Bridge To Hire
Reaching The Manufacturing Workforce
Why do you NEED experts who FIT?
Hiring isn’t just hiring … it’s everything
If there’s nothing else that you take away from this website, it’s the importance of expert-level talent within your organization. Of course, matching a random expert with random positions will not accomplish much. When companies perfectly fit an expert-level worker into an expert-level position and the position is well designed to forward the company’s initiatives … magic happens.
Experts …
• Make expert-level decisions (without having to hire consultants).
• Make day-to-day decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Discover.
• Create invention and intellectual property.
• Streamline process and find efficiencies.
• Execute on the most complex aspects of the business.
• Leverage proven methods within their area of expertise.
• Discover new methods, where there are none.
• Steer potential customers in a mutually beneficial direction.
• Close deals.
• Close the big deals.
• Experts win over the competition (assuming the competition doesn’t have better experts).
• Make a list of the desired results from the position.
• Add how each desired result supports the company’s initiatives, in terms of revenue dollars.
Unskilled-to-midskilled (non-expert) – structured, repetitive, task-oriented work someone can learn in days, weeks or months.
Expert-level skills – Skills that require formal training and/or several years of complex work experience?
Position: CNC Machinist
Desired Results 1: To machine complex parts for the company’s machine products, which are custom built per customer spec.
Support in operational process: Machining parts in a timely manner, keeping the production schedule moving forward.
Support in revenue dollars: Custom made parts are key to product value proposition, and sale of product.
Skill necessity = expert-level skills: Ability to make complex parts on a CNC lathe without room for error, as raw metal is expensive.
Skill necessity = expert-level skills: Ability to inspect, troubleshoot and edit G-code.
Desired results 2: When no custom parts are needed, time can be spent making generic parts to add to parts inventory.
Skill necessity = Unskilled-to-midskilled: Necessary to run both late and mill, however, skills can be learned within one week.
Personality fit: Candidate must have strong mechanical aptitude and attention to detail, while being comfortable doing repetitive work (20% to 50% of the time) during slow times.
Notes regarding the various skill levels of CNC Machinists, available within the candidate market:
Some CNC Machinists excel in their careers due to a strong mechanical aptitude. Machinists with limited mechanical aptitude will probably have a limited career focused more on repetitive work. Sometimes CNC Machinists who do more repetitive work are referred to as CNC Machine operators. They know how to operate a CNC Machine to do basic functions, but they do not have mastery these machines.
Highly skilled Machinists can create a complex part based on a complex CNC program. They can take the program and find a way to turn an expensive chunk of metal into the desired part, within a very tight tolerance. Trade schools are a very good start for CNC Machinists, however, on-the-job training, on-the-job experience and the ability to figure things out will lead to advanced skills. A position requirement might include 5 years of experience doing highly complex CNC machine work. 3 years of experience might be acceptable if accompanies by formal training. Machine requirements might also come into play. Experience might include mill and/or lathe. Sometimes, specific machine related skills are required, as the individual will be working with specific types of CNC machines or even manual machines.
If the above seems confusing, find a deep dive explanation within our free talent acquisition and employee development program, found at CultureOfExperts.com.
Position: Purchasing Agent
Desired Results 1: To purchase all cataloged parts and raw materials for company’s machine products, which are custom built per customer spec.
Support in operational process: Keep up with supply chain, keep parts in stock, keep production schedule moving forward.
Support in revenue dollars: Parts are key to product completion and on-time delivery of product.
Skill necessity = expert-level skills: Ability to build relationships with suppliers and negotiate pricing.
Skill necessity: Ability to track lead times and deliveries, coordinate with production schedule.
Skill necessity: Track parts using computer system, use computer system to manage orders and inventory.
Desired results 2: Parts inventory specialist.
Skill necessity: Monitor, organize, manage and track parts inventory; using both computer and manual methods. Coordinate with CNC Machinists, as they will be making parts in addition to parts purchases.
Personality fit: Ability to stay organized and accurate within a fast moving environment.
Then, match the position’s requirements with talent-levels:
• Itemize the various duties of the position and rate each one into one of four categories:
> How many days, weeks, months would it take a person off the street to learn this duty and the related tasks?
> If the answer to above is more then six months, add how many years of formal education and/or on-the-job training it would it take to learn?
> Are there leadership skills required within this duty and its related tasks? If so, add them.
> Are there expert-level skills required for the duty and related tasks, above and beyond what is taught within a formal education?
• Use the above information when searching for candidates, looking at each and every duty, with its related tasks.
> If a candidate is missing a skill that can be learned in two weeks and there are training resources, they probably should be considered.
> If a candidate is missing a skill that requires a formal education and on-the-job experience, they will not fit the requisition.
> The candidates leadership skills and experience will need to match each duty and task.
> If there are intangibles inherent to the position, certain expert traits need to be investigated. We call these experts Unconventional Experts.
If the above seems confusing, there is a deep dive explanation within our free talent acquisition and employee development program, found at CultureOfExperts.com.
Position: CNC Machinist
Skill necessity: Ability to make complex parts on a CNC lathe without room for error, as raw metal is expensive.
Skill necessity: Ability to inspect, troubleshoot and edit G-code.
Personality fit: Candidate must have strong mechanical aptitude and attention to detail, while being comfortable doing repetitive work (20% to 50% of the time) during slow times.
Some CNC Machinists excel due to a strong mechanical aptitude. Machinists with limited mechanical aptitude will have a limited career, however, may be able to find success as a CNC Machine operator doing repetitive work; which might be learned over a short period of time with minimal training.
Highly skilled Machinists can be given a machine, chunk of metal and a program; consistently finding a way to deliver a perfect part. Trade school are a very good start for CNC Machinists, however, on-the-job training will provide advanced skills. A company might require 5 years of experience doing highly complex machine work, or 3 years if accompanies by formal training.
Position: Purchasing Agent
Skill necessity: Ability to build relationships with suppliers and negotiate pricing.
Skill necessity: Ability to track lead times and deliveries, coordinate with production schedule.
Skill necessity: Track parts using computer system, use computer system to manage orders and inventory.
Skill necessity: Monitor, organize, manage and track parts inventory; using both computer and manual methods. Coordinate with CNC Machinists, as they will be making parts in addition to parts purchases.
Personality fit: Ability to stay organized and accurate within a fast moving environment.
Do you want to take a deeper dive into this topic? If so, visit our free talent acquisition and employee development program, “Culture Of Experts.”
Bridge To Hire focuses on expert-level workers. This includes both skilled trades workers, professionals and the leadership that guides them.
with a definition that goes beyond (traditional/established) academic institution experts and (craft) trade guild experts
Expert-level workers will have more of an impact on a company. Whether skilled trades or professional, these workers must be hired with existing skills and experience, generally acquired through established academic and training institutions.
Expert-level positions should be a strong focus for hiring.
Caveman rules of expert:
1) Non-expert contributions are needed for survival.
2) Expert-level contributions are key contributions.
3) In the bigger picture, expert-level contributions provide forward motion for mankind.
4) Everything else takes care of itself.
Communication Through Stories
Everyone loves a good story. For both children and adults, it is the best way to share situational information. For a candidate within an interview, conveying a work experience within a short story can be priceless. Like every children’s story, it should include the obstacles and the way in which they were overcome.
Leadership steers the ship, but their clearest vision can only reach as far as their ship’s capabilities.
To grow, leadership must deepen the distance of sight … but first, expand the capabilities of their ship.
You can be an expert at hiring experts, or have us find the best for you. Contact us now at martin@humancastle.com or call (716)222-3535.
Please proceed to module #4: Process-Replication
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