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As any hiring manager knows, a cover letter and a resume display only the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath is concealed; yet, as an employer, it is what you’re banking on to substantiate the glimmer of the surface . . . and that includes soft skills. To summarize, 10 soft skills candidates may possess are: Excellence in communication skills Collaborates with a team Agility in learning and problem-solving Shows initiative (with maturity) Curious but intellectually humble Mentoring/coaching talent and leadership Logical process and critical thinking Influencing and motivating Prioritization and time management Strong work ethic Behavioral questions reveal…

Manufacturers agree on many things, but most of all, on the challenges they face on a daily basis. It comes down to three facets of one issue: staffing. So, what about staffing seems to create this consensus? Understaffing/overstaffing One would be hard-pressed to win a debate on which condition is worse: under- or overstaffing. Either situation can create havoc with scheduling, inventory, and ROI. That is, quality may suffer, production may be thrown off causing a lag-time in filling orders, and overtime pay may become the norm to help answer the demand. Whether holding on through lean months or ratcheting…

Today we conclude the discussion with MPS Technical about career development programs for employees with a slant towards concerns and leadership development. What about leadership development? The industry does have a need to step up leadership development as this strengthens an organization from the inside. High potential employees could be given “stretch” assignments over a period of months to prepare them to assume a mid-level position and longer for a more senior position. However, it can be a challenge to determine who may rank as “high potential” as individuals do not come in a one-size-fits-all package. What is management’s role…

Fall means a change in the weather, football, and s’mores. For manufacturers, it also means that the jobs held by youth for the summer can become vacant. It means new staff and more training costs. Moreover, for businesses that begin their busy season, it can mean a reliance on – and sometimes a challenge to find – skilled people to help meet upcoming, increased holiday production goals. As a manufacturer, whether you hire a handful or thousands of seasonal workers, as you gear up for hiring, these three tips may make the process smoother. First, think same time next year.…

When you define career development as the ongoing acquisition or refinement of skills and knowledge, it includes job mastery and professional development that exceeds the scope of the employee’s job description. With this mindset, it is difficult not to see the advantages, which an employee career development plan can provide. Plus, if you want to answer your firm’s shortage of talent by developing your employees, you’re headed in the right direction. Last week we established why employee development is essential. Today and next week MPS Technical, a staffing agency with more than 20 years assisting the manufacturing industry with finding…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) began breaking down the barriers in American Society in 1994, but the disabled workforce became integrated years later under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ACT created by President Obama. Perhaps workers with disabilities may be just the employees you need to fill your manufacturing workforce shortage. Realistically, not all jobs are right for those who are physically-challenged, but there are many positions – such as assembly worker, test assistants, order builders, or technicians – that can be well-suited for these individuals. In fact, many mid-level management or supervisory positions, including safety, compliance or custodial…