Service industry workers and manufacturers are some of the most salt-of-the-earth, devoted and hardworking people across any industry.
Both careers demand a dedicated workforce and are committed to the wellbeing of their customers.
However, manufacturing offers their team the benefits, culture and career growth that service industry workers cannot often access. The good news: manufacturing careers are in high demand, and service industry workers are especially suited to fill them.
Manufacturing Offers Stability
For many service industry workers, their income is made largely of tips, and vary greatly depending on the number of customers and the generosity of their guests. Stability throughout the year can also differ. Some service industry industries rely greatly on “busy season” where all hands are on deck, and money is more available. During “off season” hours are greatly reduced, as is access to consistent tips.
Manufacturing offers stable and consistent income, as well as economic resilience. Your wage doesn’t change depending on the amount of time you work, and most importantly– there’s no such thing as an off season.
Manufacturing Provides A Consistent Schedule
Any service industry worker understands that scheduling is inconsistent and fickle. For hotel staff, it may depend on occupancy. For bars it’s busier late into the evenings. For restaurants, expect to work every holiday. Service industry workers know it’s burdensome to try plans more than two weeks in advance, because their schedule is constantly changing.
Often they miss out on personal events and gatherings because they are required to work nights and weekends. If you want to take a vacation, expect to lose wages every hour you’re away.
A majority of manufacturing jobs offer their employees a consistent, first shift schedule.
No more closing one night and opening the next, manufacturers can rely on the consistency of their work days and have the evenings and weekends free to enjoy with friends and families. Oftentimes, manufacturers offer their employees paid time off for holidays or vacations– a benefit almost unheard of in the service industry.
Healthcare & Benefits
Outside of management, very few service industry workers are provided with healthcare benefits from their employers. Oftentimes, due to rising prices, service industry workers go without insurance. Even fewer are offered extended health and retirement benefits.
By and large, every manufacturing employer will receive a variety of benefits including 401K, Roth 401K, paid time off, dental and vision, HSAs, FSAs, HRAs, or tuition reimbursement. Manufacturers understand the health and long-term wellbeing of their team members are instrumental to the success of their company.
Career Growth Opportunities
While careers in the service industry can absolutely be a rewarding vocation, very often there is little room to grow and a low ceiling of opportunity.
When you hit team leader or managerial levels, many times the only way up is to take a giant risk and step into ownership.
Though it may not be well known, there are a large variety of career paths to explore in manufacturing.
Many service industry workers have a four year degree, but were unable to find placement in their field. However, they likely weren’t aware of the many career opportunities in manufacturing that are not engineering and production related.
Most manufacturers also need sales team members, marketers, designers, project managers, human resources personnel, IT, business analysts, programmers, quality assurance staff, service technicians and beyond.
In each department, there’s room to grow up and out, and often manufacturers offer extended training and education opportunities so team members can grow into higher paying and more rewarding careers.
Easy Skills Transfer
At first glance, there may not be a ton of similarities between the service industry and manufacturing. Granted, they look different, but the fundamental soft skills are quite similar.
They both are versed in conflict resolution, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. Both service industry workers and manufacturers have to work independently but in a team setting. They both have to effectively communicate with other team members and customers. Manufacturers and service industry workers are both notoriously adaptable groups with astounding work ethics.
Manufacturers and service industry workers are both notoriously adaptable groups with astounding work ethics.
Service Industry Workers Make Exceptional Manufacturing Employees
Service industry workers are exceptionally hardworking and dedicated to their craft. They all more than earned the security and benefits their industry cannot afford them.
By transitioning to the manufacturing world, where a plethora of different career paths exist, service industry workers can finally receive the flexibility, support, and benefits they’ve always deserved.
