In specialized businesses, emphasis often goes to hiring people with industry-specific credentials to handle high-profile operations. But equally important is finding high-quality back office personnel who keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

No one knows this better than Matthew Turk, chief operating officer of Intren, a line contractor based in Union, Ill.

Due to postponement of state approval for multiyear rate plans submitted by local utility companies, Intren had to lay off 600 employees in 2024, including 50 back office personnel. However, soon after the Illinois Commerce Commission approved revised rate plans in December 2024, Intren began building back its workforce bigger and better than ever. It hired 800 individuals, including former employees. 

“Some went on to other employers, but we were able to get many of them back,” Turk said. 

Intren employs back office personnel at 18 locations throughout the Midwest. Those individuals handle accounts payable, permitting and fleet maintenance. 

“The key for me when it comes to back office personnel is having an intuitive nature, a desire to learn and a passion for this work,” Turk said. “Also, they’ve got to be people persons because they’ll be working with management and people in the field. They’ve got to be able to talk and listen to people at all levels of the organization.”

In the electrical construction industry, software programming and A.I. are transforming back office operations by automating estimating, permitting, scheduling, work site staffing, equipment tracking and more.

“The idea is to relieve people of repetitive tasks and make them more effective and strategic,” Turk said. 

While contractors may be looking at a future with repetitive operations geared to run themselves, human knowledge and judgment will still be essential for providing context and crucial set-up information, he said. Being detail-oriented will continue to be a sought-after trait for back office hires.

“With project estimating and managing, there’s scope, scheduling, execution,” Turk said. “It’s especially important for all details and information to be correct. Otherwise, it can be draining to a project. But if things are right, we can gain efficiencies.”

ZipRecruiter suggests looking for individuals who maintain some of the following credentials—signs of commitment to ongoing professional development:

• Certified administrative professional
• Certified public accountant
• Certified bookkeeper
• Professional in human resources
• Society for Human Resource Management certified professional
• Certified information systems auditor
• Certified compliance and ethics professional 

Also important is proficiency in programs such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), document and data management platforms, and cloud-based collaboration tools. Employers can use online skill tests to evaluate candidates’ abilities in these areas. 

They can also encourage applicants needing to develop skills to apply for related training grants provided by the Department of Labor.

In the electrical construction field, Turk suggests prioritizing candidates with the following credentials:

• Project management professional
• Construction manager
• Building information modeling certification
• Experience with Primavera project management and scheduling software
• Experience with information technology programming to help with estimating

Like many larger construction contractors, Intren uses the services of a professional recruiter and responds to requests from headhunters. It also relies on posting activity with Indeed and LinkedIn. 

“We also hit colleges, and particularly colleges that focus on project management,” Turk said. 

Defining specific job roles is crucial. Intren holds recruitment events and workforce development workshops at technical schools, which can yield solid candidates and nurture future interest. 

For hires who may end up handling sensitive data, proprietary information and financials, verify credentials through issuing organizations and perform thorough background checks. Candidates should also provide references.

Finally, ensure candidates have the right soft skills and are a good cultural fit. Do they arrive on time and stay on task? Do they pay attention to detail? Are they good at troubleshooting and spotting bottlenecks? Most of all, do they enjoy tackling challenges associated with this work environment?

stock.adobe.com/Orlando Florin Rosu