Our Hiring Hero Series showcases talent acquisition pros across the globe who are dedicated to connecting people with their next great opportunity.
Jon Chin is a Talent Acquisition Leader at Sonoco, which is a leading consumer packaging manufacturer. His team recruits for thousands of roles across the globe, serving some of the world’s best-known brands.
So how does he do it? We recently sat down with him to learn about his strategies for success.
“We set aside time for our recruiters to regularly visit each of our plants. Learning first-hand about how they operate has been key to understanding the unique intricacies of every role.”
What does it mean to you to be a Hiring Hero?
“Hiring hero… I just love the phrase! To be one, you’ve got to champion candidates but also, you’ve got to get hiring managers excited about what each person brings to the table. It’s not only the candidate-facing work that’s important, it’s about making sure both sides are happy.”
Why did you decide to work for Sonoco?
“Sonoco makes my job easier because they truly value people over production. That’s why I decided to work here. The company prides itself on creating a safe work environment, negotiating fair wages, providing flexible hours, offering great benefits, and making sure everyone feels respected at work.”
Which positions do you typically recruit for at Sonoco?
“We have around 19,000 employees across 34 countries, which means we are constantly hiring for lots of different types of roles. From machine operators to process technicians and lots more, we recruit thousands of new hires every year.”
That’s a lot of jobs to fill. What’s your approach to hiring such a wide range of roles?
“We set aside time for our recruiters to regularly visit each of our plants. Right now, we have six types of plants—and they all run differently. So learning first-hand about how they operate has been key to understanding the unique intricacies of every role.”
Is that helping you edge out the competition in today’s tight labor market?
“Yes. We believe that working with our teams on-site gives us a deeper understanding of the jobs we’re hiring for. It’s been critical to our success! Instead of giving prospective candidates generic job info, we’re able to speak from experience.”
“It’s more critical than ever to be efficient with everyone’s time. Not only are we focused on simplifying the application process and creating a great candidate experience, but we want to be as transparent as possible.”
What are some other ways to provide a great candidate experience?
“Right now, we are often approaching people who are currently employed so it’s more critical than ever to be efficient with everyone’s time. Not only are we focused on simplifying the application process and creating a great candidate experience, but we want to be as transparent as possible. We spend time answering questions, explaining the expectations of the role, and understanding the candidate’s career goals upfront, which saves us a lot of time down the line.”
Jon’s Tips for the Future of Recruiting
“First, be transparent and authentic. Make sure you never waste anyone’s time and clearly communicate expectations between candidates and hiring managers. Second, do your best to accommodate a candidate’s needs. Whether it’s offering flexible hours, more pay, remote work, or something else, it’s important to keep an open mindset and if possible, find a solution that’s mutually beneficial.”
Join the Sonoco team! Serving brands across the globe, Sonoco is always on the hunt for talented professionals to fill a wide range of manufacturing roles. Take a look at some of the positions Jon and his team are hiring for right now.
