Generation Y Don't You Do Something About It - For Job Seekers

Just over a week ago I saw this article flying around the internet like an angry cat. To summarize it, Generation Y, of which I belong to, is described as GYPSYs - Gen Y Protagonists & Special Yuppies. It's based around a formula of Reality - Expectations = Happiness. Gen Y has some issues around the level of reality and expectations and is therefore unhappy. There's some chat about the Great Generation, Baby boomers in the background, working hard and hardly working, grass, flowers, unicorns and such. Just from connections I saw sharing this post, who are also mostly part of Gen Y, some were mad or offended and others were intrigued and impressed. External debater reviews that I've checked out have been similar. Questioning the intent of the writer, countering the facts presented. Are we more self-driven or group motivated? What about Millennials with Gen X parents? Every generation struggles. How much do you struggle with this article? Hah! Rather than taking sides and debating the validity, let's just take it's point and talk about recruiting and job search.

As a recruiter, a sourcer, and someone who is interested in matching careers with candidates, I care about those Gen Y candidates and what they are thinking as I recruit them. So, I'd like to jump to the advice that the article gives:

1. Stay wildly ambitious
2. Stop thinking that you're special
 3. Ignore everyone else

I agree with number one. Ambition has the definition of a desire to achieve, a goal, or an activity. Choosing to become passionate about anything is a great decision and will likely put a job seeker ahead of the crowd. A combination of the definitions will get you the farthest in your job search and your career - the goal, the desire, then the activity. Try to convey that passion with examples during the interview process. More than words like "I am dedicated, persistent, a quick learner." Explain a situation where you took initiative and how you will exceed expectations for the job to which you are applying.

Taking ownership of your mistakes and your successes. This should be your priority. Special or not, internal or external motivation, it's all relative. Everyone has to start somewhere and is given different opportunities and guidance. The article points out work ethic as a precedent over being special or that entitlement that Gen Y feels. When you are interviewing for a job or working to advance your career in your current company, it's okay to feel entitled if you can back it up with reliability.

Speaking of work ethic, I was talking with a baby boomer recently about the difference in work ethics of early Gen Ys to late Gen Ys and how technology may have affected that. I don't have statistics or great article links about this, so it's just one observation. But, you can't deny that the amount of social interaction online that Gen Y's and later have been exposed to will change the way they interact in the work place as well as their thought process to succeed. So the last point in the article might also be valid - ignore everyone and their Facebook image crafting. In professional networking terms - I'd say craft your own image. Put your best foot forward online with LinkedIn, brandyourself, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, everything. Dress your online presence for the job you want, not the job you have. Feeling as down in the dumps as the fictional Lucy from this article? Maybe creating your own image will turn out to be self-fulfilling prophesy.

The struggles for Gen Ys happiness in life and a career start with being self-aware. So, hooray for this viral article to get us all thinking about taking some direction.

Sr. Staff Materials Engineer - Kohler, Wisconsin

The Kohler Company is hiring for a Sr. Staff Materials Engineer in Kohler, WI. Relocation assistance is available. Seeking a candidate with a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree and 15+ years of experience including supervisor experience, laboratory equipment, instrumentation, analytical techniques, materials process, and process control tools. This position provides technical, analytical, and problem-solving support for ceramic, metallurgical, composites, and plastics materials through engineering consultation with Engineering and Manufacturing personnel. The position is primarily in the Chemical and Metallurgical lab, but will also support plants. Kohler offers state of the art facilities and equipment in a newly remolded lab, a diverse group, variety of tasks/submissions, stability, growth across the business.

As a Sr. Staff Materials Engineer, this is your unique opportunity to set your mark and live on the leading edge. This position provides materials engineering technical support and analytical services to assist Engineering and Manufacturing Departments in material and process selection, material and process substitution, and material drawing approval. This position also provides problem-solving support for ceramic, metallurgical, composites, and plastics materials through engineering consultation with Engineering and Manufacturing personnel. You will perform failure analyses and identify the causes of field, manufacturing, and process problems. Develop materials and process specifications. Investigate promising materials and process technologies, and assist in their transition to production. This role will assist manufacturing areas in the achievement and maintenance of appropriate process controls.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE

A. Provide Materials Engineering and Materials Analysis Services to Engineering and Production Departments:

• Assist Engineering and Manufacturing Departments in material and process selection, material and process substitution, and material drawing approval.
• Provide ceramics, metallurgical, composites, and plastics consulting to Engineering and Manufacturing Department personnel as needed and requested.
• Assist Engineering and Manufacturing Departments with process development; conduct process capability studies and develop process controls as needed and requested.
• Interface with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Kohler Co. vendors to identify problem areas and to ensure that corrective actions are implemented.
• Assist Purchasing Departments in vendor qualification and product quality assurance.
• Assist Quality Assurance Departments in developing quality procedures and inspection protocols.
• Provide program management services as needed for large-scale materials or process improvement projects.

B. Investigate Alternative Materials and Process Technologies

• Manage contracts with universities and research institutions as required.
• Assist with the transition of technologies to production operations.
• Identify candidate technologies and develop proposals for presentations to manufacturing areas and upper management.

C. At the request of Corporate Legal and Risk Management Departments, evaluate field claim submissions for cause of failure and generate summary reports on results of investigations.

D. Write project reports, draw conclusions, and provide recommendations based on testing and analysis work.

E. Manage and maintain equipment capabilities for assigned sample prep and analytical instruments, including repair and preventative maintenance, service contracts, and upgrades as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS - WHAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY

• Must have Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or a combination of these at the BS and MS levels.
• 15+ years of experience, including 2-5 years as a supervisor. Must have broad-based experience with laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and analytical techniques, as well as broad-based experience with materials processing methods, and knowledge of process control tools and techniques.
• MUST HAVE experience with:
1. Macro and/or microstructural evaluation, including photography and quantitative (image analysis) techniques, using the stereomicroscope and/or compound microscope, including use of image archiving software.
2. Brinell, Rockwell, and microhardness (Vickers and Knoop) testing. Sample preparation for metallography and/or hardness testing.
3. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination and energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDS) analysis.
4. 3D Microscopy.
5. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) tools and their uses.
• Working knowledge of PCs and Microsoft windows-based software.
• Must be well organized, be attentive to details, and be able to work in a team environment and cooperate with others. Must be able to convey technical information in an easily understood format to non-technical business associates and provide technical guidance to less experienced engineers. Able to mentor and/or develop/train other C&M Lab associates as requested or assigned.
• Receives general direction; exercises considerable discretion as to personal work details as well as the work details of other technical personnel under their supervision.
• Uses effective speaking and writing skills to communicate opinions based on technical knowledge and facts.
• Is a reliable source of technical information to the manufacturing areas and is capable of searching for and locating answers in literature and on the internet.
• Willingness to learn and take on new duties and responsibilities as the opportunity or need arises.

Apply online here:
Sr. Staff Materials Engineer
Contact:
kimberly.hughes@rightthinginc.com

Product Development Portfolio Manager - Kohler Power

Seeking candidate with Bachelor's or Master's degree and progressive experience in project and people management, new product development, and preferably experience in power distribution, generators or related techncial manufacturing.

This role will be responsible for executing a portfolio of NPD and capital projects in Kohler Power systems and will be held accountable to keep them on time, on scope, and on budget. Will work cross-functionally and interface with marketing, sales, engineering, design, etc. and could be in contact with suppliers/vendors, consultants, and involved with tradeshows and customers in the field.

As a Product Development Portfolio Manager this is your unique opportunity to set your mark and live on the leading edge. Under the direction of the Senior Product Development Portfolio Manager, this position will be responsible and accountable for executing a portfolio of New Product Development (NPD) and Capital projects in Kohler Power Systems, Mosel, keeping them on time, on scope, and on budget.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building strong diverse teams that have the capabilities to deliver the projects indicated in the Product Plan
• Mentoring Product Development Team Leaders
• Developing standard operating procedures
• Day to day leadership within the global KPS NPD community
• Driving product development through a gated review process with defined metrics on cost, quality, timeliness and customer value

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE

• Project management of NPD projects with occasional management of Capital projects by leading cross functional teams through a gated process. Each project to be led as if it were the Portfolio Manager’s own personal business.
  
• Lead cross functional teams to development project timelines, budgets, and project scopes and maintain them throughout the life of the project. Persistently push the team to improve the outcome of the project. Periodically report the status of the project to executive management.
  
• With strategic focus, guide the team to develop new, innovative products that meet cost targets.
  
• Assign to alternate team members, find alternative resources, or personally complete project tasks for team members who are absent or unable to complete tasks per the timeline.
  
• Define roles & responsibilities for team members in undefined processes, when new processes are created, or unique instances occur.
  
• Resolve and manage conflict within the project team. Make informed decisions in the event that a project team cannot.
  
• Be willing and successful in taking calculated risk in new or complicated situations.
  
• Manage the collection of project data for NPD process gate exits and release for shipment documents.
  
• Build a support network and share with team members including manufacturing, test labs, legal, etc.
  
• Regularly provide feedback and ideas/solutions for process improvements including the New Product Development process and manufacturing processes.
  
• Regularly provide feedback and actively participate in the improvement of project management practices within the Project Management Office. Focus on reducing time to market and reducing project waste.
  
• Assist/mentor less experienced team members, team leaders, and co-op students.
  
• Provide backup and attend meetings on behalf of the Sr. Product Development Portfolio Manager on an as needed basis.
  
• Provide development feedback on team members to their functional supervisors.

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTACTS

Supervisory Relationships:

• Reports to VP of Marketing - KPS
  
• May supervise Product Development Team Leaders.

Organization Relationships:

• Frequent contact with Marketing to coordinate completion of project scope and solicit Marketing input throughout projects.
  
• Frequent contact with Design Engineering to coordinate design phase of projects and review designs for manufacturability and assembly.
  
• Frequent contact with Sales to coordinate unit volume forecast and market price expectations.
• Frequent contact with Industrial Design on product/component aesthetics as it relates to project timelines and manufacturability.
  
• Frequent contact with Purchasing to coordinate sourcing of components and exchange critical project cost, design and timing information.
  
• Frequent contact with Quality to coordinate approval of internal and external components.
  
• Frequent contact with Manufacturing personnel to coordinate cost estimating, material routings, tooling & fixture building, pre-production and pilot build of systems.
  
• Frequent contact with Accounting to exchange product cost data, capital request ACT data and charge account information.
  
• Occasional contact with Maintenance for coordinating changes to the production equipment and facilities.
  
• Occasional contact with Corporate Facilities Engineering for coordinating large scale projects that are related to building or utilities.
  
• Occasional contact with Legal with reference to patent applications and infringements; occasional contact with Communications to coordinate products for photo shoots, etc.

External Business Relationships:

• Contact with suppliers/vendors to exchange information regarding equipment/component status, costs, design, or timing.
  
• Contact with consultants and outside engineers/firms to exchange information regarding project status, product design, materials or processes.
  
• Attend related trade shows and seminars to investigate new materials, products and processes.
  
• Occasional contact with customers in the field on targeted assignments.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS - WHAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY

• Bachelor’s degree in product development related discipline (e.g., Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing or Design) with 5-10 years experience in concurrent product development OR MBA or pertinent MS in Engineering Management, Management Science, etc. with 3+ years experience in concurrent product development.
  
• Demonstrated ability to build teams, make sound decisions, and drive action cross functionally.

SKILL PREFERENCES – HOW YOU CAN STAND OUT

• Prefer 5 to 7 years of increasing responsibility for project and people management involving a broad range of technologies and processes.
  
• Experience with generators.

Position located in Mosel, Wisconsin

Click here to apply:
Product Development Portfolio Manager
Contact:
kimberly.hughes@rightthinginc.com

Benefits Analyst - Retirement Administration - Kohler, WI

Seeking a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree, benefits administration of retirement programs experience (pensions a plus!), reporting, analysis, process improvement, project management experience. This position supports the daily administration of the Kohler’s pension and 401(k) savings plans, and related special projects. Relocation assistance available.

As a Benefits Analyst, Retirement Administration, this is your unique opportunity to set your mark and live on the leading edge. This position supports the daily administration of the Kohler’s pension and 401(k) savings plans, and related special projects. This role requires working knowledge of defined benefit pension plan and savings plan documents, compliance requirements, processes and procedures, and administration systems. Core responsibilities include performing pension calculations and preparing the necessary paperwork/documentation, developing and analyzing reports, answering basic to moderately complex plan questions from HR generalists and plan participants, responding to external service providers, and maintaining plan participant records. You will actively participate in team building activities to assist Global Benefits in meeting goals and objectives. This includes open communications at all levels, providing feedback, and presenting new ideas for improving the Global Benefits COE.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE

• Serves as a subject matter expert and Center of Excellence team member on matters associated with the Company’s retirement plans.
• Perform pension calculations in accordance with legal plan documents for associates who terminate, retire or die; prepare and issue the applicable documents to be completed by the associate in order to claim benefits; assist participants with completion of plan forms in person or over the phone.
• Respond to queries from associates and HR generalists on plan provisions and administrative processes.
• Preparing pension benefit projection calculations for associates at various future dates for retirement planning purposes; answering related questions.
• Coordinate review and approval of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). This involves preparing pension information for requests as needed from associates/attorneys for the potential assignment of benefits, preparing pension benefit calculations as of the specified date(s), tracking approval status, and providing follow up information as needed.
• Actively maintain files related to the pension and savings plan administration, including participant correspondence.
• Proficient with the pension plan administration system, case management system, and 401(k) web-based reporting tools.
• Assist with the development and ongoing maintenance of a comprehensive operational pension procedures manual and plan documentation. This involves ongoing review of existing procedures and identification of operational enhancements. This also involves the review and updating of existing forms and participant communications for all locations.
• Support the coordination and completion of monthly and annual pension administration processes. Review monthly data reports, investigate identified errors and correct pension records as applicable. Assist with annual pension eligibility processing and annual pension service credit processing.
• Assist with preparation of information for the annual audit and government filings.
• Respond to requests for plan participant information from savings plan record keeper.
• Assist with production and distribution of retirement plan communications.
• Utilizes the principals of Kohler Operating System (KOS) to create and evaluate existing or proposed processes or systems.
• Assist in the management of the Company Web Site for benefit information. This includes posting, reviewing and keeping relevant content up to date.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS - WHAT YOU NEED TO QUALIFY

• Bachelor’s Degree with a strong academic record; preferred focus in math, business administration, accounting, finance, HR management or related field.
• 2 +years of benefits administration experience, with at least one year of experience with defined benefit pension plans highly preferred.
• Familiar with compliance and reporting requirements applicable to defined benefit pension plans and 401(k) plans.
• Established track record of developing and implementing project plans and administrative processes.
• Record that demonstrates proficiency in using benefits administration/participant database systems.
• Experienced at communicating technical benefits-related topics with plan participants.
• Well organized and detailed oriented; focus on accuracy is critical.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Solid quantitative and problem solving skills, with the proven ability to diagnose and resolve issues.
• Must be a self-starter who is able to work in a fast-paced environment, remain flexible, set priorities, work independently and complete multiple projects within established deadlines.
• Highly energetic and results oriented, committed to high standards of performance and continuous improvement.
• Must be a solid team player with excellent communication and interpersonal competencies, who can work collaboratively, and effectively influence and negotiate with all levels of staff and management.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills with proficiency in Excel.

Click here to apply online: Benefits Analyst - Retirement Administration
Contact: kimberly.hughes@rightthinginc.com