On ThE JOb
What Employers Want
hanDs-On ExPEriEncE
In a technical field such as manufacturing,
hands-on experience is key. “manufacturers
always value internship experience,” says
John Hansen, a former researcher in
manufacturing who now directs the Ingenuity
center at the university of Texas at Tyler.
“The added bonus is that internships give the
student the opportunity to see if a career in
manufacturing is what he or she really wants
to do.” NOT
cOMPutEr LitEracY
Your Grandfather’s
“The most important thing we’re looking for
is experience,” agrees robert ashcroft, a
manager at north Texas plastics in sanger.
“but computer literacy is the other top priority.
You need to have a familiarity, preferably with
whatever software is associated with the job
you are seeking.”
Factory
MuLtitasking
manufacturing companies such as north
Texas plastics hire employees for a range
Manufacturing jOBs tODaY are as likely to use
of positions, such as machine operators,
computers as working on an assembly line.
quality assurance personnel, warehouse
and inventory controllers, and machine
maintenance technicians.
“we look for someone who looks neat and
well-groomed, and who shows up on time,”
P
at Dennis, an electrical engineer who in his business affect working conditions in
wanted to become his own boss, opened manufacturing across the board.
Red River Trophy and Engraving in “Currently manufacturing jobs are
ashcroft says. “we’re want somebody who
Denison in 2000. While you might think extremely technical, extremely skilled
can wear a lot of different hats, who’s able
small-scale manufacturing services like production jobs,” says Snodgrass. “It’s not
to multitask and do several things at one
engraving would primarily involve hands- your grandfather’s factory these days. We
time. also, we need somebody who’s able to
on detail work, Dennis himself says he was use robots and high-tech computers. For
communicate with people well.”
surprised at the degree to which his success the most part, you can no longer get a job in
many manufacturing careers begin with
depended on the use of computers. manufacturing right out of high school.”
apprenticeships, so employers seek young
In fact, he says computer knowledge is the
people who are trainable and eager to learn.
No. 1 skill you need to enter the field. “Being Analytical and Logical
“we want somebody who’s smart enough to
comfortable with a computer is essential,” he People in manufacturing typically fit a certain
learn,” says kirk darroch, vice president of the
says. “There are dozens of different types of high-tech profile, says Michael Bryant, a
north Texas woodworker’s association.
software, so if you’re afraid to use a computer, professor of mechanical engineering at the
this is not a field for you.” University of Texas at Austin. “The person
crEativitY
tends to be analytical, logical, careful, and
In manufacturing careers, innovation is a
high-Tech Jobs neat,” he says.
constant, so anything you can do to enhance
Kat Snodgrass, associate director of media To be sure, an interest in math and science
your problem solving skills is to your benefit.
relations with the National Association of will help you in any manufacturing career,
darroch gives the example of custom work,
Manufacturers, says the trends Dennis sees but Snodgrass stresses that the reality of the
such as cabinetry or metalwork, in which
cluster is that it’s not just production jobs.
clients contract on a job-by-job basis. “That
“It encompasses anything that is man-
takes more creativity,” says darroch. “The
tExas aDDED
made,” she says. “So that’s anything from
client comes to you and says, ‘This is what I approxImaTelY 7,500
pharmaceuticals to computer chips to
envision,’ and then you produce it.”
billboards to plastic products. Some aren’t
manufacTurIng Jobs In 2006.
cool and sexy, but they are products that we
use every day.”
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