How to hire a mold maker apprentice

How to hire a mold maker apprentice, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mold maker apprentice hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mold maker apprentice job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mold maker apprentice
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your mold maker apprentice job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a mold maker apprentice for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A mold maker apprentice's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mold maker apprentices from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of mold maker apprentices.

   Type of Mold Maker Apprentice	Description	Hourly rate
   Mold Maker Apprentice	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$16-33
   Grinder	Depending on the industry, a grinder has a diverse range of duties. Typically, they oversee setting up and operating bearing grinders, cam grinders, and CNC lathes... Show more	$12-19
   Computer Numerical Controller Machinist	A computer numerical controller machinist is responsible for operating computer-based equipment, creating new machine components by programming, and evaluating machine blueprints. Computer numerical controller machinists must have extensive knowledge of the technology industry to understand its complexities and define accurate solutions, as well as excellent analytical skills for calculation requirements... Show more	$14-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Grinders
   • Calipers
   • CNC Machines
   • Manual Lathes
   • EDM
   • Cranes
   • Cad Cam
   • Mold Components
   • Plastic Injection Molds
   • Machine Shop
   • CAD
   • Mold Maintenance
   • Drill Press
   • Shop Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Learned all manual tool room machines including, but not limit to, mills, lathes and surface grinders.
   • Work in the manual machining department with the ability to run various mills, grinders and lathes.
   • Perform all aspects of producing prototype molds including the use of CAD/CAM software to aid in design and machining.
   • Operate variety of CNC equipment, programme with Cimatron CAD/CAM software, perform inspection on parts, aid in process refinement.
   • Coordinate international sample/model making for costume jewelry
   • Work with Okuma, Fanuc, Cincinnati, Terra, Toshiba & Allen Bradley CNC controls.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mold maker apprentice job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A mold maker apprentice can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, mold maker apprentices' average salary in south dakota is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mold maker apprentices 49% less than senior-level mold maker apprentices.
   • Certifications. A mold maker apprentice with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a mold maker apprentice's salary.

   Average mold maker apprentice salary

   $49,696yearly

   $23.89 hourly rate

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   Entry-level mold maker apprentice salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a mold maker apprentice job description

   A job description for a mold maker apprentice role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a mold maker apprentice job description:

   Mold maker apprentice job description example

   This manufacturing position earns a competitive wage of $21 - $23 . We provide exceptional benefits , including medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability insurance, a matching 401(k) plan, health savings account (HSA), paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), supplemental life insurance, an employee assistance program (EAP), and company-paid continuing education. If this sounds like the right mold-making opportunity for you, apply today!

   ABOUT MSI MOLD BUILDERS

   Since 1971, we have been using the most innovative plastic technologies and designs to deliver high quality, low maintenance, and efficient plastic molds! From designing and building various types of steel and aluminum molds for injection, structural foam, rim, blow, gas assist, structural web processes as well as aluminum limited-production injection molds. As the #1 choice in the plastic industry, we take care of everything, including design, creation, and installation. Our clients are diverse, but no matter if our products are for the medical equipment, agriculture, automotive, or heavy trucking industry, we have a product for them!

   Our team is filled with hardworking professionals. We value their time, skills, and experience and ensure that they are being taken care of. In order to ensure the success and happiness of our employees, we provide them with great benefits, a supportive company culture, and opportunities to thrive and contribute to a high-demand market .

   A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MOLD MAKER APPRENTICE

   As a Mold Maker Apprentice, you are an essential pillar of support for our assembly team to rely on! You arrive each day ready to apply your manufacturing skills and work as a team to complete various mold-making projects. You use your skills and experience, to operate equipment, including a surface grinder, manual mill, drill press, and spotting press. With your strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical assemblies and sub-assemblies, you use various kinds of hand, electronic, and pneumatic tooling. You enjoy reading blueprints and using your ingenuity to find ways to accurately and efficiently finish mold-making projects. You also coordinate with your assembly team members and attend company meetings. Your efforts keep our assembly team supported and our manufacturing projects running seamlessly!

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS FOR A MOLD MAKER APPRENTICE

   • 1+ years of industry experience
   • Journeyman toolmaker education
   • Ability to read blueprints
   • Ability to perform the physical demands of this position

   Mold-making experience would be ideal! Are you detail-oriented and organized? Do you have excellent communication skills, both in writing and verbally? Are you an excellent problem solver? Do you keep your composure in stressful situations? If yes, you might just be perfect for this toolmaker position!

   
   

   WORK SCHEDULE FOR A MOLD MAKER APPRENTICE

   This toolmaker position works a full-time schedule!

   
   

   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR MANUFACTURING TEAM?

   If you feel that you have the right toolmaker background for this assembly job, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!

   Location: 52404

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5. Post your job

   To find the right mold maker apprentice for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with mold maker apprentices they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit mold maker apprentices who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mold maker apprentice job on Zippia to find and recruit mold maker apprentice candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting mold maker apprentices requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mold maker apprentice

   Once you have selected a candidate for the mold maker apprentice position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new mold maker apprentice. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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