3 Ways You Can Kick-Start a Career in Manufacturing

To keep up with demand, manufacturing companies must continually recruit the next generation of employees. But many young people aren’t considering manufacturing jobs. Only 14% say they’d consider industrial work as a career, according to a 2023 study from Soter Analytics, a global safety solutions technology company.  

Here’s what you may not know: A career in manufacturing offers opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology, advance into supervisory and management roles, earn a competitive salary and benefits, and contribute to the creation of tangible products that impact people’s everyday lives.

Interested? Here are three ways you can break into manufacturing and start reaping the benefits.

Internships

Internships can act as launchpads for your career. With Zekelman Industries’ summer Internship Program, students get involved with hands-on projects and build essential career skills, all while backed by veteran team members.

Many interns spend the summer learning about their specialty areas, such as engineering or sales. But a Zekelman internship also gives you a taste of everything the industry has to offer—from learning about the responsibilities of the various corporate roles to working on the floor of a modern smart factory.

Frederick Levins, a robotics and engineering intern, assisted the Zekelman team in developing robotic cells. He gained firsthand experience in skills such as operating manual power tools and using detailed schematics in programs like AutoCAD and SolidWorks.

Levins also learned from the guidance of his manager, Tyson Walter, a robotics programmer at Zekelman. “[He] was an amazing supervisor who often took on a mentor role to offer me invaluable lessons, demonstrations, and support,” Levins says.

Because of these kinds of experiences, Zekelman interns frequently go on to join the company in full-time roles.

Apprenticeships

A step above an internship, an apprenticeship is a work-based learning model where an individual receives on-the-job training and classroom instruction to become certified to work in a specific role.

At Zekelman, apprentices usually work on the factory line under the guidance of industry professionals. This helps them build and retain valuable skills while exploring various roles.

Wheatland Tube, a Zekelman company, offers continuing electrical and mechanical apprenticeships. “It’s a great opportunity to have retention and transferable skills,” says Dave Campbell, plant manager for the Wheatland, Pennsylvania, facility.

These positions often provide a clear pathway to full-time employment, offering both job security and opportunities for career advancement. Plus, the structured learning environment of an apprenticeship ensures you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry—from safety protocols to advanced manufacturing techniques.

Entry-level jobs

Higher education can be important, but it’s not the only route to jump-start your career. Another smart (and proven) way to break into manufacturing is simple: Be a go-getter.

Many entry-level manufacturing positions don’t require a college degree. Young people looking to get started should seek out a company that aligns with their values and priorities and apply, aiming to build their skills through on-the-job experience and mentorship.

“Individuals who are considering going into the skilled trades as opposed to maybe going the traditional college education route will have a tremendous amount of job opportunities,” says Andrea Seymour, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Zekelman.

Seymour speaks from experience. “I don’t have a college degree,” she says. “I started working at the age of 16 and worked full-time jobs. I worked my way up to where I am today.”

And that’s a common story at Zekelman. Take Jeff Cole, President of HSS and Piling at Atlas Tube, who was hired right out of high school to work on the factory floor. Today he runs one of the company’s largest divisions, says Barry Zekelman, Executive Chairman and CEO of Zekelman. 

“So he started literally on the line working the cutoff and worked his way up from there into a shift supervisor and then plant manager, then an operations manager, and now he’s the president of Atlas Tube,” Zekelman says.

As you consider possible careers, keep manufacturing in mind as an option that offers a path to career progression and long-term job security.

“There’s huge career potential in manufacturing right now,” Seymour says.