Manufacturing Career Advice

Manufacturing offers opportunities in various disciplines with everything from process development to engineering. Jobs are available in the private and public sector, and companies hire graduates and offer junior positions with training and studying while you work.

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How to Work in the Manufacturing sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Manufacturing

Should you wish to work in Manufacturing you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Manufacturing Job

  • 1 or 2 GCSEs including maths and English (manufacturing production worker)
  • 1 or 2 A levels (production manager)

Core Manufacturing Skills

Your core skills will include the ability to work to tight deadlines and have excellent problem-solving skills to keep everything running. You should be highly-adaptable and be ready for the fast-paced and hard work involved in manufacturing.

Many companies offer manufacturing graduate jobs, or you can start at an entry-level and train further within the job.

A variety of jobs in manufacturing are available, and these suit a whole range of skills. A manufacturing career has a lot to offer, so it’s an excellent choice for anyone.

Key Responsibilities for a Manufacturing Job

  • Managing the manufacturing floor
  • Ensuring all practices comply with safety regulations
  • Creating a staff schedule
  • Supervising various manufacturing departments
  • Monitoring the assembly line
  • Ensuring the shipping department is working efficiently
  • Hiring new staff
  • Training new employees
  • Inspecting equipment
  • Reporting manufacturing figures to management

What to expect in a Manufacturing Job

Working in manufacturing will mainly consist of working in a warehouse or factory. Depending on the role you choose, you may work in the business's office or travel to clients as part of the sales team. Manufacturing careers can require long working hours, including weekend or event shifts, and you may need to work in multiple locations and manage other people.

Recommended Manufacturing Jobs

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How to get Manufacturing Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Manufacturing job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Manufacturing application. If you have not held a Manufacturing position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Manufacturing role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Manufacturing CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Manufacturing application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Manufacturing in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Manufacturing 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Manufacturing and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Manufacturing experience.

How to get Manufacturing Experience

What does it take to be a Manufacturing? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Manufacturing jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Manufacturing through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Manufacturing Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Manufacturing part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Manufacturing or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Manufacturing freelance work

If you have impressive Manufacturing qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.