Germany: Job Opportunities at HUSUM WindEnergy

The last day of HUSUM WindEnergy is traditionally dedicated to career opportunities: firms, universities and further education establishments from the wind sector will be exhibiting at the Windcareer job fair on 22 September.

Qualified employees are sought after and the wind industry is attractive – not least due to the special spirit in the industry, something that is very tangible in Husum. The familiar sense of community from the early years of the wind industry has been retained and really improves job opportunities. Anyone who already has their elevator pitch can profit from random encounters with the industry’s decision makers.

According to a survey by the European Wind Energy Association, the booming wind industry employs around 140,000 people across Europe. They work directly for wind turbine manufacturers, for project developers, component producers and service enterprises. The demand for wind power specialists continues to rise as the market expands. This is added to by the expansion of the labour intensive offshore sector, which requires around two and a half times more manpower than the onshore sector. There has long been talk of a “war for talents”, because even though the wind industry offers good jobs the primarily medium-sized businesses have difficulty finding qualified personnel. At the top of the wish list are the project, electrical and development engineers. The exhibition spaces for Windcareer 2012 were consequently very soon sold out. Around 40 enterprises will be presenting themselves to interested applicants, having discussions and giving career advice in Husum’s NordseeCongressCentrum.

Universities have recognised the demand for courses relating to renewable energy. A survey by Wissenschaftsladen Bonn in autumn 2010 counted around 300 courses with special focus on renewable energy in Germany alone. Only three years previously, in 2007, there were just 144 courses available, less than half. University and retraining courses are important focuses at Windcareer, and there will be a special workshop on the subject. “These workshops will clearly explain what demands the wind businesses have as far as applicants are concerned. We invite top managers to explain what factors are important when they are putting together their team. The workshop provides information about career chances, job prospects, job profiles and requirement profiles. It also provides an up to date overview of industry-specific training and retraining opportunities”, says Christoph Schwarzer from the Forwind Centre for wind Energy Research, which is organising the free workshops at Windcareer.

Anyone looking for a new career challenge would be advised to prepare a convincing “elevator pitch”– because in Husum you never when you might happen to bump into the personnel boss of your dream employer! “HUSUM WindEnergy has always been noted for its high level of emotionality and authenticity, and the almost family atmosphere that has favoured quite a few business deals”, emphasised Peter Becker, managing director of Messe Husum & Congress. “In Husum you can really sense the enthusiasm of the early days. This makes it easier to make personal contacts. And in the evenings, exhibitors and visitors almost inevitably run across each other, for example when the y head to the old Husumer Brauhaus for an after-work beer. This all facilitates business transactions and job chances in a way that would hardly be imaginable in a large metropolis.”

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Offshore WIND staff, August 07, 2012; Image: HUSUM WindEnergy