When looking for a job, pay is one of the first considerations for many people. Many factory jobs pay very well, but there’s a few things you might want to know before thinking of taking a job in a factory.
Factory work is repetitive. Most factory jobs consist of one person performing the same task, again and again, for the entire time you’re employed. Depending upon the factory, you could place metal parts on a ramp, over and over, or you could sew buttons on shirts, again and again. Dealing with the monotony of the repeated tasks is one of the hardest things to overcome. You’ll feel like you’re going crazy some days; other days the time will fly right by, but for the most part, the monotony is agonizing. If the particular factory allows personal radios and such, the time will go by a little easier.
Factories are often very hot or cold. It can be difficult to make hundreds – even thousands – of people comfortable, so count on a factory job being way too hot or way too cold. Most factories do not offer air conditioning, so in the summer months, prepare to perspire something awful! Personal fans are allowed at some factories which will give you a little comfort, but hot air blowing at you isn’t all that relaxing. Some factories also have poor heating systems, meaning you’ll be uncomfortably cold in the winter. Wear layers so you can remove a piece of clothing at a time, should you get too warm.
Whereas many employers can be very understanding when it comes to missing work for appointments or sick children, but in a factory, don’t count on it. Factories need all the workers to function as a team so that their quantities can be met for the day. Calling in sick and having repeated absences can spell the end of your job in a hurry.
Many factories have concrete floors, and if your job requires you to stand all day, you’ll know a new meaning to the words “aches and pains”. Standing on concrete all day will cause your legs to throb like you’ve never known. Ask if you can bring in a rubber mat to stand on while doing your job. This will give you some relief. If you’re not allowed to bring in rubber mats, be sure and put padded insoles in your shoes.
Depending upon the job you do, plan on having an aching neck, shoulders, arms, back or legs. If your job requires you to look down all day, your neck will scream in agony at the end of a day. If you’re required to place things on a ramp or belt, repeatedly, plan on tired arms that will barely function after a day at the mill. Try to lay down for an hour or so, after work, to allow muscles to fully relax for awhile. Eventually, you’ll get used to the job and the pains will ease.
Plan on doing the same job for all the years you’re employed at the factory. In some mills, workers can bid for other jobs, and transfer to different departments, but in many factories, you’re trained on one job and left there forever.
The air quality in factories in often very poor, particularly in factories which use chemicals. Cleaning solutions, adhesives, gases, and other substances can wreak havoc upon a person’s health. Factories rarely allow windows open since that can cause dust to blow in, or parts and pieces to blow around. Lack of fresh air can be irritating, to say the least.
Although factory jobs usually pay quite a bit more than a job in a restaurant or retail store, they also present their own set of challenges. Talk to others about the work and conditions in a factory that you’re considering for employment. During the interview, ask about air, heat, rubber mats and other vital information. Since many people take a factory job, and stay there until retirement, it’s pertinent that you find just the right place to work.
