It’s All About Relationships

MET • January 7, 2016

Relationship: the state of being connected

 

Engineering projects, project teams, department teams, clients, civil engineering recruiters all have one similar characteristic – RELATIONSHIPS. This includes our relationship with ourselves, our colleagues, our supervisors, our clients, our candidates. We cannot escape this inevitable connection.

 

How we treat others, through our words and more importantly our actions, will direct our success. It’s about being connected and trying to treat everyone with respect and consideration. If you have established, good relationships, no one can take them away from you.

 

As an architecture and civil engineering recruiter, I’m asked daily as to how I conduct my searches. My answer centers around the relationships I have established throughout my nearly 30 years of recruiting. Recruiting is a profession that is much more than a business. If done correctly, it involves understanding client needs, culture and personalities, and trying to make the best match with a candidate.

 

Those of us who love our jobs understand that we are dealing with people’s lives. We try to get to know our clients and candidates, and many become longtime friends. I find that the same can be said for just about all in the engineering consulting business or for that matter, any business.

 

Prior to the development of LinkedIn, connections were a bit more difficult to establish and sustain. It took a conscious effort. Today with the assistance of social media, a click of the mouse and I can reach thousands of A/E connections.

 

But with the ease of staying connected, are many consultants losing that ability to pick up the phone and keep the REAL connection? If you lost your job tomorrow, would your connections answer the phone if you called? Are your clients really YOUR clients or are they your company’s clients?

 

It’s all about relationships.

The Metzner Group Blog

Thanksgiving Pause

By Carol Metzner • December 18, 2025
As a recruiter, I move fast—searches, decisions, conversations that shape careers. But Thanksgiving reminds me to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the bigger picture. Gratitude isn’t just seasonal; it’s the foundation of meaningful relationships and clearer perspective. Each person I meet reminds me of resilience, ambition, and possibility—and that’s what keeps me inspired. Wishing you time to decompress, reconnect, and carry that spirit into the season ahead.

Networking Is A Two-Way Street!

By Carol Metzner • December 18, 2025
We’ve all seen it: a colleague facing a career crossroads reaches out to every connection they’ve built — asking for introductions, advice, or simply a listening ear. Many of us respond, because we understand the stakes. The fear of unemployment or being in a role that no longer fits is real. But then they land. The pressure lifts. And when others reach out to them for support, the response is… silence. In today’s climate, where so many talented A/E/C executives are exploring new opportunities, navigating leadership transitions, or rethinking their next chapter, let’s remember that networking is a two-way street. ✅ If someone helped you during your search, be the person who helps them now. ✅ If you’re in a stable role, take a moment to respond to those reaching out. ✅ If you’re navigating change, lean on your network — but also nurture it. The consulting engineering sector thrives on collaboration, trust, and long-term partnerships. Let’s extend that same spirit to how we support one another professionally. We rise by lifting each other — not just when we need help, but when others do.