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Career exploration in manufacturing

How the Challenge mindset prepares

students for the future of work

JP Michel

Founder, SparkPath

@mysparkpath

MYSPARKPATH.COM

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Learn more about the Challenge mindset:

mysparkpath.com

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Why we’re here

Imagine the possibilities for your students

Discover manufacturing through a unique lens

Explore how we can help students

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Hello Bonjour

My name is JP Michel. I work in career and leadership development.

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Logo Company

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What is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is the production of products for use or sale using labour and machines, tools, chemical and biological processing, or formulation.

Making things

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Manufacturing job titles

Assemblers and Fabricators
Food Processing Operators
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Machinists and Tool and Die
Medical Appliance Technicians
Metal and Plastic Machine Workers
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Painting and Coating Workers
Power Plant Operators
Printing

Quality Control
Semiconductor Processors
Sewers and Tailors
Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Upholsterers
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Welders, Cutters, Solderers
Woodworkers

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Manufacturing job titles

Assemblers and Fabricators
Food Processing Operators
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Machinists and Tool and Die
Medical Appliance Technicians
Metal and Plastic Machine Workers
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Painting and Coating Workers
Power Plant Operators
Printing

Quality Control
Semiconductor Processors
Sewers and Tailors
Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Upholsterers
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Welders, Cutters, Solderers
Woodworkers

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The Problem with Job Titles

Q: How many different job titles do you know about?

A:

Q: How many different job titles are there in the world?

A: +20 000

Source: Lengelle, R., & Meijers, F. (2015). The Canadian Journal of Career Development.

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The Problem with Job Titles

Too many job titles to keep track of
Focus on prestige and salary, TV characters
Job titles will change, or don’t exist yet
Job descriptions are increasingly hard to create

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Job Titles

Problems, Challenges

and Opportunities

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Problems, Challenges and Opportunities

Clean our oceans

Increase intergenerational learning

Celebrate different cultures

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Problems, Challenges and Opportunities

Improve our local park

Build furniture that lasts

Encourage voter participation

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Challenge

Face-Off

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Challenge

Face-Off

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If you don’t choose the challenges you want to work on, someone else will choose for you.

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Challenges

Companies

Jobs

Education Programs

High School Courses

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Challenges

Companies

Jobs

Education Programs

High School Courses

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Challenges

Companies

Jobs

Education Programs

High School Courses

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Build a challenge mindset.

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Who is the Challenge mindset for?

Realistic: Problem Solver.
Investigative: Challenge Researcher.
Artistic: Creative Thinker.
Social: Mission-driven Helper.
Enterprising: Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur.
Conventional: Challenge Analyser.

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How can the challenge mindset help your students?

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Not Interested

Very Interested

Interested

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Resources

List of Challenges:

World Economic Forum, Millennium Future Project, Open Philanthropy Project, Copenhagen Consensus, Global Priorities Project, GiveWell

Books about the future:

The Inevitable, Kevin Kelly (2016)

The Third Wave, Steve Case (2016)

The Shift, Lynda Gratton (2011)

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The world needs you.

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Obstacles for youth

Less independence, more anxiety
Focus on academics vs work
Student debt
Unemployment, underemployment
What’s next: Disengagement

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The world needs you.

=HOPE

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More fascinating challenges...

Bio-engineering creates more customized pharmaceuticals.
Nanotechnology: microelectronics.
Lightweight steel, aluminum, and carbon fibers are making cars lighter and more fuel-efficient.
3D printing creates prototypes by combining small particles

being used more and more to manufacture specialized aerospace components and human organ replacements.

Big data is being used to analyze customer trends and guide product development.

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Each sector has interesting challenges to work on

Transportation

Minerals

Metals

Food and Beverage

Computer and Electronics

Furniture

Textiles, Leather, and Apparel

Wood, Paper, and Printing

Petroleum, Coal, Chemicals, Plastics, and Rubber

Electrical Equipment, Appliances, and Components

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Talent Shortage

Manufacturing companies are struggling to find qualified applicants.

Talent shortage could leave 2.4 million vacant jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Talent shortage could cost the industry $2.5 trillion by 2028.

Source: 2018 Deloitte Institute report

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Who is manufacturing for?

In the workplace, manufacturing offers opportunities for students who have competed:

-Apprenticeships

-College programs

-University degrees

There are so many ways to contribute to challenges.

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Challenges

Companies

Jobs

Education Programs

High School Courses

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Careers in Manufacturing

The digital twin engineer

Predictive supply network analyst

Robot teaming coordinator

Digital offering manager

Drone data coordinator

Smart factory manager

Smart scheduler

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How we can help prepare students

Develop continuous learning skills

Encourage adaptability

Foster interest and aptitude for technology

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Ability to be Cross-Trained

Interest and Aptitude for Technology

Continuous learning tests the hypothesis that more and more jobs require continuous upgrading and all workers must continue learning to keep or to grow with their jobs.

Essential skills:

knowing how to learn;
understanding one's own learning style; and
knowing how to gain access to a variety of materials, resources and learning opportunities.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/essential-skills/definitions.html

Employers love to hire those who have an interest and aptitude in technology. Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way manufacturing workplaces operate. Five years ago the smartphone altered the way manufacturing operated, today it’s drones. A few years down the line it could artificial intelligence.

By demonstrating an interest in technology and a desire to learn it, you’re sending a message of your long-term potential to employers. Make sure you highlight this skill in your resume using examples from previous jobs.

6 Skills You Need to Be Successful in a Manufacturing Job

March 31st, 2017 Written by: Molly Masterson

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It used to be that a pair of hands, a strong back and a committed work ethic were the most important skills for enjoying a career in manufacturing. Generations of manufacturing workers utilized these hands-on skills for decades as American manufacturing soared.

However, in recent years there has been a transition from the assembly-line style of manufacturing of the past to the technology-driven manufacturing of today—changing the way manufacturing companies hire prospective talent.

Today’s manufacturing workers need to have a wider scope of skills to be successful—something we know first-hand after placing talented workers in manufacturing jobs for 50 years.

Drawing from our experience, below we review some of the skills that manufacturing hiring managers are looking for in prospective employees.

1. Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is a job skill that was important in the old days of manufacturing, and remains important today. In fact, there are few jobs where an attention to detail isn’t important.

With speed and precision being a priority in manufacturing, it’s essential for workers to be both focused and detail-oriented. When operating heavy machinery, as is the case with many manufacturing jobs, a lack of attention can spell danger for you or your co-workers.

2. Critical Thinking

Today’s manufacturing worker has to be able to think on their feet and troubleshoot small problems as they arrive. Supervisors don’t have the time to solve all of the day’s issues individually. Hiring managers for manufacturing companies seek out employees who are can make sound, in-the-moment decisions in response to unforeseen issues.

3. Strong Communication

Communication is a great skill to possess regardless of the industry you work in, but in manufacturing, being able to communicate effectively with your team is hugely beneficial.

Employers want workers who can work with their co-workers to troubleshoot issues and achieve the greater goals of the company. Strong communication skills helps you verbally show you’re a team player who’s committed to the overall success of the company.

4. Interest and Aptitude for Technology

Employers love to hire those who have an interest and aptitude in technology. Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way manufacturing workplaces operate. Five years ago the smartphone altered the way manufacturing operated, today it’s drones. A few years down the line it could artificial intelligence.

By demonstrating an interest in technology and a desire to learn it, you’re sending a message of your long-term potential to employers. Make sure you highlight this skill in your resume using examples from previous jobs.

5. Dependability

Manufacturing workers must be dependable. Manufacturing workplaces are often large, so supervisors need their employees to be accountable with little oversight. Workers who excel without their supervisors standing over their shoulder will carve out successful careers.

In addition, arriving on-time and ready for the day also ties into dependability.

As a good rule of thumb, aim to arrive 15 minutes early to ensure you’re not rushing to your station.

6. Ability to be Cross-Trained

With so many different job tasks involved in manufacturing, an employee who has been or has the ability to be cross-trained is hugely valuable to the company.

Things happen—people get sick, people take vacations and some workers simply don’t show up. If you have the ability to be cross-trained in numerous functions, supervisors can plug you in as needed. Also, employees that can perform numerous job functions lead to excellent trainers and supervisors down the line.

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Tour

What do you want to learn that you can share with your students?

What questions will you ask on the tour? (e.g. stories, challenges, daily tasks, surprising facts and myths, etc.)

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Goals for a powerful career conversation:

@mysparkpath

1) Experience the career exploration process.

2) Become empowered.

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Empowered

Process

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Benefits of Career Exploration

Student engagement.
Achievement of personal goals.
Independence/resilience.

(Redekopp, 2009; Watts, 2007)

(Lent, Hackett, & Brown, 1999)

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Meaningful work provides:

Identity, purpose, meaning.
Social connections.
Financial resources needed to participate in family, community and civic life.

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Careers and mental health

↓ stress and anxiety, ↑ confidence and empowerment.

(Maybrey, 2017)

↓ depressive symptoms, ↑ ‘mental resources’

(Vuori, Toppinen‐Tanner & Mutanen, 2012)

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What students want

named career awareness as the most important support their school could provide

46%

(Student Forums, 2010)

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Informational Interviews:

-Meeting with people working on interesting challenges is the best way to advance your career. Why? A: They can give you advice – what to study, where to work, how to apply. They can hire you in several years. They can refer you to others who can help you.

-What can you ask them? A: What do you do in your work? What challenge are you working on? What do you like the most about your job, what do you like the least? What advice do you have for me?

-How do you find people to meet with me? A: Find them online. Linkedin.com. Ask your parents and other working adults to help you find others.

-Will everyone get back to you? A: No. But some will. They will be excited to help you.

-Make sure you take notes and follow-up by email.

For more information, see the Road to Employment guide to information interviews: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6uJ5F-p82u2ZlZWVnZzZlZERXc/view

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Matchmaker

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Matchmaker

Catalyst

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What would be possible if students….

Obstacle

People think ‘small’ – focus on job titles
Don’t know the career exploration process
Don’t know what the world needs
Discouraged

Solution

Think ‘big’– focus on challenges
Integrate the career exploration process
Explore what the world needs
Feel empowered

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Draw

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Meaningful Career Exploration

All students should explore manufacturing

Focus on challenges, not job titles

Keeping helping them learn how to learn

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Career exploration in manufacturing

How the Challenge mindset prepares

students for the future of work

JP Michel

Founder, SparkPath

@mysparkpath

MYSPARKPATH.COM

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Trailblazing Career Development

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Find out more:

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