SME Introduces “Ready to Hire” Program

SME has announced a new program, “Ready to Hire,” in partnership with Cengage Group that builds sustainable talent pipelines by providing manufacturers with access to qualified prescreened, pretrained, premarket talent, SME reports.

To accelerate manufacturing hiring, Ready to Hire streamlines the process by implementing a scalable, train-to-hire program that yields a quality candidate. Ready to Hire handles sourcing, screening, training, and onboarding talent so employers can focus on building their team and boosting retention. By moving the training up front, Ready to Hire delivers a risk-free talent pipeline that can flex up or down as needed by each organization.

“It is our responsibility as one of the industry’s leading workforce organizations for over 90 years to create and invest in innovative programs like Ready to Hire, which will strengthen the manufacturing supply chain with technically skilled, productive individuals,” says Jeannine Kunz, chief workforce development officer at SME. “Through our collaboration with Cengage, we are able to address not only the skills gap but also the gap in applicants, ultimately, positioning manufacturers and individuals to be better prepared for the future.”

Ready to Hire screens all candidates, presenting only qualified and suitable individuals for open roles. Candidates must meet all program requirements including soft skills development and specific technical instruction before they are referred to employers. New hires will continue with guided hands-on training delivered on-site and evaluated by experienced technicians whose expertise is essential to standing up this new workforce. 

Ready to Hire guarantees retention for all referred candidates up to 3 months from the hire date, a time period for long-term retention.

“Instead of traditional recruiting strategies and training models. We stand up new, local, talent pipelines of pre-qualified, pre-trained candidates for employers to fill in-demand front line roles,” says Rya Conrad-Bradshaw, senior vice president & general manager, Ready to Hire by Cengage Group. “Our high-volume, data-driven recruitment and training engines draw from local, untapped talent looking for education opportunities that will land them a career in manufacturing—not just another job.”

The Ready to Hire model has had success in other industries where employer partners hire 91% of referred candidates, and 94% are still employed beyond the program’s guaranteed retention period. Ready to Hire integrates best practices gleaned from addressing talent shortages in healthcare, skilled trades, and IT/cybersecurity with SME’s industry experience, network and training.

To provide opportunities to all qualified candidates who are eager to learn, the program is free to students. Training programs are focused on in-demand roles such as CNC machinist, welding technician, robotics technician, press operator, additive manufacturing and electrical vehicle technician. Individuals can also train to receive SME’s Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) Certification.

For more information on how Ready to Hire can help, contact Chad Schron, senior director, Tooling U-SME, [email protected].‬‬‬

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.