Employer 13		Students need to be prepared to face unforeseen challenges and need to be able to quickly react. Being in automotive many times answers are expected quickly with a clear defined path of success.
Employer 14		The biggest change has been the drastic swing in demand in a short period of time, as well more people working remotely, which I see opportunities for working remotely becoming more of a trend in the future depending on the role. Being a team player, self-motivated and having strong work ethic continue to be key traits we look for.
Employer 15		It’s stressed the importance that companies value on culture. We need good people now more than ever. Culture is showing up, communicating, caring, and doing the hard work. It can literally be the difference between making it and now during this time.
Employer 16		Not necessarily. If you have lost an internship due to COVID please still list it on your resume. The timing of this has been very bad for students who needed their summer internships. I think all hiring managers have been open minded to this.
Employer 17		Expect your workload to triple when most of the business is put on hold.
Employer 18		Don’t focus on how to get “back” to how things were. Focus on how to move “forward” in the new world we live in. The world has forever changed and the people/organizations that do not change with it will not make it. Learn how to Network in a world where most communications have become virtual. Take professional certifications seriously, as well as graduate level education.
Employer 19		You have to be human in these times.
Employer 20		Covid-19 will eventually pass. Be adaptable and apply the learnings from this to weather through tough times. Make yourself a person of value by being a team player, by rising to the occasion when your organization needs people to stretch their capabilities.
Employer 21		This pandemic is an unmatched opportunity to take note of what is happening around us and respond in a way that is uncommon. People and businesses that adapt and manage change successfully will thrive. You’ll create many examples for behavioral interview questions by remaining persistent and positive during this pandemic. On a career outlook note, I encourage students to remain open-minded. Understand that career success exists in a variety of forms. I imagine the job market is challenging right now. If the dream job isn’t available, look for the experience that will get you there. Also, look to work for people who will support your professional development.
Employer 22		A good understanding that issues do happen regularly, although they are difficult to predict which specific area of the supply chain could be impacted. It is important that the employing organization is committed to developing/validating multiple sources when critical. A plan needs to be regularly maintained and evaluated for readiness. Some of this is incorporated already into things like IATF 16949 certifications if applicable.
Employer 23		Change is the only thing that is certain in this field. Plan to plan for change.
Employer 24	I feel like we are in a time where COVID-causing supply chain issues have become manageable with the amount of time that has passed. A lot of safety precautions have been put in place to keep business going, so to speak. I would say COVID has been an eye-opener to supply chains and all types of businesses that support them. It’s critical that everyone thinks about other types of global disasters that could have drastic consequences on our supply chains: things like global warming repercussions, severe political conflict, possible economic recession or depression, etc. We should be understanding, if any of these things were to happen, what would be our course of action? What would be the effect on our business?
Employer 25	Companies are reluctant to hire right now due to uncertainty of when the economy will be back on track.
Employer 26	Work on being able to be efficient outside of the office. Things like time management and routines play a huge part in how well people can perform while working from home.
Employer 27	Some companies are hiring more, and some companies are not hiring at all, you need to apply to jobs early, leverage your network and being on top of the game. If you procrastinate on the job search, you will be left behind.
Employer 28	I am not sure there is a definite way that they can be more prepared as this was something that no one was prepared for and are still struggling to manage through.
Employer 29	Project management classes need to be used to show people how to structure time. There are operational exercises for project management which are covered in other classes, but there needs to be a required course on project management including methods for effective meetings, agendas, schedules, and working in a remote world. Too many people are using meetings as band-aids instead of structural, value-add working sessions.