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Advanced Operator - Night Shift

Plastipak · Champaign, IL · $21.00–$23.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about preventive maintenance or minor repairs you've done on equipment.

What they are checking: Whether they have the mechanical skills to keep drying and conveying equipment running.

Part of this job is giving guidance to line utility workers. Tell me about a time you showed someone how to do a task.

What they are checking: Whether they can guide others patiently, since the advanced operator role leads by example.

This is 12-hour night shifts on a rotating schedule. How have you handled shifts like that before?

What they are checking: Whether they are ready for the schedule, which predicts whether they will stay in the role.

Plastipak talks about being one of America's Safest Companies. How do you contribute to safety on a shift?

What they are checking: Whether they see safety as their own responsibility, not only a rule set by management.

What would you do

This is a food-grade plant. What would you do if you found something that could be a food safety issue?

What they are checking: Whether they report food safety concerns right away to someone with authority to act, as required.

Two machines are about to run low on material at the same time. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they plan ahead and prioritize so the press floor is not starved of material.

About the work

How do resin dryers work, and why does drying matter before material reaches the injection machines?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that wet resin causes defects, so the dryers are part of product quality.

The material conveying system stops feeding one machine. What do you check?

What they are checking: Whether they can troubleshoot loaders, filters, vacuum and blockages to keep material flowing.

What readings would you check on your rounds, and how would you know something was off?

What they are checking: Whether they know normal ranges and spot trends early instead of waiting for an alarm.

How do you keep foreign material and contamination out of the resin supply?

What they are checking: Whether they take material handling seriously, since contamination can reach a food or beverage container.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Plastipak from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Plastipak.

As an Advanced Production Technician, you will operate the conveying and drying equipment necessary to ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials to the Injection machines. At our company, we're committed to quality products & a positive team culture. We’re also proud to be recognized as one of America’s Safest Companies by EHS Today. We Offer • Set Schedules : 12-hour shifts & a rotating 2-week standard schedule of 3 days, then 4 days is 15 working days a month as a full-time associate! • Stability & Growth: We follow a strong promote-from-within business practice and offer a stable job through current market uncertainty! • Convenience: Our food-grade clean & climate-controlled facility is located right off I57 and I-72! You Will • Report food safety issues to personnel with authority to initiate action • Operate dryers and other equipment to ensure uninterrupted flow of raw materials to the injection machines • Perform preventative maintenance and minor mechanical repairs. • Perform regular checks and readings, and regularly monitors materials flows • Provide functional guidance to line Utilities as needed You Have • Ability to work nights: 6:45 pm - 7:15 am on a cycle of 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off, repeat. This equates to 2 weekends per month off with a 3-day weekend • High School Diploma, GED or equivalent • Minimum of 1 year of experience operating manufacturing machines & equipment. • Excellent mechanical skills, exhibited by related mechanical experience • Hydraulics, pneumatics & electrical mechanical basic knowledge • Ability to troubleshoot & problem solve • Familiarity with computer applications • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without a reasonable accommodation You’ll Earn • $21-23 an hour, based on experience • Night shift includes a shift differential of $1.00 As a Plastipak Associate, you receive a benefits package offering the following: • Wellness Programs • Health Insurance Coverage, including Medical, Dental & Vision • EAP, Employee Assistance Program • Life Insurance • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance • Disability Insurance: Short-Term & Long-Term • Accidental Insurance • Critical Illness Insurance • Hospital Indemnity Insurance • 401(k) Plan, with Company Matching Contribution & Profit Sharing feature • Paid Time Off - 80 hours within 1st year & subsequent increases • Paid Company Holidays • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account • Caregiving via Care.com • Pet Insurance • Tuition Assistance Program • Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program • Travel Assistance • Employee Discount Programs *Some benefits are subject to eligibility requirements Plastipak is an Equal Opportunity Employer In order to process your job application, Plastipak collects and stores the personal information that you submit via this website. Please refer to Plastipak’s Privacy Policy to understand how Plastipak uses and protects the information that you provide.

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