ABOUT THIS COLUMN
Looking for a job? Every Sunday, we’ll report on new job opportunities in the community including companies hiring, how to apply, training programs and other economic trends that can affect your job search. Contact reporter Chelsey Levingston with suggestions at chelsey.levingston@coxinc.com. Also let us know if you land that job.
Attitude and soft skills are just as important as job skills when employers are hiring new workers, according to a series of companies this reporter has interviewed about job opportunities in recent months.
Soft skills include coming to work on time, dressing professionally and more.
The following is a compilation of key quotes about what these employers — each of which have job openings — say they’re looking for from applicants:
Innovative Labeling Solutions
"Finding people isn't always hard. Finding people who align with our culture… is a challenge and when we're hiring folks, it's as much who they are first and what they can do second," said Preston Bowles, chief operations officer for label maker Innovative Labeling Solutions of Fairfield Twp. during a December interview.
Ray St. Clair Roofing
"We are finding that there is a scarcity of already-trained roofers, siders, window installers, etc… We'll take people that are not experienced roofers and give them the training to do the work up to Ray St. Clair quality," said Tom Grabo, controller for the Fairfield home repair company, during a January interview. "All we need is people who can physically do the job and have a willingness and genuine desire to start a new career."
Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center
"If people have a desire and a passion to want to work and learn and grow, anybody can do any of the jobs we have in this building. They can learn and be trained to do the jobs," said Scott Brown, staffing specialist for the home improvement retailer's rapid deployment center in Monroe during a December interview.
Festo Corp.
"What we look for is does that person have a mechanical aptitude for the position itself? We also do it from a behavioral standpoint — team player, how do they do with safety… — to find that right candidate and we will teach them (about the company)," said Heather Jackson, human resources manager, during a January interview. Festo opened an assembly and warehouse facility in Mason last year.
“For Festo it’s very important to be an employer of choice,” added Yannick Schilly, vice president of operations for Festo’s NAFTA region.
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America Inc.
"It's probably to do with the rebound of the economy," said Lindsey Stanfill, associate human resource manager for Hamilton-based ThyssenKrupp Bilstein, an auto supplier that makes shock absorbers, during an interview last week. "There's a lot of jobs available in the market so what folks really need to do is find a company they feel strongly about where they can connect with the company's values."
“We would say that connection is more important… than your knowledge for the actual skill set.”
Northstar Cafe
"Our growth is determined by the quality of individuals we have in the business right now," said Matt LaGrow, senior managing partner, for Northstar, which is now hiring for a new restaurant opening this year at Liberty Center in Liberty Twp.
About the Author