Top mistakes hiring managers make in the renewables industry
As the renewable energy sector accelerates across Europe, the race for top talent is getting tougher. From wind and solar to energy storage, and grid transformation, demand is soaring, but the available talent pool hasn’t kept pace
At Vallum, we speak to hundreds of hiring managers and renewable energy professionals every month. And while every organisation is unique, the hiring challenges are often surprisingly similar
So, whether you’re scaling your wind division in the Nordics or hiring your first hydrogen lead in Germany, here are the top mistakes we see across the European renewables industry, and how to avoid them.
Waiting too long to hire
In the renewables sector, timing is everything. Projects move fast. Funding windows are tight. And top candidates don’t hang around.
According to IRENA, global renewable energy employment reached 13.7 million in 2022, with Europe accounting for a significant share. But despite this growth, skilled talent remains in short supply.
We’ve seen clients lose experienced engineers, developers, and analysts simply because their process took too long. Whether it’s delayed interviews, drawn-out feedback loops, or slow internal approvals, every extra day increases the risk of losing talent to your competitors.
Top candidates can be hired in as little as 10 days. If your process is dragging, you’re likely missing out.
Overlooking transferable skills
Renewables is still a relatively young industry. Expecting candidates to tick every technical box, especially in niche areas like offshore wind or grid-scale storage, limits your talent pool unnecessarily.
Some of the best candidates we’ve placed came from adjacent sectors, including:
· Oil & gas engineers transitioning to wind turbine projects
· Automotive battery specialist entering energy storage
· Utilities professionals pivoting into smart grid solutions
The best renewable energy recruiters know how to identify cross-sector potential. Hiring for mindset, adaptability, and core technical strengths often beat rigid box-ticking.
Forgetting that interviews go both ways
In a candidate-driven market, the interview shouldn’t be solely about assessing them but showing them why they should choose you.
Many hiring managers still treat interviews like one-sided interrogations. But in renewables, where purpose and impact matter, candidates want to feel inspired by the mission behind the role.
Before entering your next interview, ask yourself…
· Are we clearly communicating the impact of the role?
· Have we shared what progression looks like in our company?
· Can we speak confidently about our culture and values?
Research by Deloitte shows that nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials will reject roles that don’t align with their ethics or sustainability beliefs. Tell your story and prepare to sell your mission!
Trying to do it all in-house
Internal HR teams are brilliant. But expecting them to manage technical, cross-border hiring in renewables without specialist support is a big ask.
Partnering with a renewable energy recruitment company gives you more than just CVs. It gives you access to:
· Passive talent, the people who aren’t actively looking for a new job.
· Salary benchmarking and market data
· Insights across European regions and regulations
· Support structuring teams for future growth
We’re not here to replace your team; we’re here to extend it.
Hiring for now, not what’s next
Too often, hiring only starts when a project hits a milestone or a vacancy becomes urgent. But that reactive approach leads to rushed decisions and short-term fixes. Strategic hiring means thinking beyond immediate vacancies and identifying future skill needs.
At Vallum, we help our clients forecast, plan, and build pipelines for future talent, so they’re not left scrambling when the opportunity comes.
The bottom line?
The renewable energy industry across Europe is moving fast, but talent remains the most valuable resource of all. Avoiding these common mistakes will mean you’re better placed to attract, secure, and retain the people you need to grow.
Looking for a better way to hire in Europe’s renewable energy market?
We’re the renewable energy recruitment company our clients rely on for sector-specific insight, passive talent access, and long-term support.
