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Jobs in the manufacturing industry are a great way to enter into a long-term career with little professional background or schooling needed. They also are very lucrative for those who possess the skills to work on the engineering side of things.

CONSIDER THESE FACTORS BEFORE YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW

There are few different things that will really make a difference to those interviewing you when it comes to how well you fit with the job that they are offering. They are as follows:

1. Your Skills and Experience. No matter what industry you are in, an interviewer will want to know what abilities you already possess that you will need for the job. The more clear you are on what skills will be most helpful to you in this scenario, the better. This will show them that you understand what the expectations are for the position and that you are ready to fill them.

2. Comfortability With Equipment and Machinery. Most manufacturing jobs will require you to operate some sort of machinery and specialized tools. It’s a major plus if you have experience with welding or packaging machines, but it is not always a requirement. If you can make it evident that you are good with your hands and a quick learner, that may be all that they need to hear to give you a shot. Many employers will train new workers with the equipment, so as long as you are somewhat familiar with similar types of materials, that could be enough.

3. Your Schedule and Flexibility. A lot of times manufacturing is a 24 hours operation. This means interviewers are looking for people who can work all hours of the day, including midnight shifts. Usually, there is a higher need for people who are able to work the 3rd shift because so few people can. This may also mean, though, that shift will earn you a higher wage.

SITUATIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MANUFACTURING JOBS

Once the interviewer gets a good idea of your skill set and availability, they will want to know more about you as a person. Sometimes they will begin this way, and then move onto logistics. Their tactic is usually to ask you to consider a number of scenarios and see how you would address the situation. Some examples are:

1. Can you give an example of a time that there was a conflict between co-workers and what you did to help resolve the issue? This kind of question is to get an idea of how you work with others in a team environment, if you are the type to get involved in a conflict, and if you are one who knows to make peace. Not everyone gets along with one another, that is understandable, but you will need to be able to still work together even so. Depending on your answer, you may even show them that you possess leadership skills, meaning the potential for growth within the company.

2. Was there a time that you know you did not fully perform at your potential, and why do you think this happened? The interviewer wants you to respond honestly to this question. No one is perfect, and everyone has their off days. If you are transparent about such things, they will see that you are able to look at yourself critically, are paying attention and that you care to do better.

3. What would you do if you find out that some of the parts being used on your production line are defective? If you have actually experienced this, your answer will tell the interviewer a lot about your initiative and commitment to the position. If you have not, you will have to tell them what you would do in theory. Try to think of similar situations that you can compare it to. The right answer may vary based on the company and the manager you are dealing with. Usually, the best thing you can do is make sure your manager is aware and get an understanding of what their expectations are of you in this type of situation.

RECEIVE GUIDANCE

We want to help you get the most from your experiences as a Westside Personnel temporary employee. Please call our offices today with any questions you might have or to learn more about the great temporary jobs we currently have available.