Blattner is the leader in renewable energy construction in the U.S. With more than 115 years of construction experience, the company has played a vital role in building America’s critical infrastructure, ranging from railroads and highways to dams and mines. Since 1997, Blattner has focused on renewable energy solutions and is responsible for some of the most significant solar, wind and storage projects in the U.S. Today, Blattner has installed 25% of the country’s utility-scale wind, solar and energy storage capacity. The Spectrum spoke with Angie Neisinger, the Director of Transformation & Business Excellence for Blattner. She recently held the position of Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition for Blattner, leading the organization’s efforts to source and hire talent for Blattner’s corporate office in Avon, Minnesota and project sites across the United States.
- What does a recruiter look for in potential employees including qualities/skills and experience?
At Blattner, we have a broad range of roles that each have a unique set of desired qualifications and experiences. The first job of our recruiters is to ensure a candidate meets the minimum qualifications. Once those are met, they strive to deliver top talent, those with diverse backgrounds, degrees and experiences to our hiring leaders.
- What “soft skills” do you look for in candidates (aka what is a good trait to foster that doesn’t involve their education)?
Soft skills are vital to who we are as an organization–as an employer, as teammates, as partners to our clients and as community members. We call the most important ones our Blattner Basics. They are the 12 principles that drive how we act. They include never compromise safety, know the cost before you act, success through teamwork, and relentlessly commit to improve every day.
- What is important about a candidate’s education? Do grades, extracurriculars, what school they went to, whether they worked during school, etc. matter?
Blattner values diverse education and experiences. We recognize that diverse experiences and fields of study bring diverse thought, ideas and innovation.
- What majors do you cater to?
Our roles are vast. Due to our wide range of career opportunities, from our corporate office to our construction project sites, our roles vary from Legal, HR, and Finance to Estimating, Engineering, Construction, Safety, Quality and more. We encourage anyone who is interested in helping us in Leading America to a Clean Energy Future to consider a career with us, no matter their major.
- Do you have internships and if so, what do those include?
Yes! Blattner has a robust internship program, wherein we offer up to 150 coveted intern spots each year. The majority of those are Field Engineer roles out at our project sites. Blattner’s corporate office also offers internships in a variety of departments ranging from IT to HR and Finance.
- What does the future look like for job opportunities in your company?
The future is bright! Blattner is proud to be the leader in renewable energy construction and our industry is consistently growing year over year as energy demand continues to grow.
- Have you hired NDSU grads in the past? What do you think it is about NDSU that makes them good candidates?
Blattner has had a long-time relationship with NDSU and we consider them a tier-1 school for us. That means we take the time to be on campus, building relationships with professors and students alike. Students of high caliber and high character consistently graduate from NDSU and that’s top talent for us.
- Do you hire people without business or technical degrees? Such as in the social sciences? Do they have a hard time in the working environment?
We value the tenacity and grit that one gains while pursuing their degree. While those with majors in engineering or construction management may come in with a deeper understanding of the field or the industry, we hire character and train skill. And as I mentioned, we have numerous opportunities outside of hands-on construction, including finance, HR and more.
- What type of person would thrive in the company culture at Blattner?
Common threads to those that thrive at Blattner are value-driven, relationship-based individuals who are resilient, open to change and evolution with a willingness to learn. Those who are courageous with questions, seek to understand and never hesitate sharing ideas!
- Can you tell me what it was about recent candidates that you hired that made you like them for the job?
We recently extended over fifty offers to interns who spent this past summer as Field Engineer Interns. We extended offers to those who rolled up their sleeves and dove right in, who could offer recommendations for improvement, share ideas and bring innovation to our project sites. They are self-starters and drivers and step up to lead, no matter the role.
- Should someone only apply if they exactly fit the job description? For what positions is that more important?
They should apply if they are interested! Our job descriptions are a tool that provide guidelines for us. We have roles that require niche education or experiences, such as engineers, electricians and attorneys; however, we have a lot of other roles that require broad experience and/or minimum qualifications as well.
- What would your advice be for a new grad or college upperclassman who is going to be looking for a job soon?
Be confident! Show up for your interview like the role is already yours. Bring specific examples that highlight who you are and how you’ll perform. Interview the company, research them, bring a list of questions and don’t hesitate to ask them.