8 Tips To Help Your Company Stand Out

If you follow manufacturing, even from a distance, you have likely heard about the skills gap. Unfortunately, the skills gap has now turned into a body gap. There are simply not enough qualified people to fill all the open positions that are available.

Let’s face it, most people don’t think of manufacturing as glamorous. The stigma of manufacturing being dark, dull, and dangerous is still hanging around, though I believe that has not been true for decades. What can you as a manufacturer do to change that negative perception and attract the right skills and talent? 

• Establish yourself as a leader within your industry:
  • Make your company look shiny on the outside and inside
  • Use the latest technologies
  • Continue to implement new technologies
• Use your website to stand out:
  • Make your website reflect your company culture and people
  • Display your career opportunities on the landing page
  • Make sure your website is mobile friendly
  • Update carriers regularly
  • Make your website more than a tool to sell your product
• Feature your employees on your website and have them provide testimonials regarding:
  • The job they are doing
  • Your company's culture
  • What they like about your company
• Instead of job descriptions:
  • Have employee talk about their jobs
  • Show videos of the jobs
  • Show videos of your company
• Have a presence and be involved in your community:
  • Support schools
  • Support not-for-profit events and organizations
  • Sponsor sporting events or other activities
  • Offer regular open houses
  • Have a bring-your-child-to-work day
  • Join industry associations
• Work with local schools:
  • Attend career fairs
  • Invite school groups to visit
  • Support shop classes:
    • Donate machinery and equipment
    • Have your employees teach classes
    • Participate in career days
• Participate in youth apprenticeship or school-to-work programs 
• Establish a recruiting program for:
  • Veterans
  • People with disabilities
  • People with a criminal record
  • Retired people

These changes won't happen overnight. It takes commitment and creativity to become a business that stands out to potential employees. 

When looking at your company's culture, don’t just pick two or three of your managers or key employees to work with. Instead, make sure you have representation from all areas. Start by identifying what is good and what needs work. Ask your employees what they enjoy about their jobs and why they think your company is great. Continuously strengthen the positive areas and work to change the areas of your culture that need improvement.

Commit to establishing an environment that promotes employee involvement, employee empowerment, a drive to continuous improvement, and a willingness to try new things. It's important to realize that not everything you try will be successful. Have an open mind and, if something doesn't work, try something else and move on.