Getting A first Job for an engineering company

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SpartanX

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Hi Guys

I just registered an engineering company. I work with steel, mainly stainless steel. I do welding, boiler making and pipe fitting.

I deal mostly with food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Those are companies like Clover, Coke, Aspen etc.

My question now is, how to get a job from companies such the above? Do I walk in and ask to talk to HR? Will I have to set up an appointment? I need answers to question like that.

Thanks.
 
You started a company but now you want to work for a food company instead, is that what you're saying?

Or do you mean you are looking to sign contracts to provide products or services to these companies? In which case:

1: How can you start a company like this without even having done market research or having contacts in the industry?
2: WTF would HR have to do with anything?

Or am I missing something, your post is a bit unclear.
 
SpartanX said:
Hi Guys

I just registered an engineering company. I work with steel, mainly stainless steel. I do welding, boiler making and pipe fitting.

I deal mostly with food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Those are companies like Clover, Coke, Aspen etc.

My question now is, how to get a job from companies such the above? Do I walk in and ask to talk to HR? Will I have to set up an appointment? I need answers to question like that.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

look for various tenders or RPF's and apply
 
TJ99 said:
You started a company but now you want to work for a food company instead, is that what you're saying?

Or do you mean you are looking to sign contracts to provide products or services to these companies? In which case:

1: How can you start a company like this without even having done market research or having contacts in the industry?
2: WTF would HR have to do with anything?

Or am I missing something, your post is a bit unclear.
Click to expand...

TJ99 said:
You started a company but now you want to work for a food company instead, is that what you're saying?

Or do you mean you are looking to sign contracts to provide products or services to these companies? In which case:

1: How can you start a company like this without even having done market research or having contacts in the industry?
2: WTF would HR have to do with anything?

Or am I missing something, your post is a bit unclear.
Click to expand...

Hi TJ
Thanks for your comment. To clear things up for you then:

Yes, I'm looking to sign contracts to provide a service to these companies.
I worked in the industry for 11 years, as a contractor (working for other construction companies). I worked in JHB, so I do have a contacts, but in JHB. I'm from PE and I decided to relocate back home and start a company this side.

I know who my market is, they are the type of companies I have listed above. I could also look for tenders as ElementZero suggested, but thats not the route I want to take.

When we work in these companies, we do some sort of maintenance work. We deal with engineers and technicians employed by these companies (e.g SAB Employs a technician to look for faults and then give work to contractors).

My question is, when I go look for jobs in such companies, who do I ask to speak to?

Hope I was clear enough.
 
Thanks for the feedback, just not planning to go that route.
 
SpartanX said:
Hi TJ
Thanks for your comment. To clear things up for you then:

Yes, I'm looking to sign contracts to provide a service to these companies.
I worked in the industry for 11 years, as a contractor (working for other construction companies). I worked in JHB, so I do have a contacts, but in JHB. I'm from PE and I decided to relocate back home and start a company this side.

I know who my market is, they are the type of companies I have listed above. I could also look for tenders as ElementZero suggested, but thats not the route I want to take.

When we work in these companies, we do some sort of maintenance work. We deal with engineers and technicians employed by these companies (e.g SAB Employs a technician to look for faults and then give work to contractors).

My question is, when I go look for jobs in such companies, who do I ask to speak to?

Hope I was clear enough.
Click to expand...

Well most of those large companies, especially internationals, usually have long-term maintenance and procurement deals with companies they trust and have worked with for many years.

If you're just starting up, you'd have to do smaller contracts first and build up a reputation. It's not like these guys will do business with a company with an unproven track record, even if they know you personally.

For construction, yes tender on subcontracts for new buildings. But even so, the large contractors will look at your reputation and will want previous completed projects as reference. I know because I used to work for one.

If you're looking more at maintenance type work, you'd need to speak to the maintenance or procurement departments of those companies but I still can't see how you'd get in without having a good name in the market. With all the chancers, scammers and fly-by-night builders and subcontractors out there I'm sure you can understand that they'd want to see some evidence first that your company won't be a risk.
 
I work for one of the companies you mentioned. They all have dedicated maintenance departments with maintenance managers. Call the branch your interested in doing work for, ask who the maintenance manager is and set up a meeting with him, then go and introduce yourself and the service you could offer.
 
Penquin said:
I work for one of the companies you mentioned. They all have dedicated maintenance departments with maintenance managers. Call the branch your interested in doing work for, ask who the maintenance manager is and set up a meeting with him, then go and introduce yourself and the service you could offer.
Click to expand...

Well said. Thanks mate, that's what I should do. You've answered my question! Thanks, once again.
 
SpartanX said:
Hi Guys

I just registered an engineering company. I work with steel, mainly stainless steel. I do welding, boiler making and pipe fitting.

I deal mostly with food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Those are companies like Clover, Coke, Aspen etc.

My question now is, how to get a job from companies such the above? Do I walk in and ask to talk to HR? Will I have to set up an appointment? I need answers to question like that.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Easiest and quickest way in would be to sub contract for people contracting for them already. Try and find out who does what for said companies and approach them to sub contract for them instead. Once you're in you'll be in the know as to how things work, meet the right people and know when tenders are up for renewal.
 
Eskom Tender bulletin is your friend, friend. If you find a tender that's suits you, ask for one of the big boys to tender on your behalf until you grow to be able to tender yourself.

EDIT: I see you do Welding, there's a shortage in this country.
 
Hi Guys

Just to update everyone who participated in this thread. I went with Penquin's advice to one of the dairy companies in P.E, fortunately I met an Engineer that I worked with a number of times in JHB. So things went smoother than I expected.

I am now in and there's no turning back. In the past three weeks I have received a total of 20+ quotations to make, as from today I have received 14 Order numbers.

Thanks again to every one. Just generating ideas to grow my company and rinse and repeat! I'm so happy, got a feeling this will be my year!
 
Pitbull said:
Easiest and quickest way in would be to sub contract for people contracting for them already. Try and find out who does what for said companies and approach them to sub contract for them instead. Once you're in you'll be in the know as to how things work, meet the right people and know when tenders are up for renewal.
Click to expand...

That's also a great idea Pitbull. I've tried something like that, but I made a deal with some other big company in my industry to buy material for bigger jobs that require material of 20G+. Then they will profit on markup, I will profit on labour.But that's only for big jobs that I cant supply material for yet.
 
SpartanX said:
Hi Guys

Just to update everyone who participated in this thread. I went with Penquin's advice to one of the dairy companies in P.E, fortunately I met an Engineer that I worked with a number of times in JHB. So things went smoother than I expected.

I am now in and there's no turning back. In the past three weeks I have received a total of 20+ quotations to make, as from today I have received 14 Order numbers.

Thanks again to every one. Just generating ideas to grow my company and rinse and repeat! I'm so happy, got a feeling this will be my year!
Click to expand...
Awesome, glad I could help. You can buy me a beer next time I am in PE.
 
SpartanX said:
Hi Guys

Just to update everyone who participated in this thread. I went with Penquin's advice to one of the dairy companies in P.E, fortunately I met an Engineer that I worked with a number of times in JHB. So things went smoother than I expected.

I am now in and there's no turning back. In the past three weeks I have received a total of 20+ quotations to make, as from today I have received 14 Order numbers.

Thanks again to every one. Just generating ideas to grow my company and rinse and repeat! I'm so happy, got a feeling this will be my year!
Click to expand...

Great success and well done! Keep up the hard work!
 
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