Most manufacturing hiring advice is either vague or completely detached from how industrial automation jobs really work. So I brought on Bill Seaman, Director of People Operations at Philomatic, to get brutally practical about what attracts great engineers, technicians, and field service talent and what quietly drives them away.
We start with the reality a lot of people avoid talking about: layoffs, short tenures, and career pivots. Bill explains how candidates can reframe those moments, show adaptability, and answer the unspoken question every hiring manager has: are you a risk or an investment? From there, we dig into career growth inside OEMs and machine builders, including why companies need strong individual contributor paths (senior and principal roles) instead of forcing great technical people into people management.
Then we get into the hiring mechanics that matter. We break down job descriptions and bias, why bloated “nice-to-have” requirements shrink your applicant pool, and how interview structure can improve both candidate experience and team buy-in. We also cover diversity in manufacturing, visa sponsorship and OPT timelines, and the hidden retention killer many long-tenured companies face: salary compression and outdated pay bands. To round it out, Bill shares benefits that compete when you cannot outspend bigger companies, like real flexibility, schedule options, and creative wellness support.
If you’re hiring in industrial automation or trying to land your next role, you’ll walk away with a clearer playbook. Subscribe, share this with a teammate, and leave us a review with the most outdated hiring rule you want to see disappear.
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👾 Thank you to our amazing sponsor Inductive Automation (https://inductiveautomation.com/)
Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2053051/support)
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🎙 About Automation Ladies
Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.
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🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/
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👩🏭 Connect with the Hosts
Nikki Gonzales (https://linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales)
Courtney Fernandez (https://linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez)
Ali G (https://linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering)
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🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com
Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.
🎬 Credits
Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes
P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ... (https://www.podpage.com/automation-ladies/reviews/new/)
