Christian Taylor, Applica’s Country Manager for the United States, reflects on one of the biggest challenges facing project delivery across the energy sector.
Balancing the need for speed with the need for quality when hiring project personnel. He explores why this tension exists, how it impacts project outcomes and where the right recruitment partner can bring stability, clarity and value.
Why This Balance Matters
Whether it is a small FEED study or the construction of a multi billion dollar chemical facility, project delivery in the energy sector is driven by time. Schedules are tight, commercial pressure is high and delays can be extremely costly.
Christian explains that “clients tend to want talent yesterday,” Once a project secures FID approval or a subsea installation campaign gets the green light, mobilisation needs can escalate overnight. Yet rushing the hiring process can cause issues that slow the project down far more than a measured, well evaluated approach. Poor cultural fit, gaps in compliance, missing certifications or mismatched expectations can lead to rework, safety risks and contractor turnover within the first month.
Finding the balance between speed and due diligence is not just desirable. It is essential for safe, efficient and predictable delivery.
Christian highlights several challenges that consistently create tension in the hiring process.
Time pressure vs due diligence
Urgency is a natural part of the project lifecycle. When clients call saying “We need ten engineers mobilised within two weeks,” or “Can you find commissioning technicians who can clear site induction by Monday,” the pressure is real. Every day of delay pushes back production or impacts contractual milestones.
On the other hand, due diligence protects both clients and contractors. Compliance checks, right to work verification, background screening and safety induction requirements take time. When skipped, the risk increases significantly.
When urgency becomes the only priority, quality inevitably drops. Christian has seen the consequences firsthand:
“Corners are cut, including incomplete compliance or skipped references. Candidates arrive unprepared for the actual scope. Turnover increases within the first few weeks because expectations were not aligned. Project culture or site safety is compromised, and resolving these issues costs more time and money than getting it right the first time”.
Speed without structure does not support long term project success.
The opposite extreme also creates problems. “Weeks can pass while teams search for the “perfect” candidate. Projects lose momentum and opportunities slip to competitors who mobilise faster. Strong candidates lose interest or accept other offers. Frustration builds between procurement, HR and operations as priorities collide”.
Over evaluation can be just as damaging as rushing, particularly in fast moving project environments.
Where the Middle Ground Exists
Christian explains that the real value lies in the balance between efficiency and thoroughness. This is where a trusted recruitment partner plays a crucial role.
Applica builds and maintains talent pools by project type, discipline and certification. This means that when a client calls, much of the due diligence is already complete and mobilisation can begin quickly without compromising safety or quality.
Part of our role is to help clients understand what is truly achievable. Christian notes that honesty around timelines avoids unrealistic expectations and prevents teams being pushed into decisions that could harm project outcomes.
Clear communication protects all parties. Being upfront when a request is achievable or when it carries risk ensures decisions support long term success rather than short term speed.
Christian believes that strong communication, transparent expectations and recruitment teams with technical and compliance knowledge elevate the entire hiring process. Sufficient planning and alignment with budgets ensure that high quality talent is delivered at the right time and cost.
Balancing speed and quality is not a simple task, but it is a vital one in protecting project delivery across the energy transition.
