An interview can be an intimidating time to express your desires, needs, and goals. But it’s the only way to determine whether a position is the right fit for you. Let’s take a look at some strategies for effectively expressing your job aspirations during this challenging time. Understand Your Career Path You can’t explain why you want a particular role to someone else until you are clear on it yourself. What’s driving your career journey? Where do you want to be in five years? How does this particular role fit into your larger vision? Know Your Audience Maybe you want to be CEO in five years ..read more

Flint, Michigan, has certainly had its share of troubles in the past. Accordingly, it may not be the first place you think of when you picture a thriving light industrial town. But Flint has reinvented itself in the past few years, and now there are a lot of perks to living and working in the city. Here is what you need to know. Redevelopment Who can forget the water crisis that the city faced just a few years ago? But today, there is a new source of fresh, clean water. The old lead pipes have been replaced with copper, and free water filters are available to everyone who needs one. But that’s ..read more

If you’re in the market for a new job, you might wonder about contract to permanent roles. This type of position serves as a sort of extended interview, giving you and your new employer the chance to get to know each other. You’ll start on a temporary contract. Then, if both sides feel it’s the right fit, you’ll transition into a full-time role. Here are a few reasons to consider this option. Get Hired Faster A lot of employers are hesitant to bring on full-time staff members. Maybe they aren’t sure whether they really need someone permanent. Or perhaps your skills and experience don’t quite h ..read more

If you’re looking for an interesting, hands-on career, you might want to consider being a machine operator. It’s an excellent foot in the door for a manufacturing career, and it can be a natural fit for those with some mechanical aptitude. Here’s what you should know. Day to Day Tasks As the name implies, a machine operator is responsible for running heavy machinery on the manufacturing floor. Every facility is slightly different, but in general, you can expect to do some or all of the tasks below: Following detailed specifications for each job Setting up the machine and preparing it for use ..read more

Do you feel like your career has recently come to a halt? Do you feel like your career growth may have stalled? If you want to know why, consider whether any of these three factors might apply to you. You Stopped Learning The only way to grow professionally is to keep adding to your skills and knowledge. If you’re no longer learning, stagnating is the natural result. Shake things up by signing up for a certification course, finding a mentor, or asking about job shadowing and cross-training programs at work. You’ve Gone on Autopilot Maybe you’ve gotten too comfortable in your job. You might not ..read more

Are you dealing with high employee turnover? Maybe your company’s culture is to blame. And negativity in the workplace can be catching, making the overall atmosphere even worse. Take a hard look at what’s going on in the workplace, with an eye toward these five red flags. Overwhelmed Employees People like to stay busy and productive. But overwork is a recipe for burnout and ultimately leaving the company. Review everyone’s workloads—are they balanced? Are project deadlines reasonable? And who’s covering for the team members who have already left? If your employees are trying to do too much, co ..read more

Are you considering a career in manufacturing? Wondering what sort of background you need? The answers depend largely on the type of manufacturing career you want. Let’s take a look at the educational and training paths you might take for different areas of interest. Manufacturing Career Options Although every employer and role is unique, your manufacturing career will typically fall into one of a few clusters: Production Design and Development Assembly Logistics Quality Control Health and Safety Installation and Maintenance Formal Education Most entry-level manufacturing roles don’t require ..read more

Job searching has evolved over time. If you’re still stuck in the past, you’ll have trouble finding the role of your dreams. Let’s take a look at some popular job search methods of the past, and then focus on the best ways to job hunt today. Job Hunting Through the Decades The process of looking for a job really didn’t change much for more than a century. You could go around town and look for Help Wanted signs. Or you could search through the job ads in your local newspaper. Many places even took walk-ins, where you could simply go inside and ask whether they were hiring. And if you were lucky ..read more

Although the Great Resignation seems to have come to an end, the labor market remains very tight. Workers know that they can easily get another job, especially in high-demand fields such as manufacturing and warehouse work. So, what can employers do to help limit ghosting, midday walkouts, and other costly absenteeism? Here are a few tips. Focus on What You Can Control You can’t actually stop people from walking out. But you can create an atmosphere that entices them to stay. Focus on making your team members feel valued. This can include perks such as catered lunches, employee sports teams, o ..read more

With the increasing focus on electric vehicles, there’s a growing demand for skilled professionals in this sector. Are you an automotive enthusiast or considering a career shift? Here are the qualifications that will make you stand out in this rapidly evolving and environmentally conscious field. Basic Education To get started, you’ll want to complete an associate’s degree or certification program in automotive technology. These programs cover the basic skills that are essential to all auto workers, such as engine and transmission repair. But you’ll also learn about the latest technologies tha ..read more