How many applications can I expect?
Benchmarks, key factors and solutions to reach qualified engineering, technical and IT candidates.
How many applications can you expect?
This is the question recruiters ask most before publishing a job ad. For engineering, technical and IT roles, there is no standard answer: results vary from one vacancy to another.
Three groups of factors make the difference:
- The company: reputation, employer brand, size and industry;
- The role: job title, quality of the description, seniority and rarity of the profile;
- The conditions: salary transparency, remote or hybrid work, location and publication timing.
For shortage profiles, fewer applications is normal: experienced engineers, specialised technicians and IT professionals are rarely available and often already employed. That is why we focus on relevant applications rather than volume: one truly qualified candidate is worth more than many unsuitable ones.
Indicative benchmarks by country
Indicative number of relevant applications per vacancy with the recommended offer, depending on market size, location, profile scarcity and company attractiveness.
| Type of role | Recommended offer | Belgium | France | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior, medior or broader technical role | Light | 3 to 10 | 6 to 18 | 4 to 12 |
| Experienced engineer or specialised IT profile | Pro | 2 to 7 | 3 to 10 | 3 to 8 |
| Highly specialised, expert or shortage profile | Premium | 1 to 5 | 2 to 8 | 1 to 6 |
These figures are indicative benchmarks, not a guarantee. Pro and Premium offers increase the visibility of your vacancy and your chances of receiving relevant applications.
See the Light, Pro and Premium offers →
Do not rely only on incoming applications
For shortage profiles, waiting for candidates to apply is not always enough. With the Engineering.jobs CV database, you search directly for engineers, technical specialists and IT professionals and contact those who match your criteria: more than 170.000 profiles across Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
| Country | Profiles available in the CV database |
|---|---|
| Belgium | 30.000+ profiles |
| France | 120.000+ profiles |
| Netherlands | 20.000+ profiles |
| International total | 170.000+ profiles |
A job ad gives visibility to your vacancy; the CV database lets you be proactive. For difficult technical recruitments, combining both is often the most effective approach.
Strengthen your employer brand
Candidates also apply based on how they perceive your company. A start-up, SME, industrial company or employer in a less visible area often benefits from investing in visibility:
- company page;
- sponsored article;
- homepage banner;
- search results banner;
- targeted mailing campaign;
- visibility packs.
Present your company, projects, technologies and career opportunities to a specialised audience.
A complete solution for technical recruitment
Every recruitment need is different. For a well-known company, a clear job ad may be enough. For a less-known company, a rare profile or a hard-to-fill role, combining job ad visibility, CV database sourcing and employer branding works best.
We help you choose the right combination for your position, your market and your recruitment objectives.