How to

Manufacturing is built on relationships. Leaders in industry focus on one thing above all else: your professional brand. But where do you start to build that?  How do you get your brand in front of people who make hiring decisions? The answer: LinkedIn. 

If you’re early in your career, LinkedIn can feel like a weird mix of job board, social media site and advertising space. That is ok! Now is the time to learn the basics, which can help you develop this tool into a real driver of change. You do not need to be an influencer, you just need to have a strategy!

Launching a High School Internship Program

One of the most common misconceptions in manufacturing today is that companies can only hire legal adults, or individuals over the age of 18.  Many manufacturers are hesitant to hire 16- and 17-year-olds.  Not only is this young adult population hirable, but they are also some of the most eager workers, in need of guidance to begin their manufacturing careers.

April’s Workforce Strategies Forum centered on helping companies improve their process for hosting student tours.  The forum featured two guest speakers: Katie Sudler of McCormick FONA and Ron Brown of Smith and Richardson Inc., both of whom are famous in our local manufacturing community for consistently wowing students with their facility tours.

If you’re having hiring issues, you are not alone. 

The IMA Education Foundation’s 2021 Statewide Education and Workforce Policy Tour revealed that statewide manufacturers are facing “unprecedented challenges” when it comes to filling their workforce needs.[1] 

It's Manufacturing Month!  Back in the day, it was just called “Manufacturing Day.” But thank goodness someone had the good sense to capture the entire month – because there is NO WAY we could fit all of this into one day in the year!