Whether you’re new to the recruiting world or have worked with other staffing agencies, it’s useful to know the right questions to ask your manufacturing recruiter. By keeping our list in mind, you’ll gather important information and feel more comfortable throughout the recruiting process.
10 Questions for Your Manufacturing Recruiter
1. What type of manufacturing roles are offered?
While you may be open to any job in the manufacturing industry, most likely you have a particular role and experience to fill. Ask a manufacturing recruiter the specific types of roles they typically hire for. This will help you determine if they’re a good fit for your needs, or if they hire too broadly.
Related Content: Browse Open Manufacturing Positions
Note: The following questions are to be asked once a recruiter brings you a job of interest.
2. What top skills and qualities does the job require?
By asking your recruiter what skills, qualities and experience are required for the job, you can figure out whether you will be a good fit for the role. Even if you haven’t had a particular job or don’t have the exact skills, chances are that your skills could still be applicable and transfer over easily.
If you feel like your resume or application skills could use a boost, check out our related blog: How to Advance Your Manufacturing Career.
3. What are the day-to-day responsibilities in this role?
Beyond just the skill required, knowing what you’ll be doing is imperative to determine whether you want to move forward in the recruiting process. Knowing what you’ll be doing on a typical day is helpful in determining if the job is the right fit for you.
4. Why is the position open?
Knowing why the manufacturing position is available helps you know what you’re signing up for. Are you stepping in as a replacement for a former employee or is this a new role? Depending on why the job is open, you may be walking into a completely different situation. Having some information in advance can help you prepare.
5. How does this role contribute to the overall success of the company?
Knowing how you will fit in within the company helps to determine whether you want the job. Asking how your role contributes to company success will help you visualize your new role. If the hiring manager at the company can’t answer this question and a strong company culture is important for you, then this may be a role to skip.
6. Is the role a temp-to-hire position?
Knowing whether the role is temporary, permanent, or temp-to-hire can be helpful when deciding if you’d like the job. Many manufacturing roles will be listed as temporary only, but your recruiter may have insight that the role has the potential to evolve into a permanent position.
7. What is onboarding like? Will I need any on-the-job training?
Onboarding techniques and on-the-job training differ from job to job, so asking about them is essential. It’s helpful to know if the process requires travel and/or atypical hours.
8. How long is the contract period? Where is the job located?
Understanding how long the position is contracted for and where the job is located is essential so you can figure out the logistics of everything. That way, you can ensure you and/or your family plan accordingly regarding finances, medical, moving technicalities (if the job isn’t local), etc. If you’re working solo, you may be more inclined to relocate than if you have a larger family with roots in your local area. By asking your manufacturing recruiter these questions, you can be on the same page for where you’re willing to work and for how long.
9. When will I hear back from the hiring manager?
While your recruiter may not always be able to predict how long it will take to hear back if you’ve been accepted or not, it’s still worth asking. In many cases, your recruiter will have a long-standing relationship with the company that’s hiring and an insight into their process.
10. What happens next?
Asking, “What happens next?” is essential to learning how a manufacturing recruiter and company work. Knowing the next steps can help reduce worrying about when the recruiter calls back, if they call back, how soon you’ll have to depart for the job, etc. The “next steps” question is essential, but many people often forget to ask it and are left wondering.
Where to Find a Great Manufacturing Recruiter
If you don’t already have a contact, you may want to find a manufacturing recruiter to back you ASAP. While a traditional recruiter can help you find a generic job, manufacturing recruiters are going to be more helpful with the specifics of your goals in the manufacturing industry.
If you want to find a well-versed resource in your niche, Strom MN has a team of knowledgeable manufacturing recruiters ready to guide you through the job search process. Reach out to us to get started, or explore our manufacturing positions and send in your application today.
Strom Minnesota is an engineering and technical recruitment agency that specializes in high-skilled job candidates for highly technical positions. We facilitate contract employment, project staffing, temp-to-perm and direct hire opportunities. Industries served include IT, engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing. We are affiliated with Strom Engineering, a national staffing and recruitment agency.
