A future in the optical industry

One of my favourite anecdotes goes like this. In 1961, US President John F. Kennedy was visiting NASA headquarters for the first time. During his tour of the facility, he saw a janitor mopping the floor and asked him what he did at NASA. “Well, Mr. President,” he replied, “I’m helping put a man on the moon!”

I love this story because it tells me three things which are vital for my work:

1. It’s important to give all employees a sense of purpose.
2. One of the things a good leadership culture thrives on is respectful interaction with each another.
3. It’s easier to be proud of employers who do cool things.

I’ve already explained how we live leadership culture at asphericon in my article on corporate culture at tech companies. I’ve also written about the optical industry’s contribution to inspiring areas like space travel and the film industry. This time, however, I’d like to explain what career opportunities are available in our industry, and how we can make it more attractive to jobseekers.

An industry with great prospects

I can think of few other sectors whose prospects for the future are as good as those of the optical industry. This is partly down to the areas in which we operate, for photonics has a crucial role to play in aerospace, manufacturing, medical engineering, and every other field where optical components are needed. And it’s also reflected in the figures published by the photonics trade association Spectaris in its 2019 Trend Report. For example, total sales for the approximately 1,000 German companies were predicted to reach €39.6 billion in 2019, a substantial increase from €31 billion in 2016, while the number of employees looked set to rise from 124,000 to 142,100. Adding figures from related sectors, the BMWi German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy even estimated that there are as many as 2,540 companies with around 328,000 employees. Photonics is therefore growing and prospering, and is active in areas with plenty of future potential.

Opportunities for everyone with technical ability

The skills sought among potential employees are just as diverse as the areas in which photonics is applied. What all potential employees need is basic technical awareness. There’s almost always an opportunity for anyone who meets this requirement to have a career in photonics. Dental technicians and bricklayers, for example, have already found a new professional home in our industry.

While the practical relevance of most apprenticeships is plain, the options after a university degree are almost unlimited. When I began studying computer science, little did I know that one day I’d find myself working in photonics. Today, of course, I’m well aware that a software-controlled process forms the basis for the production of high-quality aspherical lenses.

Good new talent needs easily accessible information

In order to find suitable junior staff, potential recruits have to be made aware of the professional opportunities available. After all, what good are exciting job offers if no one can find them?! First of all, employers need to do their bit by making their job advertisements appealing. However, the optical industry, which is full of SMEs, finds it extremely difficult to attract attention in the wider region, let alone nationwide. This is due not only to limited human and financial resources, but also to the low profile of the companies themselves. For example, the most attractive job ad on asphericon’s website is unlikely to prevail against the vacancies advertised by any blue-chip corporation.

German skilled crafts point the way forward

Since 2010, the ZDH German Confederation of Skilled Crafts has been demonstrating how to raise the profile of skilled trades with a sophisticated national campaign. Fronted by its current slogan “We know what we’re doing”, individuals from the skilled crafts sector are presented on the website (www.handwerk.de/) along with their backgrounds and careers. The site also contains a search function so that applicants can find suitable firms to contact nearby. In addition to TV adverts, the campaign also includes billboards and social media posts.

Since the campaign has been running for more than a decade, we can assume that the members of ZDH must be pleased with its success. Admittedly, with an annual budget of around €10 million, the skilled crafts sector has more resources at its disposal than our own industry. But photonics could certainly learn a lot from this way of approaching young people, which is unique in Germany.

A central campaign could reinforce local initiatives

We, too, need a central source of information to interest our young target group early on and keep apprising them of their professional opportunities in our sector. Merely designing a brochure and placing it on our websites is no longer enough, not by a long chalk. Mind you, try searching the web for brochures on jobs in precision optics! All I found in the top search results was a booklet about apprenticeships in optical technology in the Baden Würtemberg region. A nicely produced publication by the business development corporation of Jena and the OptoNet industry association ekes out a regrettably shadowy existence on OptoNet’s website – and can’t even be found with a search engine! Meanwhile, in the social media – which is where young people are likely to look first – the brochure can’t be found at all.

This is where we have to start, which is why I’m calling for a nationwide campaign to seek young talent. We need to overcome our local barriers and draw more attention to photonics in a joint campaign. Far from competing with local recruitment drives, this campaign could actually strengthen them. In March and April, for example, when the first Trainee Safari was held in Jena, one of the areas it focused on was optics. And since this event was held online, it would have been just as interesting for school students outside Jena.

The best minds of today for the best minds of tomorrow

Stefan Klein begins his book How We Change The World with the sentence: “All creative thinking springs from the interaction of many people.” Over the past twenty years at asphericon, I’ve met impressive people who’ve done a lot for the optical industry, especially in the regional innovation networks of OptecNet. We need these minds now so that together we can pave the way for photonics in the years to come.

A national recruitment campaign for young talent and an attractive information platform are essential if we’re to pass on this enthusiasm to the next generation. They must be a central port of contact for young people and provide information on the channels that young people expect. I can easily imagine our industry association Spectaris becoming the initiator of this campaign – naturally with the involvement of our regional innovation networks. After all, we all agree that a career in photonics is a decision for the future – so let’s get to work!

Yours Sven Kiontke