009 to over 1.1 million in June 2016. The driving forces in job growth, according to data of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), are China, Germany and the US, followed by Brazil and India. And the trend continues to rise sharply. By 2030 there could be 61,000 new jobs in the EU alone, according to estimates of the European association WindEurope, which is holding its WindEurope Summit Conference for the first time in parallel with WindEnergy Hamburg at the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH).

At present the search is on in particular for service technicians in the offshore sector – the work requires a good head for heights, physical fitness, and willingness to spend several days at a time out at sea; and also engineers and IT specialists. The range of jobs in the whole of the industry is extremely wide.

Recruiting Day Forum – Nordex CEO is among the interview partners

Nordex alone currently has 130 jobs to fill – reason enough for CEO Lars Bondo Krogsgaard to take up this subject himself. At the Recruiting Day Forum on 30 September, he will report in person on current trends in the industry, and the requirements for future employees. The Forum (located in the transition area from Hall B1 to B2) gives a platform for more than 20 companies and institutions in the industry, for their presentations and recruiting stands. Participants include Enercon, Windigo and Senvion, and also the Wind Energy Technology Institute of Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, and the Elbcampus of the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts. “We are looking in particular for people in the fast-growing service sector,” says Dr. Frauke Bastians, Head of People & Culture Development at Nordex. “We currently have jobs to fill as Area and Regional Managers, and we’re also looking for technical staff for wind turbine maintenance and repair.” Nordex is also looking for engineers for product development, turbine IT and automation, and staff for commercial positions such as in Controlling, Sales and Administration.” The workplaces are located around the world  – Nordex has jobs in Germany, Scandinavia, Spain, France and Turkey, and also in the US, Brazil, and in future in India. “International flexibility is important to us,” says Bastians. “Even if someone starts, say, in Spain, they could later switch to Scandinavia or South America.”

Information on jobs, requirements and current vacancies is also provided by temporary work agency Kelly Services, which is the partner of the Recruiting Day Forum. Engineers and qualified specialists are sought by ST³ Offshore, a Polish manufacturer of offshore foundations. Siemens wants to recruit as many as 1,000 people for its new plant in Cuxhaven, where nacelles for wind turbines are to be assembled in future. Details on opportunities and challenges are provided by Senior Recruiting Manager Monique Schack.

Alongside the companies, information will also be available from HR advisers, universities and education and training institutes. For example, the Delft University of Technology (Netherlands) informs on the Erasmus programme “European Wind Energy Master”, which offers Master students specialised courses in wind physics, rotor blade design, offshore engineering and electrical energy systems. A presentation will be given by Marcus Bach of the consultancy A.S.I. on the “seven deadly sins” in any job application.

Job Route criss-crossing all the halls – exhibitors meet applicants

Vattenfall also has 130 wind energy jobs company-wide to fill in the coming year, and offers career opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. Vattenfall is one of the participants in the Job Route, where HR officers are present at the stands for discussions and interviews. The stands of participating companies, which include EnBW, Enertrag and Vensys, are marked, and interested parties can also look them up in the Visitor Guide or the Exhibitor Directory.

Vattenfall is looking in particular for specialists in business management, engineering, project management and plant operation. “We are currently in a very exciting phase. The energy transition is in full swing, and we need to build new skills and recruit young talents in order to meet our ambitious targets,” says Lamin Faye, Head of HR and Health & Safety in the Wind Division at Vattenfall. The international areas of work for which Vattenfall wants to recruit include offshore wind projects such as Sandbank in Germany, Aberdeen Bay in the UK, and HornsRev 3 in Denmark. Vattenfall wants to hold recruitment interviews with suitable applicants directly at its stand at WindEnergy Hamburg. All information on the Recruiting Day is available at http://www.windenergyhamburg.com/nc/en/programme/programme-fair/recruiting-day/forvisitor/

WindEnergy Hamburg and HUSUM Wind

WindEnergy Hamburg will be held at the Hamburg Fair site from 27 to 30 September 2016. This leading international expo for onshore and offshore wind reflects the global market and the whole of the value chain. It is the meeting point for decision makers in the energy sector from all parts of the world. HUSUM Wind will be held at the German North Sea coast from 12 to 15 September 2017 in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which is a front runner in the wind industry. The focus of HUSUM Wind is the German speaking market. It is the traditional meeting point for intensive exchanges within the industry and for practice-oriented value added. For more information, please visit the websites windenergyhamburg.com and husumwind.com