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It’s Only Common Sense: Facing Staffing Challenges

Of all the challenges we face in the PCB industry today, the most challenging is staffing. It is getting nearly impossible to find good people. This is especially true for engineers, quality people, and management. Most of the good ones have either retired, changed careers, or gone to work for our suppliers. Some have even gone to work for our customers. Those left are in such high demand that they are being lured from one company to another by higher (read crazy) wages, making them so expensive that they are barely affordable.

This situation leaves us with two options: hire from the shop floor and train, or hire from college and train. Let’s begin with the former. Although hiring young people for floor jobs is still a challenge, it is not as much of a challenge as hiring experienced professionals. People are still coming through our doors looking for manufacturing jobs. The first step is to check out who you are hiring for these positions. What I recommend is a careful screening of incoming applicants during the hiring process: not necessarily for the entry-level positions they are applying for, but rather for the potential of what they could become.

Look for applicants who have ambition and talk about wanting a career, not just a job. Ask them about their interests. Ask them what they like to do in their spare time. If they have some college education, ask them why they did not finish and if they plan to complete their degree one day. Find out everything you can about them. Train your HR staff and hiring supervisors to look for these same things. Hire based on potential.

I’d also recommend you evaluate the people who are already working for you. If you’re in upper management, set up informal talks with your employees. If you were not the one to hire or manage them, you don’t really know them. Get to know them. Meet with them and ask the same kind of questions you would ask new hires. These people are already on your team. They have already been exposed to the company and the industry. By now they should have a good idea whether they like working in this industry and your company. They may have already decided on their career path, making your job that much easier.

Develop formal career paths for these individuals. By doing this, you are growing your staff and developing your team of experienced professionals. Starting on this path will also make your company a much more desirable place to work and attract more of the right people to your team.

Now, let’s get to hiring young people right out of college. First, you must attract them, and the best way to do this is to offer paid summer internships. Obviously, someone has already had this idea, so you will have to compete for these paid interns. Once again, the company that has the best career plan will attract the best candidates. The good thing is that the current generation of college students has a larger percentage of people interested in making things. The Maker Movement has created renewed interest in manufacturing, so many potential candidates are looking for manufacturing jobs and want to work in a PCB plant!

Offering potential candidates the opportunity to learn about your business and make something with their hands can be very appealing. Showing them a complete career development plan, which should include a step-by-step timeline outlining what they can expect their end game to be, is the best plan.

In all cases—new, non-college hires, shop floor veterans, and college graduates—the most important thing is to show them the future with all its potential. Teach them about the industry, including its rich history of being an integral part of everything from space shuttles and computer developments, to SpaceX, Blue Origin, and automotive innovations. Create a sense of excitement about our industry.

Finally, show them their earning potential. Certainly, they are not going to earn Wall Street money, but they will have the opportunity to make good money by building something that is an integral part of every new electronics product invented. Show them the money and the future possibilities. It will not only solve your staffing problems, but also make you a better company.

It’s only common sense.