Tempting top talent

Middle East architecture firms are constantly recruiting new talent but are they luring the best of the best?

With major projects underway in China, Russia, Europe and the Middle East, and the status quo development in North America, unprecedented numbers of architects are auctioning their skills to the highest international bidder.

The combination of year-round sunshine, tax-free living and evermore iconic programmes, is indeed making the Middle East an enticing location for some of the world's top architectural talent.

"The majority of architects chose their profession because they are passionate about their designs and the prospect of building them, so what better place to express that creativity, and make their mark on a city, than coming to the Middle East?" asks Tim Askew, managing director of Atkins Middle East & India.

However, the point several firms are making is that ‘qualified' doesn't always translate as ‘talented'.

While significant numbers of architects are coming to the Middle East with ambitions of building the next twisting tower or mixed-use development, the region's architecture firms-both large and small-continue to sift through increasingly average CVs.

"I do not find a shortage of qualified architects, but equally, I do not find a surplus of talented ones," says William W.L. Yuen, director of P&T Architects in Dubai.

"There are a lot of ‘qualified' architects who are average but we're looking for the ‘exceptional' ones, which is not that easy."

"There is certainly no surplus of really talented architects."

Ammar Al Assam, director of business development for Dewan Architects & Engineers agrees: "Recruiting architects and engineers is easy. However, recruiting qualified professionals with solid experience is not easy."

Pointing to the Middle East construction boom, Al Assam says that the demand for qualified people-and the market reaction-too often outweighs the supply of good talent.

"The problem is exacerbated by inflated salaries and expectations," he says.

Challenges in recruitment

One of the biggest challenges in recruiting top talent is developing, and not deviating from, a solid recruitment strategy.

Direct recruitment, recruitment agents, hosting open-house days, providing incentives for hiring staff, recruiting from abroad and outsourcing are some of the methods that have proven successful for local firms.

"The challenges in [recruiting top architects] are to define your recruitment strategy and goals for the year."

"A man-power plan needs to be developed in advance to gauge your needs," says Al Assam.

Recruiting talented individuals begins with developing the firm's reputation as an equitable and friendly workplace.

But even if these characteristics are in place, some of the region's top firms still run into visibility issues.

"Atkins has been set up in this region for many years. We're a market leader with an enviable portfolio of completed projects," says Askew.

"[But] the biggest challenge we face, is ensuring the very best know we are looking for them."

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