Jim Cummings
If you post it they will come.
That theory was borne out recently as Honda received a multitude of online applications for the first-ever positions at the Greensburg facility.
The new plant will employ 2,000 associates when it reaches full production capacity. Mass auto production begins in the fall of 2008.
Until then, only a select few positions are up for grabs in the areas of business, engineering and maintenance.
Honda won’t say exactly how many people applied for the small number of postings listed at www.indiana.honda.com but that number must have been significant.
“We were very happy with the reaction,” said Honda spokesman David Iida. “We received an overwhelming number of responses. The interest was huge.”
When Honda announced its intentions to build in Southeastern Indiana, one of the selling points was reportedly its people.
“We are more people-centered than most companies,” Edward Miller, Honda’s senior manager of public relations and government affairs said during the announcement. “Teamwork is the philosophy we build quality products around.”
Plenty of people want to be on that team. Honda posted 19 jobs on Feb. 21 and by the first week of March only eight remained active and accepting applications. Those positions are: Two manufacturing equipment engineers, facilities engineer, plastics engineer, paint engineer, programmer analyst/software developer, transportation specialist and MRO buyer.
“We really got more responses, and they came in more quickly, than we expected,” Iida said.
Now, the hard work begins. Honda human resources associates will begin weeding through potentially thousands of resumes and cover letters.
“Call backs for prospective associates will come at different times depending on the position,” Iida said. “Everyone is working as quickly as they can and is anxious to expedite the process.”
According to Honda’s Website, the bulk of the 2,000 jobs will come later. Some production hiring will occur in 2007, but the majority will take place throughout 2008.
“Because of this unique hiring schedule, all applications submitted will remain in active status for two years,” the site details.
Honda North America boasts a record of 27 years in business without ever suffering a layoff. The Decatur County location will be the sixth auto plant and Honda’s 14th major plant overall in North America.
The 200,000 cars expected to be produced locally will bring Honda’s American production to 1.6 million units annually. That is 80 percent of all the vehicles it sells in North America.
The additional employees will boost Honda’s North American workforce to more than 37,000 associates and its investment to more than $9 billion.
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