Manufacturing is a lucrative and secure career path. The sector employs around 2.7 million people in the UK with a median salary of £32,000. There are many careers available in manufacturing, including assembly, quality control, production management and engineering.
If you’re curious about a career in manufacturing, read on to learn how to secure a job in this sector. Like any career path, it takes planning and preparation to land your first role. And from there, you will have to build on your skills and experience in order to develop your career. Read on to learn how to get this kickstarted.
The first step to landing a career in manufacturing is to determine the right path for you. You should start with your existing strengths to help you to decide where it would be best to put your attention. Manufacturing offers many different types of careers, from technical engineering roles to quality assurance.
There are also roles such as human resources and production management roles which are less technical, yet still require an understanding of the sector. Choosing the right career path for your skills and interests is the first step to landing a job in manufacturing.
Before you can apply for a role in manufacturing, you need to make sure your skills are up to the required level. Manufacturing is typically a technical field, so you’ll need to be confident with numbers and calculations. It is also a very hands-on sector, so you’ll need to be comfortable working with your hands. And finally, manufacturing is also highly detail-oriented, so you’ll need to have good attention to detail and the ability to be very thorough in your work.
Other soft skills that are useful in any sector include communication skills and teamwork skills. Being able to work well as part of a larger team and communicate with a wide range of people at different levels of the company will serve you well in the manufacturing sector. Specialist training such as a university degree could help you to secure a job more easily, as you will be able to acquire the skills you need to hit the ground running in a new role.
Now you know which area you want to work in and you know you have the skills to succeed, you can now start to think about which area you would like to work in. During the research phase, you will learn about what companies are involved in manufacturing in your target area. There are many different industries within the sector, so don’t be too tempted to rule out anything yet.
Once you have found a role that meets your requirements, it’s time to prepare your application. You’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each part of the job description through your skills and experience. And don’t worry if you fall short in any areas. Many job applications will list essential and then desirable skills. As long as the skills you lack aren’t essential for the role, there is a chance you could still land the job if you can show how you plan to close this skills gap.
You’ve landed the interview – congratulations! You’re one step closer to securing your job in manufacturing. Now you need to impress in the interview and show that your skills and experience are perfectly matched to the job description. The key to a good interview performance is to be prepared for anything they might throw at you. Revisit the job description and think of examples of how you can show you have the skills for every requirement. And if you fall short in any area, think about how you can demonstrate your willingness to close this gap in your skills.
After the interview, you can increase your chances of success by following up with an effective email. This should reiterate your interest in the role and let them know you are serious about a career in manufacturing. You can also show that you are aware of any shortfall in your skillset and show them how you plan to bridge this gap.
Even if you don’t land the first role you apply for, you should always ask for feedback on your performance so you can improve for the next interview. Ultimately, if you don’t land a role, it is likely because you aren’t the right fit, or you didn’t properly demonstrate that you are the right fit. If the former, you can go away and improve your skills and experience. And if it’s the latter, you can go away and work on your interview technique so you’re ready for the next opportunity that comes along.
