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Stay updated with the latest recruitment insights, hiring tips, interview and application guidance, employment trends, HR and government updates, market shifts, and internal news from Octagon.
Long-term engineering careers: depth, stability, and impact
Engineering careers aren’t built in quick jumps, they’re built in layers. Yet much of the conversation around engineering careers today focuses on speed, i.e. faster progression, faster salary growth, faster
Should you move roles in 2026? A practical decision framework for engineers
In words of The Clash, every year brings the same quiet question for engineers: Should I stay or should I go? But in 2026, that question feels heavier than usual.
Recruitment ROI in engineering: cost, risk, and long-term value
When engineering leaders talk about recruitment ROI, the conversation usually starts (and ends!) with cost. Agency fees.Salaries.Time to hire. Those numbers are easy to see, easy to compare, and easy
Hiring leaders vs filling roles: the difference most businesses miss
Most businesses say they want leaders. In practice, many end up hiring experienced role-holders and hoping leadership shows up later. On paper, the distinction feels subtle. In reality, it’s one
How skills shortages quietly erode margins in manufacturing
Most manufacturing leaders can tell you exactly where their margin pressure comes from. Energy costs. Materials. Supply chain volatility. Pricing pressure from customers. What’s less visible, and often far more
What “good” engineering recruitment actually looks like in 2026
Most engineering leaders will say the same thing when asked about recruitment: “We’re not short of CVs — we’re short of the right people.” In 2026, that gap between activity