🧩 Is It Time for a Hiring Process Audit?

Kellsie Fink
Jun 10
2 min read

Why Smart Printing & Packaging Companies Reevaluate How They Hire

In today’s competitive hiring landscape, many companies in the printing and packaging industry are feeling the pressure: skilled press operators, finishing technicians, and production supervisors are harder to find—and even harder to retain. But while it’s easy to focus solely on sourcing more candidates, a more effective solution might lie in how you're hiring, not just who you’re hiring.

That’s where a hiring process audit comes in.

🔍 What Is a Hiring Process Audit?

A hiring process audit is a step-by-step evaluation of how your company sources, screens, interviews, and hires candidates. It uncovers inefficiencies, identifies candidate experience issues, and pinpoints why strong applicants might be falling through the cracks.

For printing and packaging companies, where every day of downtime is costly, tightening up your hiring process can directly impact productivity and profits.

⚙️ Why It Matters in Manufacturing Environments

The stakes are higher in our industry:

Skilled trades are in short supply, and experienced operators are fielding multiple offers.
Slow hiring processes result in missed talent—and longer equipment downtime.
Poor onboarding leads to early turnover and wasted training costs.
Inconsistent communication between HR and production teams lead to bad hires or mismatched expectations.

Hiring audits help you fix these problems before they become costly.

✅ What Does a Hiring Process Audit Include?

Here’s what an effective audit typically reviews:

1. Job Postings & Outreach

Are your ads specific and appealing to the right candidates?
Are you using the right tools to find skilled manufacturing talent?

2. Screening & Interviewing

How long does it take to respond to applicants?
Are interviewers aligned on what makes a “good fit”?

3. Candidate Experience

Do candidates understand your shift structure, pay, and culture?
Are they being ghosted—or worse, confused by mixed messages?

4. Decision-Making & Offer Process

How long does it take to move from final interview to offer?
Are your offers competitive, timely, and clearly communicated?

5. Onboarding & Retention Touchpoints

Is there a clear, structured ramp-up plan for new hires?
Are you collecting feedback during the first 30, 60, and 90 days?

📉 Common Problems We See in the Industry

Job postings are too generic and fail to attract the right candidates.
Pressroom teams and HR aren't aligned on what’s needed.
Qualified applicants fall off due to long response times or confusing interview processes.
Lack of follow-through after the offer can lead to no-shows or cold feet.

🛠 How We Can Help

At Flexo Finders & Print Pack Careers, we don’t just place candidates—we help companies improve how they hire.

Through our Hiring Process Audit Service, we partner with printing and packaging companies to:

Map out your current hiring workflow
Identify breakdowns and bottlenecks
Suggest ways to streamline communication
Improve candidate experience from first contact to first day
Train teams on interviewing and onboarding best practices

Whether you're growing fast, struggling with turnover, or just want to tighten up your process, we’ll tailor a solution that fits your plant—and your people.