Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1464867
24 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2022 troubleshooting, etc.) do you look for in new employees? Connella: Excellent communication skills, being self-motived, trouble shooting background, high attention to details, and having a short learning curve are some of my biggest needs. Stevenson and Coburn: Attention to detail, good communication, positive attitude, flexibility, and work ethic are the most important so skills for us. And of course the desire to be a part of our Sunstone family. Q: With several open positions available for every job seeker in the U.S., how can a com- pany make itself attractive to these potential hires? Connella: From what I've seen, companies need to have competitive wages and employee benefits for the region where they are seeking people. ose employee benefits must be front and center in the marketing of employment needs. Stevenson: In today's landscape, where every- one is hiring and advertising very high hourly wages, it is difficult to really stand out to be attractive to job seekers. Wages are definitely important, but the other pieces can be very effective: benefits, culture, flexibility, and geography (people are becoming increasingly interested in working closer to home). Coburn: Good benefits, low turnover, and work/life balance are even more important in the current competition for talent. I know there are companies utilizing 12-hour shis and 60-hour weeks to try to extend their workforce, but this schedule has the undesirable effect of exhausting those employees to the point they burn out, and the compounding effect of mak- ing it even harder to find new workers. In order to make itself more attractive, a company need only pay a fair wage, and demonstrate respect for your employees as humans who want to have a life outside of work. Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add? Connella: In the current climate, where there are more openings than people willing to work, it has been extremely difficult to fill posi- tions. We oen get leads, set up interviews, and the potential candidate simply does not show up. Over the past two years, COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our lives. We have extended and increased unemployment bene- fits, rental assistance benefits, and rental pro- tection polices, and included in this is the ris- ing minimum wage across the country. ese changes may have affected how peo- ple weigh the benefits of staying home and not working vs. coming to work for 40 hours a week. It may also be a determining factor when choosing between a demanding, high stress position in manufacturing vs. a lower stress position somewhere else. Coburn: We are very lucky to weather this storm with the amazing group of people we have on staff at Sunstone Circuits. PCB007 Debra Coburn