Best way to get Plant Jobs?

P-Tech school

You have to know someone to get a job. If you know someone it's a whole lot easier to get a job. You can't get a job unless you know someone. See if you know someone who can help you get the job.

Three words:

Eff
Tree
Fiddy

Be a minority.

Harb's Oasis is pretty good about hiring young green thumbs. Start out low and learn while you work. It's really a very fulfilling field. Good luck!

Chances are, you know a pipe fitter, boiler maker, welder, etc.. There is a ton of work going on, and you can make a lot of money as a helper right now if you're willing to travel.

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Best way to get Plant Jobs

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Be qualified.

And by that I mean know somebody.

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felps22

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Hopefully you're a minority and can get in under the 50/50 clause with no experience or education. If you're not a minority then I suggest getting a Masters degree, going to P-tech school, then try to get your foot in the door delivering port-a-pots.

Get an engineering degree

(TLDR) (Holy wall of text, Batman)

25 years in a plant. 43 yrs old. Take it FWIW

A common misconception about plant jobs is that anyone can do it walking through the gate, and everyone on the street qualifies. When the plants were just getting off the ground in the 60's and 70's, and huge numbers of bodies were needed to staff up, it does seem like that was the model. They were much more likely to take on anyone and train/make them into what was needed. A key component of being able to do that though, was that work ethic was not as rare as it is now. It cannot be overstated just how poor work ethic has become over the years, generally and relatively speaking. I think that drives the need for more formal, documented qualifications. With that being the case, as well as not needing the huge numbers of a ground-up staffing campaign as when they first opened, job openings now trickle and qualifications are greater.

Starting about 15 years ago, down to about 8 years ago, there was a resurgence in hiring, as many of the original plant work force were in the 30 or so-year service range and were retiring. In that 5 or so-year span, hiring was at a level where qualifications were somewhat relaxed, and some even offered incentives. Guys would take the first plant job they could to add another line to their resume, and quit/jump to the next better plant that was hiring. Some did this multiple times-there were enough jobs out there, and any experience was all that was needed. Once again, those days have pretty much passed by. It's back to a trickle hiring pattern. There is much competition for the few openings that arise. Previous plant experience is valuable, and pretty much a necessity. Operations- day/night shift work, is probably the easiest way in, and a 6-month Process Technician certification (P-Tec) qualifies one for that position. Other roles generally require some previous, relevant experience. Whether it be in safety, planning, coordinating, or any of the skilled crafts (elect, inst, mech, etc), experience and/or formal training is required. They can now afford to be picky, as there are more looking, than there are open positions. That makes it hard for someone already a little ways along in life, as they may not be able to afford meager starter wages with a contractor, in order to get the experience or longer-term schooling that will help them qualify for skilled positions.

As some have stated, knowing someone doesn't hurt. But knowing someone, in no way reduces the need for formal training and/or relevant experience. No one walks out of
high school, or has only worked at Lowes or Autozone, and walks into a position with the plant because they know somebody. Not here. Many companies use a pre-screening process with an outside firm, and you have to have the qualifications/resume to get through that, before who you know comes into play.

I started as an Electrical/Instrument helper with a contractor-bottom rung. I went to instrument school at night and after 4 years with the contractor, I reached journeyman level. After 5-1/2 years, with a substantial skill set, I got on with the plant. By that time, I had applied for 10-20 openings at various plants between BR and NO, both operations positions, as well as skilled, that I was qualified for. Thousands would apply for only a handful of openings. I aced tests and interviews, but came up short in the low numbers of openings, time and time again. That included at the plant I was already working in as a contractor, where I knew and worked alongside many of the plant guys. Some of my contractor buddies with very deep skill sets and experience, settled for the less desirable operator/shift jobs (less desirable if you have other skills, generally speaking, due to rotating shift). I would have done the same, but my first offer was an inst opening, and I took it. From there, I got into analytical and maxed out my potential for being non-4-year degreed. I'm not the career-minded type, so that suits me just fine. Without having a strong career drive, the degree wouldn't have gotten me any further, and likely would have resulted in constantly being pressured beyond desire. I'll make 20 years with the plant in May, 25 years at this site, in January. I'm doing well, and ok with my choices.

One last thing, I DON'T HAVE TRUCK NUTS