According to a poll conducted this summer by Twin Cities Business, 38% of business leaders from around Minnesota are planning to hire. Hiring is up 10% and this is currently one of the best hiring outlooks since Q2 2012. The precision and medtech manufacturing industry in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin is definitely ready to increase their workforces. In fact, the Twin Cities Business’ survey also found that a top concern for business leaders was finding qualified candidates to fill positions in engineering, machining and technical. Many of these high-skilled positions are found in manufacturing. As a job seeker here are some tips to help you take advantage of the current hiring environment and hopefully help you land a job!

• Review your resume. Customize it for the positions you are looking for. Highlight your experience and expertise and, of course, make sure there are no typos or spelling errors

• Review your skills against the jobs available or the jobs you want. Are you missing a certification? Need more training on a specific job function? There are many great programs offered through the local community and technical colleges – some even partner with local manufacturers – that can improve your skill set

• Network. This one word can strike fear in the minds of many job seekers! But overcoming this fear can provide great value in your job search. Start small by speaking with your college’s career service center or state workforce center for ideas. Attend local manufacturing events or job fairs and have an active conversation with the companies attending – don’t just grab brochures and walk away. Speaking with a staffing agency like MPS Technical is also a great way to start networking with the industry

Manufacturing is a great career choice and now is a great time for you to get started in the industry. [caption id="attachment_704" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Source: tcbmag.com[/caption]