The U.S. auto industry has been in a hiring mood of late with job announcements made from Honda, Nissan, General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota coming out in just the past few months. The Ford Motor Company should also be named among the car manufacturers that are hiring as it announced today that it would bring on 2,200 salaried workers in 2013. That announcement follows on the heels of other hiring initiatives conducted by Ford throughout 2012.
Hiring Spree
Ford says that its planned salaried worker hiring spree represents its largest one in more than a decade. The company cites increased demand for its products and a need to fill critical openings in engineering and other areas. Ford added more than 8,100 hourly and salaried positions in the United States in 2012, as part of its campaign to hire 12,000 new hourly workers by 2015. Ford signed an agreement with the UAW in 2011 to add assembly line workers.
John Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, credits the company’s One Ford plan for creating profitable growth or the engine that is leading to the current hiring spate. One Ford is an initiative announced by Ford management in 2008 to share more models across its markets, especially by bringing several European models to the North American market. Those models include Transit Connect, Focus, Fiesta, Escape and C-Max models, enabling Ford to spread its costs globally.
Ford Sales
Ford’s U.S. sales rose by 2 percent last year, but the company lost market share. However, the company still sees strong growth in the Asia-Pacific market and expects its U.S. sales to climb in 2013 on the strength of several new Ford and Lincoln models. Ford is also working diligently to offset deep losses in Europe, a market that is currently in steep economic decline. In Europe, Ford continues to cut jobs and is consolidating its manufacturing capacity.
Nearly three-quarters of the new Ford jobs will come in three areas: product development, manufacturing and information technology. The company is making its current job announcements through social media, utilizing Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to get the word out. Ford is also targeting military veterans as possible future employees. You can learn about Fords U.S. openings on its People & Careers page as well.
Employment Opportunities
Ford also features employee profiles and lists positions for current college students and recent graduates. The company offers Ford College Graduate, Leadership and Co-op programs, and is seeking summer interns students must have completed their junior year of college and meet other hiring criteria.
See Also — GM Announces Plans to Hire 1,000 High-Tech Workers and Ford Recruiters on Hand at Detroit Auto Show
College students majoring in automotive engineering must gain hands-on experience before they finish their education. An automotive engineering internship can provide much experience with numerous opportunities available in Michigan.
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