The age gap in the electronics industry is something we discuss at nearly all our industry trade events. We have been talking about this for a few years, and it is now becoming a reality. A significant portion of our PCB designers and most experienced engineers are reaching retirement age and will be exiting the industry in the next 3–5 years. Meanwhile, collectively, there has not been enough done to help train the younger talent we have and to recruit emerging engineers to our industry. Currently, several programs are being launched and supported by industry associations to help bridge this gap. I had the opportunity to talk to an engineering student interning at a PCB fabricator for her second summer and asked her how she became interested in PCB technology. Her honest answer was that she was not aware of potential career opportunities in the electronics industry until she saw an ad posted at her college. One of the primary reasons she applied was that the opportunity would allow her to stay in the area for the summer. Since then, she has developed a broad knowledge of the industry and is planning to stay in electronics after graduation. She will certainly be an asset wherever she lands. Trying to target engineering students at the post-secondary level, SMTA is piloting a program this fall, aiming to call attention to the potential career paths in the electronics field and mentoring opportunities. I had the opportunity to sit down with Tamara Shephard, membership engagement manager at SMTA, to learn a little more.
Tara Dunn: Hi, Tamara. Thanks for taking a few minutes to talk about this new program. Before we dig into that, for those that are not familiar, can you provide a little background on what SMTA is?
Tamara Shephard: Thank you, Tara. SMTA is an international association for electronics engineering and manufacturing professionals. We offer exclusive access to local, regional, domestic, and global communities of experts as well as accumulated research and training materials from thousands of companies dedicated to advancing the electronics industry. Currently, SMTA is comprised of 55 regional chapters around the world and 29 local vendor exhibitions (worldwide), 10 technical conferences (worldwide), and one large annual meeting. Some of the greatest benefits come from the SMTA’s mission of the sharing of knowledge and best processes by bringing educational content and a global network to local regions. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students and young professionals to connect to their field domain and potential recruiters.
Dunn: Being involved at the local chapter level, I know SMTA has been working diligently to grow student membership and increase the number of student chapters. What is driving that effort?
Shephard: As we are all aware, there is a gap between retiring baby boomers and millennials. Soon, there will be a large number of retirees, and millennials will need to step in and fill those vacancies. SMTA provides both students and young professionals access to those interested in mentoring them. We have seen firsthand that when you combine the hunger of the up-and-coming engineers with experienced industry professionals and tribal knowledge, great things can happen. Sometimes, people just need an open door and a friendly face on the other side to greet them and show them the way.
Dunn: I couldn’t agree more. I encourage all of us “more experienced” people to consider mentoring. At the Upper Midwest Chapter Expo, the topic of industry recruitment came up during a breakfast discussion. We spoke at length about this looming crisis in the PCB design, fabrication, and assembly sectors, as so many industry veterans are hitting retirement age. One aspect we discussed was how do we recruit at the college or technical college level and attract emerging engineers to this industry? SMTA is planning to launch a pilot program this fall at a local university. Can you give an overview of the program you are planning?
Shephard: Absolutely! We are very excited about this new program. The intention is to create a program for engineering students that spotlights the electronics industry and gives real-world examples of the types of career paths available and the impact that the electronics field has on our lives. Our industry doesn’t rely on only one type of electrical degree—we are in need of mechanical, chemical, and process engineering studies. One of the challenges of recruiting to this industry is helping students realize that there is a career opportunity in this field, giving them the chance to make connections, and making it easy for them to seize that opportunity.
Dunn: There is a lot of competition for emerging engineering talent. What other industries are trying to promote interest in engineering and recruit young engineers? Who is our competition?
Shephard: There are so many programs starting at the high school level—and even earlier—surrounding robotics programs, gaming, coding, etc. Hopefully, we will soon be talking about clubs and courses that dive into the basics of the electronics that power these fun activities.
Dunn: Thinking of our local electronics industry, I understand you are planning to involve both local OEMs and suppliers in this program. In what ways can they participate and become involved?
Shephard: Yes, both OEMs and the local supply chain have an important presence at SMTA. Local organizations have graciously volunteered to provide technical content, participate in panel discussions, and explain the work that their organizations do. In addition to the educational piece, we are also planning to have opportunities to pair students with job shadowing, facility tours, and connections with recruiting functions.
Dunn: In addition to providing technical information, I understand you also plan to provide up and coming engineers with some of the soft skills to help guide them along their career path?
Shephard: Correct. Our programming will also be dedicated to building essential soft skills necessary for success in the industry, such as resume building, making strategic connections, career management, interpersonal skills, etc.
Dunn: Before we wrap up, can you touch on other programs SMTA has in place for postsecondary students and young professionals?
Shephard: We are expanding on Young Professional Programming both at the chapter and headquarter level. We have started providing breakfast briefings for young professionals at select expos to build this initiative. These breakfasts are a group discussion with a knowledgeable industry expert. The goal is to expand their thinking in these areas and facilitate peer connections necessary for the suc cess in the industry. We also recently released an eBook on our website dedicated to crucial soft skills as well as industry-specific knowledge and company HR contacts to aid in internship and job placements. Further, we will be expanding our Young Processionals Programming globally through our SMTA International Conference and Expo this fall in Rosemont, Illinois. This is a great opportunity for young professionals and engineers new to the industry. The first day will include six free 45-minute technical presentations by industry experts. Day two will focus on soft skill topics and includes Jim Springer, the featured speaker from John Deere, addressing leadership and career management.
Dunn: How can people get in contact with you to learn more?
Shephard: Please reach out to me through our website, www.smta.org, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.