What does the #1 Home of Engineers really mean?
You may have seen us call Middle Point the #1 Home of Engineers. It is a big statement, so it should mean more than having a large network of engineers or finding someone a good job, right? For many engineers, the relationship with Middle Point starts with an opportunity. You speak with one of our consultants about your experience, the work you enjoy and what you would like to do next. That may lead to a role at one of the shipyards or maritime companies we work with.
Once you start, that relationship continues! Our consultants want to know how the role works out in practice, how you are getting on with the project and how your experience develops along the way. When something comes up, you already have people around you who know your situation and understand the industry you work in.
That is where the idea of a Home of Engineers starts to become more tangible. But there is more.
You stay connected to the maritime world
Most engineers naturally know their own part of the industry best. You know what is happening at your shipyard, which vessels are being built and what is changing within your engineering team. Middle Point sees a wider part of the market. Our consultants work every day with shipyards and technical companies across yacht building, shipbuilding and offshore engineering in North-West Europe. They speak with Lead Engineers, engineering departments, HR teams and engineers working on different projects.
Through those conversations, we hear about new projects, changing technical requirements and the expertise companies are looking for. We sometimes know about opportunities before they become public.
You do not have to be looking for another job for that knowledge to be useful. Perhaps you are interested in what other shipyards are building, want to know where demand for your specialism is developing or are simply curious about what could come after your current project. You have people around you who follow that market every day.
And if your situation does change, you are not suddenly starting again with a blank LinkedIn search and a list of companies you barely know. Your consultant already knows what you have worked on and which direction interests you. There is something to fall back on.
For international engineers, ‘home’ has another meaning
Many Middle Point engineers have moved to the Netherlands or Germany for their work. Starting at a new shipyard is only one part of that move. You are also finding your way in another country and building a life there. Middle Point helps with the practical side of that transition when it is part of your placement. Depending on your situation, that can include the documents and administrative steps involved in working and living in another country. Our support continues after you have started working.
There are also other engineers around you who have made the same move. They may work at another shipyard, come from another country or have a completely different engineering discipline. What they share is a reason for being here: an interest in maritime engineering and the opportunity to work on interesting vessels and technical projects.
People find each other through that. For someone who has recently arrived, it is nice to know that your social circle does not have to start at zero. There are people who understand what it is like to start a new job and a new life at the same time. Engineers meet each other, exchange experiences and spend time together outside work as well.
And, eventually, someone will probably explain which Dutch supermarket is the right one. We leave that discussion to the engineers themselves.
Middle Point is still there when work is going well
Our consultants do stay in contact. Over time, they see how your experience develops. Perhaps your responsibilities grow during a project, you gain experience with a new system or discover that you enjoy commissioning more than you expected. A conversation a few years later is therefore different from speaking to a recruiter who only has your LinkedIn profile in front of them.
That connection can also be useful when something unexpected happens. Projects change. Personal situations change. Sometimes an engineer simply reaches the point where it is time for something else. At that moment, you already know the people you can speak to. They know the companies in the market, have an idea of which projects are coming and know something about you beyond your latest job title.
It is also simply a good group of engineers
The word home would be rather empty if everything around it was about recruitment. The engineers connected to Middle Point share an enthusiasm for maritime technology. They work on yachts, commercial vessels and offshore projects. Some are experienced specialists, while others are developing towards broader technical responsibilities. They come from different countries and work at different companies. That creates a group with plenty to talk about.
Work is obviously a large part of it. So are the vessels people are working on, technical developments in the industry and what is happening at different shipyards. But a community also has room for getting together without needing a professional reason for it. For international engineers in particular, that can make working abroad feel very different. You have your colleagues at the company where you work, while there is another group around you through Middle Point.
So what does #1 Home of Engineers mean?
It starts with finding work that fits you, but the real meaning becomes clearer afterwards.
You stay connected to people who know the maritime market and hear what is happening beyond your own workplace. There are other engineers around you who share the same enthusiasm for the industry, including many who know exactly what it is like to build a career away from their home country. And if your work or situation changes, you already have people to turn to.
You may join Middle Point because of one particular opportunity. Hopefully, a few years later, you are still part of the Home of Engineers for plenty of other reasons.
