Where Can a Manufacturing Job Take You?
Posted August 27th, 2019
When you accept an entry-level manufacturing job, it’s common to wonder where it can take you. While the manufacturing industry may be shrinking, there is a lot of advancement potential, particularly as Baby Boomers continue to retire out of more senior roles.
Moving up in your manufacturing career is possible, particularly if you take the right steps. If you want to go as far as possible after accepting a manufacturing job, here are some tips for maximizing your career.
Exceed Expectations
If you want to advance in your manufacturing career, aim to always exceed expectations. Ensure that you meet or exceed all deadlines and that the quality of your work is as high as possible. Employees who prove that they are assets are often the first to be considered for promotions and professional development opportunities, so it is always a good place to start.
Once you are exceeding expectations in your role, see if you can identify any approaches that can increase efficiency, cut costs, or reduce waste. If you do, share them with management to further demonstrate your value and positively impact the bottom line.
Be Helpful
Taking on more tasks to help unburden your manager or coworkers is also beneficial if you want to move up. By handling new challenges and being seen as a team player, you increase your odds of being noticed and standing out for all of the right reasons.
Similarly, if you are proactive about solving problems and correcting issues that fall in your purview, you can be more successful in your role. Managers favor employees who are able to jump in and fix problems that are appropriate for them to handle as they are easier to manage and provide additional value.
Make Connections
Building a rapport with managers and senior leaders can benefit your career. Strong working relationships can make it easier to land opportunities to develop professionally and ensures that you remain on everyone’s radar when promotions come available.
Plus, being seen as likable is usually a good thing. Managers often consider an employee’s attitude when making decisions about workload allocations and opportunities, so being pleasant and professional is a smart move.
Keep Learning
Acquiring new knowledge and skills is a great way to keep your manufacturing career moving forward. Whether you seek out opportunities to learn on the job or choose to further your education in a relevant way, this increases your value in the eyes of your employer. This is especially true since manufacturing technology can change quickly, so staying on top of new developments and trends makes you a stronger promotional candidate and futureproofs your career.
Additionally, continuous learning ensures you are ready to take on the tasks associated with the next higher position. You’ll be increasing the odds that you’ll excel when you are promoted, allowing you to make a strong positive impression on each step of your career journey.
By following the tips above, you can advance in your manufacturing career. If you’d like to find out more, the staff at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled team members today and see how our career advancement expertise can benefit you.
