Posts From April, 2023

Not sure what to do after high school? Consider a Manufacturing Career!

Not sure what to do after high school? Consider a Manufacturing Career!

If you’re looking to start a profession that offers growth opportunities and a stable income, consider a manufacturing career.
 

The manufacturing industry fuels the U.S. economy and employs nearly 10 percent of people in the country. Manufacturing is a leader in technology and innovation, offering many different types of jobs and opportunities to advance your skills training. Even during the pandemic in 2020-21, the manufacturing industry remained strong and recovered well while other sectors were stagnant. With so many companies currently looking to hire new employees, now is an ideal time to become part of this booming industry.

 

Why Manufacturing Rocks!
 

Learn on the job and gain real-world experience.

The manufacturing industry provides many opportunities for high school graduates who are seeking an entry-level position and want to gain practical, real-world experience. Most manufacturing companies offer on-the-job training and require no previous work experience. This is a great way to build your resume and develop technical abilities. You will also learn valuable and transferable skills, such as time management, teamwork, and problem-solving. Additionally, the manufacturing industry and companies that manufacture products offer many different areas for you to work in. From natural materials, food production, textiles, construction materials, to pharmaceuticals and more, manufacturing spans the spectrum. You can choose to work in a field you’re passionate or curious about. A career in manufacturing is an ideal job choice for recent graduates and people looking to expand their work experience or transition into a new industry. 

 

You can see the results of your hard work.

When you have a career in manufacturing, you see exactly how your work matters. The products you help to produce and deliver are real and support other companies and communities. You can see what their impact is and tell others that “I made that!” It’s rewarding to know that the work you do will always influence the lives of others, whether it’s in the things they do and or the things they purchase.

 

Earn a steady and good income in manufacturing.

Unfortunately, there’s a perception that manufacturing jobs aren’t good jobs and don’t pay as much as other jobs. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! Manufacturing careers are highly desirable and often pay better than jobs in different industries. Even at entry-level jobs, the average production worker makes $3 more per hour than the average cashier. Manufacturing jobs typically offer overtime opportunities, which is a great way to make extra money on top of a steady income. Competitive wages and benefits, including insurance, healthcare benefits and retirement plans, are also common among manufacturing employers. In the U.S., nearly 91% of manufacturing workers get health benefits. That’s more than most industries, even the financial sector. 

 

Manufacturing keeps you moving and active..

If sitting one place isn’t for you like a traditional office desk job, a manufacturing job can help keep you fit and stimulated. For many manufacturing positions, you’re performing a variety of job duties in a typical day that may involve moving around, being on your feet, bending, stretching, lifting, etc. The physical aspect of manufacturing work not only helps keep you in shape, it makes the day fly by without feeling bored. That doesn’t mean every job in manufacturing requires you to lift heavy weights on a regular basis. There are a wide range of positions and options within manufacturing to consider. You may assemble items, move products, or even operate machinery. You can pick a job that has the level of physical activity you feel comfortable with. 

 

Manufacturing offers professional growth and development opportunities.

Even if you start out as an entry-level production role in manufacturing, there are many other opportunities to grow in a manufacturing company and the wider industry. Especially in today’s tight job market, many companies prefer to promote from within. Once you have your foot in the door, you can potentially grow into leadership or management positions in a wide variety of departments. You might get trained as a machine operator, a plant operator, or even a quality control inspector. Your initiative, interest and work ethic will help you pave the way for opportunities in no time. This is your chance to grow your career, develop a more specialized skill set and transition into higher-paying jobs.

Key Skills for Technology and Manufacturing Careers

Key Skills for Technology and Manufacturing Careers

Step 1: Life Basics

Focus on excelling at the "life basics." All the skills in the world won't allow you to have a promising career if you aren't reliable and people find you difficult to work with. Develop habits now of showing up, being on time, staying "on task," being polite, showing a willingness to learn, and having a positive attitude. Regardless of the career path you choose, these good habits will serve you well. 

Step 2: Hands-on Experience

Get hands-on experience with projects around home or work. Seize any opportunities you have with friends or family to get experience with mechanical or building projects. Even simple projects like changing the oil in the lawnmower, changing the car battery, building a birdhouse, or deer blind are good ways to learn some basic skills like using simple hand tools, reading a tape measure, etc. If you have a job, ask your boss to involve you with mechanical projects around work. Better yet, try to find a summer job or school-to-work opportunity at a machining or fabrication shop so they can immerse you in manufacturing and work with others who have already chosen careers in these fields. Working with hands-on projects also gives you the chance to experience pride in building or fixing something. That sense of accomplishment is a key reason so many people find significant gratification in careers in welding and machining. A student who knows their way around a workshop or has some basic handyman skills have a leg up on students who have never used a tape measure or spun a wrench. Most career opportunities in advanced manufacturing require people to have good manual dexterity. Being good with your hands and enjoying that type of work are essential traits if you consider this career path. 

Step 3: The Basics Matter

Pay attention in school—the basics matter. Plain and straightforward careers in advanced manufacturing rely heavily on math and reading skills. Daily, most jobs in advanced manufacturing require individuals to perform basic math calculations quickly. Just as frequently, they use some geometry skills to determine layouts and complete similar portions of their job. While a machinist may never need to apply calculus, using basic math, geometry, and some algebra is essential. Having a solid ability to work with fractions and knowing how to calculate the sides of a right triangle or the circumference of a circle are examples of everyday skills for welders, machinists, and fabricators. Also, don't underestimate reading skills! Given the technical nature of advanced manufacturing, there is a lot of technical detail communicated on blueprints, equipment operating manuals, standard operating procedures, etc. Being able to read and absorb this information is vitally important quickly and accurately. 

Step 4: Choose Electives

Choose your electives wisely. When you take different elective classes, choose those with a mechanical, technical, and math slant over other electives. Ideally (if you are in or will go into high school), your high school will offer welding and machining classes. These should be at the top of your elective choices. If your high school does not offer welding or machining classes, get in touch with CWIMA and let us know. We work with many high schools, and we may donate equipment or find other ways of providing better training opportunities for your school. Like nearly all facets of modern life, welding and machining heavily depend on computers. Most modern machining centers are CNC. Welders are computerized. Robotic welding relies heavily on skilled programmers with strong welding knowledge. Classes in geometry, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), computer programming, science, physics, and even wood shop are other examples of electives that help build the skills needed for your career.