Gros Executive Recruiters / Plastics Jobs . com

Plastics Industry Hiring Trends Survey Questionnaire

Qualifier Pre-Question
US employees only.

1a.

Are you a manager of direct employees, or manager of Human Resources, in plastics and/or packaging?

(Note for managers of Human Resources. Please answer the survey questions on behalf of your company, not your department)

(If Yes go to Question 1)

(If No, a thank you page and not survey)

Questionnaire

1.		Company size (total number of employees)
		Less than 10 10–25 26–99 100–249 250–499 500–999 1,000–2,499 2,500–4,999 5,000+
2.		Where are you based?

3.		Which of the following titles best describes your current position?
		Executive Management Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer President General Manager Chief Information Officer Chief Financial Officer Operations Director or Manager Engineering Director or Manager Quality Director Human Resources Vice President, Human Resources Director, Human Resources Manager, Human Resources Manufacturing Manufacturing VP, Manager, or Director Plant Manager Production Manager or Supervisor Shift Manager or Supervisor Sales, Marketing, Customer Technical Support Sales and Marketing VP or Director Sales Manager Marketing Manager Finance and Supply Chain VP or Director of Finance VP or Director of Supply Chain Purchasing Director or Manager Plant Engineering and Maintenance Plant or Building Manager Maintenance Manager, process machinery Design and Development: products, machines or materials Engineering or Research & Development VP or Manager, product development Toolroom Manager Quality Quality Manager
4.		How many departments do you hire for?
		1 2 3 4 5+
5.		How many sites do your hire for?
		1 2 3 4 5+
6.		On average, what percentage increase in base salary did the people who report to you receive in 2004 over 2003?
		Decrease No change 1 to 3% increase 4 to 6% increase 7 to 10% increase 11 to 14% increase 15% or higher
7.		On average, what percentage change in base salary do you anticipate the people who report to you will receive in 2005 over 2004?
		Decrease No change 1 to 3% increase 4 to 6% increase 7 to 10% increase 11 to 14% increase 15% or higher
8.		What percentage of employees who report directly to you received a bonus in 2004?
		0% 1 – 10% 11 – 25% 26 – 50% 51 – 75% 76 – 100%
9.		What percentage of employees who report directly to you do you anticipate will receive a bonus in 2005?
		0% 1 – 10% 11 – 25% 26 – 50% 51 – 75% 76 – 100%
10.		How do you determine how bonuses are paid?
		100% based on company performance About 75% based on company performance, 25% based on individual performance About half based on company performance and half based on individual performance About 25% based on company performance, 75% based on individual performance 100% based on individual performance My company does not pay bonuses
11.		Did your company’s overall number of full-time employees grow, decrease, or remain constant in 2004 (as compared to fiscal year 2003)?
		Grew Decreased Stayed the same Don’t know
12.		Compared to 2004 (your last fiscal year), do you anticipate that your company’s employment roster for HOURLY WORKERS will grow, decrease or stay the same in 2005?
		I anticipate the number of hourly employees will decrease more than 10% I anticipate the number of hourly employees will decrease between 5% to 10% I anticipate the number of hourly employees will decrease less than 5% I anticipate the number of hourly employees will stay the same I anticipate the number of hourly employees will increase less than 5% I anticipate the number of hourly employees will increase between 5% to 10% I anticipate the number of hourly employees will increase more than 10% Don’t know
13.		Compared to 2004 (your last fiscal year), do you anticipate that your company’s employment roster for SALARIED EMPLOYEES will grow, decrease or stay the same in 2005?
		I anticipate the number of salaried employees will decrease more than 10% I anticipate the number of salaried employees will decrease between 5% to 10% I anticipate the number of salaried employees will decrease less than 5% I anticipate the number of salaried employees will stay the same I anticipate the number of salaried employees will increase less than 5% I anticipate the number of salaried employees will increase between 5% to 10% I anticipate the number of salaried employees will increase more than 10% Don’t know
14.		Is your company changing the ratio of salaried to hourly employees?
		We are increasing the ratio in favor of salaried employees by hiring more salaried employees We are increasing the ratio in favor of salaried employees by decreasing hourly employees We are increasing the ratio in favor of hourly employees by hiring more hourly employees We are increasing the ratio in favor of salaried employees by decreasing salaried employees We are not changing the ratio and we’re not adding employees in either category We are not changing the ratio and we’re adding employees in both categories We are not changing the ratio and we’re cutting employees in both categories Don’t know
15.		For the departments in which you have hiring responsibility, what is your observation regarding employee turnover trends over the past 3 years?
		The turnover rate is increasing The turnover rate remains steady The turnover rate is decreasing
16.		What percentage of turnover did your department(s) experience in 2004?
		None Up to 2.5% 2.5%-5% 5%-7.5% 7.5%-10% 10% or more
17.		What percentage of annual turnover does your organization consider acceptable?
		None Up to 2.5% 2.5%-5% 5%-7.5% 7.5%-10% 10% or more
18.		In your opinion, of those employees who resigned, what was the most common reason why they left?
		Better career opportunity Higher salary or benefits Relocation preference Differences with one specific supervisor Disagreement with company policies Other (Fill in the blank)
19.		In your opinion, when does "experience" become more important than "education" in your evaluation of candidates for professional job openings?
		Never After 3 years’ experience After 5 years’ experience After 7 years’ experience After 10 years’ experience
20.		Other than technical proficiency, what is the single most important personal trait you seek during an interview?

21.		How do you most often find new professional employees from outside the company?
		Advertise in local paper Advertise in industry publication Advertise on the Internet with an online posting service Use a professional recruitment service Contact your personal referral network Other (Fill in the blank)
22.		What is your most difficult hiring challenge?
		Finding qualified candidates Evaluating candidates during the interview Meeting salary and/or benefit expectations Expressing your company’s vision and goals Enticing the candidate to relocate to your city Other (Fill in the blank)
23.		If you were giving career advice to a young person interested in entering plastics or packaging, what discipline would you suggest?
		Production and manufacturing Quality Supply chain R&D or new product development Product design Automation Information technology Sales and marketing Finance Plant engineering or maintenance General management I would discourage them from entering plastics or packaging Other
24.		What is your company’s primary manufacturing process?
		Blow molding, durable products Blow molding, disposable products Calendering Color concentrates Compounding Compression molding Contract packaging Consulting Decorating Design services Extrusion, profiles Extrusion, cast film or sheet Fabrication Fill and seal Film, blown Foam processing Injection molding Machinery or auxiliary equipment Materials or resins, virgin Materials or resins, distribution Materials or resins, recycling Mold, tool, or diemaking Packaging of food Packaging of non-food Prototyping Pultrusion or other Reinforced Plastic process Rotational molding Thermoforming or vacuumforming, heavy gauge Thermoforming for packaging Other
25.		What industry does your company sell to? (Multiple Answers Allowed)
		Aerospace/defense Agricultural/lawn & garden Appliances Automotive Computers/business machines Construction/building materials Consumer products, durable Consumer products, disposable Cosmetics Electrical/electronic components Furniture Housewares Industrial machines or hand tools Medical, disposables Medical, durables Pharmaceutical Recreational vehicles Resins, materials, chemicals Shipping or dunnage Telecommunications Tooling Toys