Tool & Die Maker Job Search Strategy?

[Marksman]

Are there any Tool & Die Makers out there currently involved in a search for employment? I am asking the question because my employer recently eliminated my position due to current economic instability. I will be mounting a job search and wanted to know what strategies had borne fruit for others in my situation. Seeking creative ideas, I've tried networking and headhunters with little success.

 

[morsecode]

I'm not a Tool & Die maker, but if I had the skill and experience I might try targeting some smaller to mid size companies and going door to door. It may be old fashioned, but hardly anybody does that anymore. You could get lucky and find a position that for whatever reason was not going to be widely advertised.

Forget the big companies - you'll never get past the receptionist or HR department. You can still bombard them with resumes, of course.

Good luck

 

[windjammer]

Marksman.......I'm sorry to say, the company I work for is shutting down. Been in business since 1945. We had to let our 3 tool makers go in the last 3 months.

Sorry to say, none of them have found a job as of yet. All of our manufacturing jobs have gone to China. The end of August will be it for our plant....

 

[LoadedRound]

The only thriving industries in my area are Mining, Food Processing and Power Generation. Most of these plants have on site machining operations of some type. Not exactly tool & die, but right now we all have to be flexible.

Best of luck.

I'm on borrowed time myself. We've got another round of cuts coming the end of August. It will be a miracle if I survive this one.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I'd try something in the gun/parts/aerospace industry.

May want to try to set up a "specialty" business making parts and such for firearms, antique cars, steam engines, or some other niche...the only problem is that you might starve while getting going.

 

[jgrazjgraz]

Are there any Tool & Die Makers out there currently involved in a search for employment? I am asking the question because my employer recently eliminated my position due to current economic instability. I will be mounting a job search and wanted to know what strategies had borne fruit for others in my situation. Seeking creative ideas, I've tried networking and headhunters with little success.

dont know if your willing to relocate, but this`was in todays paper in ny.
BTW.. i lost my job to china also..

Long Island City, NY 11104-Master Tool and Die Maker

 

[wheelgun1958]

Found 25 hits in Indiana for 'tool and die.'

Job Search | one search. all jobs. Indeed

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Law school? Medicine? Begging at the White House gates? How about your own tool & die company if there is still a demand for them? Good luck, things are as bad in the job market as i have ever seen.

 

[jrm53]

Tool & Die maker

I have worked for a company here in NW Ark for 41 years, we made cutting tools (lathe and round cutters and endmills) then we branched into carbide and mining inserts for large rotary cutters in the oil industry. I retired at the first of 2002 and since they have closed several plants over the country and let a large amont of tool makers go some with as much as 40 years service, very disturbing. I worked at Wendt Sonis, TRW, RTW and Kennametal and never changed location. If oil gets above 70 or 80 a barrel die makers may be ok. They are still having to take a week off a month and I heard the pay was cut 10% and they quit contributing to the 401K plan so its pretty tough in our business. You might try Illinois Tool Works if they are close to you in Indiana but they may be in the same shape as everybody else but their stock has seemed to hold its value. Jeff

 

[Mickey D]

My son is machinist at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab in CA.
He was telling me last week they were looking to hire another machinist. It's a long relocation from Indiana, but the pay and benefits are great.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

 

[Catshooter]

This site may help you.

Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web - Powered by vBulletin

Good luck.


Cat

 

[84CJ]

Marksman. The only advice I can offer is to keep your resume short and sweet. Mine is vague 1 page and in slow learners English but it is to the point. It has worked for me in the past and when I was a team leader in a tool shop I wanted to see a short and sweet easy to read resume. State your abilities and don't try to blow a lot of smoke. Brief employment history and what you have to offer. Don't go back 20 years a relevant job history. If you worked as a bag boy 20 years ago no-one cares. If you know what I mean. Save that crap for the employment application.

Hope this helps.