Jobs › Sonoco

General Laborer

Sonoco · Menasha, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Sonoco

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

You will need to get a Power Truck Operator license. Have you driven a forklift or other power truck before?

What they are checking: Whether they have experience or a willingness to learn equipment that is a condition of the job.

Tell me about your attendance at your last job. How many days did you miss, and why?

What they are checking: Whether they will show up reliably, which the posting calls crucial to the team's success.

You will work in different departments. Tell me about a time you had to switch tasks quickly.

What they are checking: Whether they adjust well to new tasks and new people without losing focus on safety.

Tell me about the most physically demanding job you have had. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can meet the physical demands of a paper mill or plant over long shifts.

What does working in a fast-paced environment mean to you, and where have you done it?

What they are checking: Whether they have proven they can keep up without getting careless, as the posting requires.

What would you do

This job rotates through 11 to 7, 3 to 11 and 7 to 3 shifts in seven-day blocks. How would you manage your sleep and life with that?

What they are checking: Whether they have really thought about a rotating schedule, which is the main reason people leave.

What would you do if you saw a coworker doing something unsafe near moving equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they would speak up or stop work rather than stay quiet to avoid conflict.

A supervisor asks you to do a task you have never done before and then walks away. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they ask for help and training instead of guessing on a job that could hurt them.

How do you stay alert and safe at the end of a long overnight shift?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize fatigue as a real safety risk on rotating shifts and have ways to manage it.

About the work

How do you make sure the product you handle meets quality standards before it moves on?

What they are checking: Whether they check their own work and catch defects instead of assuming someone else will.

Practice this interview out loud.

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

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Sonoco.

Location: Menasha, WI Position: General Laborer Pay: $27.98 Shifts: 12 hour shifts: 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am (rotating) as well as rotating 8 hour shifts during the probationary period. Employees have the potential of earning $70,000 in their first year. Employees receive shift differential and double time on Sundays. We are a 24/7 facility. From a small family business to a multi-billion dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive. Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. While reporting to the Shift Supervisor as the General Laborer, you will be responsible for supporting the production environment within our manufacturing operations. Safety, quality, productivity, and a strong work ethic are important to the Sonoco culture. You will perform tasks that are necessary to provide high quality Sonoco products in a timely and efficient manner. What You’ll Be Doing: • Collaborating closely with other departments and teams • Making incremental process adjustments, monitoring, and reporting quality results of manufactured products. • Utilizing critical thinking and troubleshooting skills to set up new jobs and operate various machines. • Safely completing specific tasks that include but are not limited to: • Operating mobile equipment, including a fork truck • Assisting with paper breaks • Creating parent roll • Threading rewinder • Separating and packaging rolls after being slit on rewinder • Retrieving/staging roll products • Retrieving tape and other packaging supplies • Finishing and packaging product • Assisting during machine maintenance outages We'd love to hear from you if you: • Have previous paper machine operating experience (preferred) or work experience in a industrial setting requiring physical labor. • Have previous Forklift experience (preferred). • Have basic computer skills and can read and use measuring devices. • Have exceptional troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities. • Have proven history of success showing excellent attendance, a positive attitude, reliability and drive, quality focus, and a commitment to safety. • Are able and available to work all shifts on a rotating schedule. • Can effectively work with a team in a fast-paced environment. • Can read and understand manufacturing instructions. • Can perform repetitive duties, climb stairs, stand for long periods of time, periodically work in hot or cold areas, multitask, lift 25 lbs. unassisted, and team lift 50 lbs. • Can handle the cold Wisconsin temperatures as well as hot and humid conditions generated from the paper machine and mill environment. • Can be Sonoco mission driven. At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee. Benefits • Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options • 401(k) retirement plan with company match • Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services • Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family • Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance • Tuition reimbursement We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

Apply at Sonoco

More general laborer roles