Automotive & suppliers: recruiting through transformation
Published on 29 September 2026 · 5 min read
I got to know the automotive industry over twelve years at BMW – and with it the world of suppliers. The transformation is changing both sides, and you feel it in every hire.
New drives, new profiles
With e-drives and a growing share of electronics, the profiles in demand are changing: where classic mechanical engineering once dominated, electrical engineering, software and battery technology are now needed. Suppliers who want to take their workforce along need clear profiles and realistic timelines.
Quality remains the entry ticket
From my time in global quality management for engines and e-drives I know: in the automotive world, process reliability and standards count. Candidates who have internalised this are rare – and they make the difference when a supplier enters new markets.
What I pass on to suppliers
Anyone hiring through transformation should speak honestly about requirements and prospects – with candidates and with their own workforce. That builds trust and keeps good people, especially when things get difficult.
What this means for your business
The automotive transformation is also a staffing question. Clear profiles, quality understanding and honesty decide successful hires. Whether supplier recruiting, defence recruiting or SME recruiting: these are exactly the searches I support.
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