Career Flux - industry

Interview with a Machinery Technician

Vanessa Price works for LatPro.com and JustJobs.com and takes care of their Public Relations. The following article would help someone considering a career as ——- and also pros and cons related to that job.

Considered pursuing a career in manufacturing? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more. This is a true career story as told to DiversityJobs and is one of many interviews with individuals in the manufacturing profession which among others include an Assembly Line Worker, a High Tech Customer Service Agent at Manufacturing Plant, and everything in between.

Dave is a 45-year-old white male who has worked in the manufacturing industry for over 25 years. In this interview he describes how the current economy and socio-economic political climate has affected both him and the manufacturing industry as a whole.

Currently, I work for a leading manufacturer of plywood in a small Southern town. I work in the maintenance department with 11 other men. Our job responsibilities entail keeping the older machinery running in the plywood plant as well as repairing any emergency breakdowns. I have only been in this position for one year. Prior to this job, I worked as a CNC Machinist for a small machine shop up North. I left that job because the owner went out of business after 40 years.

Hot and Dirty But Pays Well

My job is hot and dirty, but it does pay well, around $40-50 thousand per year, and provides benefits my family needs. I get to work around 6 a.m. and often find myself working until after 8 p.m. The machinery at the plant is old, but it is expensive. My job is to make sure the machinery runs well. If I can keep an older machine running, then the company does not have to purchase a new one. A new machine can cost over a million dollars and my company does not have that type of money to spend. I come home covered in sawdust. At times, during the summer, the machines that I work on can reach temperatures of over 140 degrees.

Working Knowledge of Computers

Many people think that those of us who work in manufacturing are uneducated or came to work right out of high school. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most machinery is now run with the help of computers, so anyone working in the plant has to have a working knowledge of computers and software. Each person in the plant has at least two years of computer classes.

Not an Exclusive Male Domain

Another popular misconception is that this type of work is mainly done by men. There are just as many women working on the line and working in the maintenance department as there are men. The corporate office has more women than men working in it and HR is equally split as well.

Challenges

The biggest challenge anyone in the manufacturing industry faces is the fact that here in the United States, it is becoming a dying industry. Jobs are being sent overseas because companies can spend less money in salary, benefits, and taxes. Those of us who have both mechanical and computer experience are the ones who find it easier to find work. If I didn’t at least have an associate degree, I would have hard a difficult time finding a job after my last company went out of business.

Using Both – Mind and Hands

Although some may find it hard to believe, I love my job. I love math and use it daily as I adjust machines. There are many complicated formulas to some of the repairs and I enjoy the fact that I get to use both my mind and my hands when I work. Because I work with so many other people from all types of background and all ethnicities, I find that I have to be able to communicate well in addition to knowing the mechanics of my job. Right now, I am taking a continuing education class in Spanish because about one-third of my co-workers are Hispanic.

Don’t Take Your Job Home

If I had to rate my job, I would give it a 9. While it may be stressful when I am at work, it is not a job I have to “take home.” Once my shift is over, it is over and I am free to go home and spend time with my wife and daughter. While I make the same salary here in the South as I did in the North, the cost of living is less expensive. I hope that in five years, I am still employed with my company and still working in the maintenance department. After five years, I will also be eligible for a month of vacation time. Currently, I receive one week and trust me, it is needed.

Understanding the Biotech Industry Can Enhance Your Resume

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com is a former HR Manager who partners with professional and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.
Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

Whether you’re just getting your start in the biotech industry or have been in it for years, writing a resume for a new position can sometimes be challenging. It’s often difficult to know which past experience, skills, and accomplishments to include that will make you more appealing as a candidate than your competition.

One benefit that you have when applying for work is a deep understanding of your industry. By showcasing your wealth of knowledge and wisdom in the field you love, you’re likely to get that leg up when seeking your next biotech position. How can you do it? Here are some tips to consider:

Become Ingrained in Your Industry

The biotech industry is indeed an intriguing one. There are a lot of new graduates eager to enter their respective fields within this unique and exciting industry. The only problem is that they—like many people in mid-career within the industry—don’t know how to express their wealth of knowledge and true passion for biotechnology.

Experts in the industry have long expressed the importance of appreciating the challenges faced by biotech companies. Understanding challenges in research and development as well as risk management, working with resources, and even marketing and licensing can help an applicant find the weak spots that need to be addressed when writing his or her resume.

Of course, this means that you’ll need to not only research issues faced by the industry as a whole, but also within each company at which you apply. Becoming ingrained in the industry is a surefire way to make sure you are able to include the right skills and accomplishments in your job target, career summary, and throughout the entire resume in order to catch the eye of a hiring manager.

Utilize Keywords

In addition to researching each company and the biotech industry to enhance your resume, it’s also a great idea to incorporate specific biotech-related keywords.

The keywords you incorporate could be words used in relation to the biotech industry—or the specific position for which you’re applying. Also, they could be phrases used in the industry that could help to showcase your knowledge of the field.

Some keywords (and phrases) you might consider including would be: clinical grade, independent projects, protein, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, research and development, and ISO standards—among many others. Be sure to thoroughly review the job posting for additional words and phrases that could enrich your resume even more.

As with any job you want in a chosen field, the more you tailor your resume to a position, company, and industry, the more likely a hiring manager will be convinced that you are right for the job. So take time to dive into the biotech industry before writing your next resume.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.