“People are like mercury – if you can handle people, you can handle anything” - A philosophy of recruitment by Philip Cahill

Philip’s unique blend of Civil Engineering and Human Resource Management qualifications, combined with his deep understanding of the life sciences sector, makes him an invaluable asset to NIRAS. Here’s the story of how he started working with recruitment and why he still loves connecting the right people to the right positions, 30 years in.

From drawing boards to recruitment desks

Philip's career began with what was supposed to be a two-week trial at an engineering consultancy in the UK. "I thought at the time, treat it as a 2-week paid holiday," he recalls with a smile. That holiday turned into two years working as a draughtsman, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would take him from the nuclear projects of Scotland to the heart of Ireland's booming life sciences sector.

The late eighties were challenging times for Ireland, with high unemployment forcing many talented individuals abroad. Philip found himself among those seeking opportunities beyond Irish shores, working on nuclear, offshore, and chemical projects across the UK. His adventures took him from Manchester to Hull, and eventually to the Scottish Highlands in Inverness, where he worked on offshore projects near the largest oil rig fabrication yards in Europe.

"Scotland for a young engineer is an absolute treat, an adventure and opportunity to learn," Philip reflects on his time conducting offshore survey visits of semi-sub drilling rigs and visiting fabrication yards.

“What’s recruitment??”

The transition from engineering to recruitment came unexpectedly. When asked by his boss in Glasgow how he fancied working as a recruitment consultant, Philip's honest reply was simply: "What's recruitment?"

The answer he received would shape the rest of his career: "It's problem solving... really it comes down to finding and getting people onto projects for various jobs, negotiation and reassurance. The biggest part of the equation of all projects is getting the right people. People are like mercury. If you can handle people, you can handle anything!"

Mastering the art of handling mercury

Philip's two years in Glasgow recruitment were transformative. He recruited for almost every discipline imaginable – from fitters and electrical technicians for submarine bases to helicopter pilots for the offshore industry. His portfolio included naval architects, metallurgists, and quality managers for naval shipyards, as well as some of the first CAD technicians for nuclear power stations.

Returning to Ireland in the early nineties coincided perfectly with the “Celtic Tiger economy's” rapid growth. Multinational giants like Intel, Pfizer, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic were establishing massive new plants, all hungry for the same scarce commodity – skilled people. The pharmaceutical, medical device, and semiconductor industries were expanding rapidly, creating unprecedented demand for critical design, engineering, and management resources.

Building Ireland's life science infrastructure

Philip found himself at the center of Ireland's economic transformation, recruiting key personnel for some of the largest projects in the country's economic history. The need for international talent was so great that local Irish resources were insufficient, requiring him to develop expertise in contractor setup, visa applications, and international onboarding processes.

Recognising the evolving demands of the sector, Philip pursued a four-year part-time degree in Human Resource Management alongside a Certificate in Recruitment Practice. "Studying at night after a long day at work is hard going. You need determination and commitment. Lucky I couldn't spell these words at the time and just persisted," he says with characteristic humor.

His technical knowledge extends far beyond typical recruitment expertise. Philip understands the complete lifecycle of advanced life science facilities – from initial patient need through drug design, facility design and build, commissioning, qualification, validation, handover, operations, production, maintenance, safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and auditing. This comprehensive understanding allows him to provide genuine career guidance and identify opportunities that truly match candidates' aspirations and potential.

The NIRAS chapter

"I am delighted I joined NIRAS in February last year," Philip reflects on his most recent career move. The decision came after exploring the company's website and discovering the breadth of global projects, particularly those in Greenland, Nepal, Africa, and Asia. What struck him most was seeing "a lot of smiling people" and knowing he wanted to be part of that organisation.

Philip appreciates how NIRAS's website works "as much by subtlety as by emphasis," drawing attention to the fact that everyone at NIRAS is part of something larger – not just a commercial organisation, but an ethos and intention to actively improve the world. "It inspires! Hey – it worked on me!"

The company's focus on sustainability, particularly in energy and water conservation, resonates deeply with Philip's values. Having spent his career building Ireland's advanced manufacturing infrastructure, he now contributes to making that infrastructure more sustainable and responsible.

The philosophy of recruitment

After more than three decades in recruitment, Philip has learned that success comes from truly listening – not just to what candidates say, but to what they don't say, understanding their real motivations and aspirations. "Simply being able to identify and offer a candidate what they want with their heart will often satisfy them and secure them for a client for the longer term, than simply offering them more money."

His approach reflects the wisdom gained from his boss's early advice about handling mercury. Philip understands that people, like mercury, require careful and close consideration. Each candidate, client, and colleague has different needs and wants, and his role is to handle them all with the precision and care that the metaphor suggests.

When Philip looks at NIRAS's motto "Here We Grow," he sees it not just as professional and educational development, but as a collective term for how the company learns to live together on one planet. "At NIRAS, I certainly feel like I have grown professionally among my fellow professionals who I see are as equally committed to their professions as I am to mine."

In an industry where recruitment is "never dull" and "never the same job," Philip continues to embrace each new challenge with the same curiosity and determination that transformed a two-week trial into a 30-year career of connecting exceptional people with extraordinary opportunities.