Recruiting candidates in the manufacturing industry
How to source, engage, and interview top manufacturing talent.
Discover key data-based insights to source talent.
Attract and identify great candidates.
Start the conversation with confidence.
Interview questions and what to listen for by role.
Recruiting talent
Insights on the manufacturing industry talent pool
Understanding where the most in-demand manufacturing candidates are located will help you make better talent decisions - from where you should open your next office to the size of the candidate pool.
Select a role to discover top locations and companies employing manufacturing talent
Top locations for machine operators
United States • Brazil • United Kingdom • Canada • India
Candidate information powered by LinkedIn Talent Insights data to help you make smarter, data-driven hiring decisions.
Top companies employing machine operators
PepsiCo
Unilever
Nestlé
International Paper
Top locations for warehouse packers
United States • Brazil • United Kingdom • Australia • India
Candidate information powered by LinkedIn Talent Insights data to help you make smarter, data-driven hiring decisions.
Top companies employing warehouse packers
Amazon
PepsiCo
Atacadão
Pactiv
Top locations for plant managers
United States • India • Mexico • Belgium • Netherlands
Candidate information powered by LinkedIn Talent Insights data to help you make smarter, data-driven hiring decisions.
Top companies employing plant managers
Cargill
LafargeHolcim
Faurecia
Action
Top locations for quality control specialists
United States • India • Saudi Arabia • Brazil • Indonesia
Candidate information powered by LinkedIn Talent Insights data to help you make smarter, data-driven hiring decisions.
Top companies employing quality control specialists
Pfizer
Globant
Larsen & Toubro
SoftServe
Top locations for warehouse managers
United States • Mexico • United Kingdom • India • Italy
Candidate information powered by LinkedIn Talent Insights data to help you make smarter, data-driven hiring decisions.
Top companies employing warehouse managers
PepsiCo
Tesco
DHL
Kuehne + Nagel
Searching for talent
How to find qualified manufacturing candidates
In order to expand your reach with in-demand candidates, you’ll need to post your open roles online. Get started by using our five useful job description templates.
Use these templates to help you hire the most in-demand manufacturing talent.
Machine operator job description
Machine operators work with machinery, helping companies to manufacture and distribute goods. These professionals hone their skills with years of on-the-job-training and have a vital understanding of their equipment.
Responsibilities
• Verify that safety equipment is functional before operating machinery
• Perform inspections of machinery to ensure efficient operation and production
• Follow production instructions, either written or verbal, as necessary
Skills and qualifications
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with 1–3 months related experience in a manufacturing setting
• Ability to read, write, calculate, and understand simple instructions
• Ability to use arms and legs, and lift 30 lbs
Download the full machine operator job description that includes skills, qualifications, and role objectives.
Warehouse packer job description
Detail-oriented packers help to prepare finished products for packaging and shipment. This type of work typically requires physical strength to lift and pack heavy boxes.
Responsibilities
• Inspect, weight, and package products while complying with quality, safety, and production standards
• Work at different stations as production requires and monitor flow of product into processing machinery
• Report potential production downtime, scrap production, and quality of each machine
Skills and qualifications
• At least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs and stand up to 4 hours at a time
• Demonstrated ability to operate machinery or experience working in a manufacturing environment
Download the full warehouse packer job description that includes skills, qualifications, and role objectives.
Plant manager job description
Plant managers are at the helm of a manufacturing facility, and are actively involved in daily operations and a company’s long-range plans.
Responsibilities
• Plan and direct manufacturing the operation of production, machinery, processing, and packaging departments
• Establish and maintain material replenishment methods, quality standards, and performance metrics
• Manage manufacturing costs by keeping operational expenses within budget allowance
Skills and qualifications
• BA or BS in operations management, business, engineering, or related field with 10+ years of plant operations or engineering experience
• Proven supervisory and leadership skills
• Demonstrated understanding of lean manufacturing concepts
Download the full plant manager job description that includes skills, qualifications, and role objectives.
Quality control specialist job description
These professionals work hard to inspect and test products before, during, and after the manufacturing process to ensure that products align with both company and legal standards.
Responsibilities
• Check and verify compliance to SPC, HACCP, Food Safety Plan, Food Quality Plan, and Formula Control
• Report findings of quality control audit to the general manager
• Ensure plant team members are trained in food safety and quality control processes
Skills and qualifications
• Bachelor of science degree with an emphasis on food science, food engineering, chemistry, or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of related experience in the food industry
• Strong organization, problem-solving, and analytical skills
• Proven leadership ability and strong interpersonal skills
Download the full quality control specialist job description that includes skills, qualifications, and role objectives.
Warehouse manager job description
Companies that store or distribute materials or products rely on high-functioning warehouses and the managers who oversee their performance, shipping, and storage.
Responsibilities
• Supervise the daily activities of the warehouse, including quality assurance, inventory control, and customer service
• Meet with warehouse leads to review and develop plans for productivity and loss prevention
• Manage logistics of products transported to customers and internal facilities
Skills and qualifications
• High school diploma or GED with 3+ years experience in a warehouse lead role managing hourly employees
• Knowledge of warehouse procedure, excellent problem-solving skills, and understanding of leadership qualities
• Comfortable delivering frequent direct, written, and oral feedback
Download the full warehouse manager job description that includes skills, qualifications, and role objectives.
Hiring tactics for any budget
Explore 10 creative tactics to help you attract a diverse pool of candidates with the resources you have.
Engaging with talent
3 ways to engage with manufacturing talent
Use email, your employer brand, and LinkedIn Groups to initiate a conversation.
In order to pique the interest of qualified candidates, you’ll need to develop a meaningful connection with them. Accomplish this by clearly communicating company opportunities and goals through email, a strong employer brand, and conversations in LinkedIn Groups.
Connect with manufacturing candidates through email.
Great manufacturing candidates get a lot of messages from recruiters, so it’s important to make yours stand out. Always customize every email to match the candidate’s interests and desires, as well as your own personality and style.
Best practices to help make your email stand out:
Keep your subject lines short and impactful
Use keywords like “thanks,” “exclusive invitation,” “connect,” “job opportunity,” and “join us.”
Start a dialogue
Candidates don’t respond well to “look at the job and tell me if you’re interested” messages. Instead, have a conversation about their career path and goals.
Use a conversational, enthusiastic tone
Choose words that reflect your personal voice and express a genuine interest in helping candidates with their professional goals.
Build an online presence manufacturing candidates will want to follow.
A strong online brand is essential for attracting high-quality manufacturing talent. With an online presence, you’ll diversify your reach, build rapport with candidates, and stay top of mind when they’re looking for their next role. Candidates tend to look at a brand’s LinkedIn Page, careers site, and social media profiles.
Simple steps to boost your online brand:
Incorporate pictures and videos
• Showcase real employees and the vibrant work environment
• Promote perks like work-life balance or volunteer days
Share testimonials
• Show a personal experience that candidates can relate to
• Demonstrate that you’re an employer that values its staff
Start a dialogue with manufacturing talent in groups designed for recruitment.
LinkedIn Groups give like-minded professionals a chance to network, share their interests, and discover new opportunities. Here are the details to help you find, join, and post on LinkedIn Groups, so you can start building credibility with your audience.
Reach out to a candidate in a LinkedIn Group.
Food Manufacturing Industry Professionals
This group provides an ideal opportunity to network within a specific sector of the manufacturing industry.
Join now
MOM — Manufacturing Operations Management
Manufacturing management is an extremely competitive space. Check out this group to stay up to date and to discuss industry news.
Join now
Manufacturing, Wholesale & Distribution Forum
This group is a place to help manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors network with fellow industry professionals.
Join now
6 steps to redesigning your LinkedIn profile
You don’t pick talent — talent picks you. Revamp your LinkedIn profile in this six-step guide.
Interviewing talent
Top interview questions for manufacturing roles
Discover what to ask and what to listen for.
What are the top interview questions you can ask to assess a candidate’s fit for a role? Learn effective interview questions to identify and hire top talent by selecting for the role you’re hiring below.
QUESTION
How do you perform quality and safety checks?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
An understanding of safety guidelines helps machine operators keep themselves and their coworkers safe.
QUESTION
Talk about a time you operated a machine incorrectly.
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
This question can tell you whether or not your candidate can learn from mistakes and values honesty.
QUESTION
What inspired you to apply to our company?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Look to see if your candidate can name the machines and equipment they’re likely to operate and what they know about what you do.
Get more sample interview questions, plus what to listen for and why these questions matter, by visiting the top interview questions for machine operators.
QUESTION
Walk me through the packing process.
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
If the candidate has experience in this role, they’ll be able to articulate the steps taken, from verifying the order to loading for delivery.
QUESTION
How would you deal with a coworker who is slacking on the floor?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Packing is a collaborative process and you’ll want to look for signs they feel comfortable discussing sensitive subjects with others.
QUESTION
Describe a successful workday as a packer.
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
This can provide a window into a candidate’s work philosophy and organization and collaboration skills.
Get more sample interview questions, plus what to listen for and why these questions matter, by visiting the top interview questions for warehouse packers.
QUESTION
What’s your approach for reducing accidents on the floor?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Listen for how the candidate discusses specific strategies for proper training and equipment management.
QUESTION
What’s your experience with team building?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
This question helps you gauge an applicant’s managerial experience and how they’ve brought teams together in the past.
QUESTION
How do you handle working with those with differing opinions?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Listen for answers that include compromising or making executive decisions to test if the applicant is comfortable taking charge.
Get more sample interview questions, plus what to listen for and why these questions matter, by visiting the top interview questions for plant managers.
QUESTION
What details do you analyze when testing a new product?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Testing is critical, so listen to references to specific concepts, such as control audits, safety, and sanitation.
QUESTION
Tell me about a time you found an issue in the manufacturing process.
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
This question can help you gain insight into a candidate’s eye for detail and their problem-solving skills.
QUESTION
What are top three qualities of great quality control specialists?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Assess which soft skills your candidate values most in others — and how they see themselves.
Get more sample interview questions, plus what to listen for and why these questions matter, by visiting the top interview questions for quality control specialists.
QUESTION
What is your inventory record-keeping process?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Great warehouse managers have a system for keeping and storing records that includes both daily routines and management software.
QUESTION
What steps do you take to ensure integrity in your warehouse?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Assess if your candidate seeks to minimize “shrinkage” and look for answers that include background and security checks.
QUESTION
What inspired you to pursue work in the supply chain industry?
WHAT THIS EVALUATES
Get to know your candidate’s values, objectives, and talents and what inspires them to help companies like yours succeed.
Get more sample interview questions, plus what to listen for and why these questions matter, by visiting the top interview questions for warehouse managers.
How to Hire Hub
Everything you need to find and hire the right person for your organization can be found in our How to Hire Hub.
Learn how LinkedIn helps the manufacturing industry hire talent.
How Powell Industries brought their recruiting process in-house and saw measurable results.
How a large global firm captured authentic and unique perspectives to attract talent across 190 countries
Read our additional hiring guides
LinkedIn in action
We offer a full range of hiring and recruiting solutions for every step in the process. We’ll help you find and engage the right candidates, build your brand, and make even smarter talent decisions with LinkedIn data and insights.