Hardware Podcasts

Attracting the Next Generation of Manufacturing Talent with "The Manufacturing Millennial" Jake Hall

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 23 Feb 2021 · 51m

What this episode covers

Jake Hall, Business Development Manager at Feyen Zylstra and creator of the personal brand 'The Manufacturing Millennial,' explains how he uses LinkedIn to highlight modern manufacturing processes and attract younger talent to the industry. He discusses the critical need to replace an aging workforce with millennials and skilled tradespeople, emphasizing that companies must shift from selling data sheets to solving problems through engaging content. Hall shares his strategy for building a personal brand by condensing long technical videos into 60-second clips and networking aggressively on LinkedIn to create long-term professional relationships.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Feyen Zylstra, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Banner Engineering, Steamchain
Also
Titan of CNC

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 34m

    A Conversation with the Manufacturing Millennial w/ Jacob Hall

    Jacob Hall, known as the Manufacturing Millennial and a business developer at Fein Zostra, discusses his strategy for building a personal brand on LinkedIn to engage young professionals and promote automation. He explains how he leveraged video content during the 2020 shutdown to reach over 1.5 million views by prioritizing authenticity and consistency over vanity metrics. Hall emphasizes the importance of skilled trades, the power of face-to-face communication in remote work, and how young people can differentiate themselves by publicly documenting their passions.

    Marketing & brandCareers & education
    8 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 42m

    How B2B Manufacturers Can Win Organically on LinkedIn w/ Jake Hall

    Jake Hall, known as The Manufacturing Millennial, explains how B2B manufacturers can leverage LinkedIn for organic growth by shifting from traditional sales catalogs to accessible, personable content. He argues that companies should showcase their culture and employees rather than just products, using low-budget tactics like cell phone videos to build brand awareness and attract younger demographics. Hall provides specific tactical advice on structuring LinkedIn posts, including using strong hooks, tagging partners, and avoiding external links to maximize platform algorithm reach.

    Marketing & brandDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    6 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 32m

    Connecting Physical and Digital Worlds Through Trade Shows

    Jake Hall, known as The Manufacturing Millennial, explains how to maximize the ROI of trade shows by integrating physical presence with digital content strategies. He argues that companies must create value before, during, and after events through live streaming, interviews, and leveraging personal brands to extend the lifespan of the investment. Hall also discusses the shift in manufacturing perception among Gen Z, advocating for framing the industry as a STEM field to attract future talent.

    Marketing & brandCareers & education
    6 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 42m

    The Real Reason Manufacturers Are Missing with Gen Z w/ Jacob Sanchez

    Jacob Sanchez, a Gen Z advocate for manufacturing and founder of MFGKids.com, explains why industrial companies are failing to recruit young talent by ignoring existing pools of interest like FIRST Robotics. He argues that manufacturers must move beyond passive visibility to active engagement, offering autonomy and clear growth paths to retain Gen Z workers who often leave due to poor onboarding or toxic environments. Sanchez also details his new platform, MFGKids.com, designed to centralize resources and curriculum for automation and CNC machining, while emphasizing the importance of personal branding and mental health awareness for career longevity.

    Hiring & workforceIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 32m

    Perspectives on Finding and Keeping Manufacturing Talent w/ Jon Franko

    Jon Franko, host of The Manufacturing EMPLOYER podcast and business partner at Gorilla 76, discusses common themes from his inaugural year of interviewing manufacturing leaders regarding talent acquisition and retention. He highlights the critical skills gap, the need to rebrand manufacturing careers to youth, and the importance of employer branding, including transparent careers pages and servant leadership. Franko also details Gorilla 76's 'Hiring and Retention Roadmap,' a productized service that applies marketing principles to HR, offering workshops and implementation plans to help manufacturers build strong cultures and attract frontline workers.

    Hiring & workforceLeadership, teams & culture
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Manufacturing Happy Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.