Todd Nickerson is the recruiting director with MBS Advisors in Florence, Mass. With labor issues still a top priority for many plastics processors, Nickerson has been busy in 2022.
MBS specializes in mergers and acquisitions, recruiting and executive search services for the plastics industry. The firm grew in recruiting in 2018 when it acquired Gros Plastics Recruiters.
Nickerson recently took some time to provide guidance on the current hiring market.
Q: What are the main challenges to hiring right now for plastics or other manufacturing companies?
Nickerson: Finding talent who are open and responsive to a conversation. Once engaged with potential candidates, there needs to be more urgency in the hiring process, a reduction in steps to hire and frequent feedback to the candidate. If not, the candidate will lose interest, the hiring company will lose credibility and the candidate will go elsewhere.
Q: Is COVID still impacting hiring? Has the situation improved at all?
Nickerson: Yes, COVID is still impacting hiring, but it's more prevalent in certain end markets, such as aerospace, which has been slow to recover. Additionally, with the "Big Quit" or "Great Resignation," it's still a challenge to find people willing to work for low-paying hourly jobs. However, I do see improvement from the dark days of COVID, even within the current economic uncertainty.
Q: Have employers changed what they're looking for in job candidates? Are job seekers looking for different things now?
Nickerson: Employers in manufacturing are still looking for skilled, honest, dedicated team players who will help drive their business forward. However, job seekers have more power and can be more selective as they may have multiple opportunities simultaneously under consideration. They can use that to their advantage to request higher compensation/benefits.
Filling positions becomes more about the candidate choosing the employer rather than the employer choosing the candidate. Employers need to be able to "sell" their company. Are they offering an attractive place to work? What's their employer value proposition?
Q: How is the current economic situation going to affect hiring?
Nickerson: I've seen a decline in hiring for salespeople, indicating that the current economic uncertainty has caused some manufacturers to hit the pause button on expansion and growth plans.