The Hiring-to-Hired Journey at IHI Terrasun Solutions
IHI Terrasun Solutions has been growing at a tremendous rate. Over the last year, we’ve increased our headcount by 42%. While large numbers are impressive, each of the new hires has a story. It's a story of one person finding their new team and an established team finding their newest member.
To share the hiring process, we’ve asked one of our newest team members, David Harlan, and his hiring manager, Eric Biggs, to share their perspective on the journey from resume to their first day at IHI Terrasun.
Eric Biggs, Sr. Technical Specialist, Hiring Manager in the Design and Engineering team
What does IHI Terrasun look for in a candidate?
We look for highly motivated individuals who seek a place to learn, contribute, and grow. We want people who are passionate, not just about the role they will be in, but also about the renewable energy industry.
Innovation is really important at IHI Terrasun.
Employees at IHI Terrasun have opportunities to contribute cross-functionally, so we look for candidates who are well rounded and can interact both technically and professionally. We want candidates who will think outside the box and stretch the traditional boundaries of their role.
Describe the hiring process at IHI Terrasun Solutions
The hiring process is very thorough. It gives the candidate a snapshot of the people and type of work that they will be doing on a day-to-day basis. We do a complete review of their qualifications, skills, and experience as well as a background check. We believe that it is just as important for the candidate to feel like the role is a good fit for them as it is for us to feel like the candidate is a good fit for the role.
Throughout the process, candidates will get the opportunity to speak to employees at all levels of the organization. This helps them to get a better sense of the people they will be interacting with on a daily basis. We want people who come to our company to see how they will fit into our culture. We need to see how they will interact with their fellow associates. Granted, it makes our hiring process longer and more involved than at other companies, but it helps us to preserve our unique culture and team ethic.
We know that this process has been successful. Our retention rate is 95.35%, which is very high when compared to the industry average.
David Harlan, Energy Storage Software Engineer, newest member of the Design and Engineering team
Why did you choose IHI Terrasun Solutions?
Terrasun stood out as a company where I can exercise creative freedom to design meaningful solutions and contribute as part of a close-knit team. As an employer, Terrasun was very attractive to me because of their accommodating work arrangements, great pay/benefits, and the secure backing of IHI Corporation [IHI Terrasun Solutions’ parent company]. The culture is very positive. It fosters collaboration and innovation by investing in the people while providing ample opportunities to grow professionally.
Why renewable energy?
The renewable energy industry provides a great opportunity for those looking to create, design, and build solutions in a field that is both young and growing fast. Renewables, specifically the battery energy storage industry that IHI Terrasun specializes in, have a key role to play in providing a sustainable and reliable energy source.
It’s an exciting field to move into and help build up!
Start your career at IHI Terrasun by visiting our Careers page and looking for your next opportunity.