Hired, with HR Lead Jordan Komoto, Adaptive Materials

By Jenn Cornell on July 16, 2010 Comments (2)

Jordan Komoto, HR lead with Ann Arbor-based fuel cell manufacturer Adaptive Materials, kicks off our new "Hired" series.

Filed under: Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) | Ann Arbor, MI
2Jordan Headshot.jpg

Jordan Komoto, HR lead with Ann Arbor-based fuel cell manufacturer Adaptive Materials, kicks off our new "Hired" series.  In his role at Adaptive Materials, Komoto is charged with interviewing candidates for open positions and has some pretty good insider's knowledge on the do's and don'ts of the process. 

Our Q&A with Komoto:

Q. Tell us a little bit about Adaptive Materials

A. Adaptive Materials is the leader in portable fuel cell power. Our systems power a variety of military and commercial applications and run off readily available propane. Our core values of attitude, empowerment, innovation, and growth signify a commitment to cool thinking, organizational and personal advancement, and creative freedom.

Q. What types of positions has your company filled within last year?

A. Mechanical Engineer, Test Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Controls Engineer

Q. What are the types of skills required of these positions?
A. Demonstrated experience as a successful product design, process improvement, or test and validation engineer. We look for individuals who have had proven success as an individual contributor in a collaborative environment. We don’t look for followers; we want people who have demonstrated the ability to provide leadership in their field of expertise, without necessarily having served as a manager. As a small organization, we look for individuals who will fit into the small company culture—people who are always willing to lend a hand outside of their job description and break down or simply go around barriers to get the project done.

Q. What's the top thing you look for in a new hire?
A. Confidence, competence, and a willingness to learn. A person may not be the best interviewer, but as long as they can demonstrate they are competent, willing to learn, and confident they can be successful, it will show through in an interview.


Q. What's one thing that HR managers look for in a new hire that job seekers should focus on in interviews, resumes, etc.?
A. Concise results from your previous employment. Don’t just tell us what was in
your job description; we want to know what you were able to accomplish in your
previous position(s).

2 Comments

Juan Smith on November 16, 2010 5:59 PM
With energy and fuel prices on the rise, automobile manufacturers and energy consumers abroad are constantly trying to find alternative fuel sources. Adaptive Materials, a company which manufactures portable fuel cell, is meeting that demand. With systems that power a variety of military and commercial applications that run off ready available propane, makes Adaptive Materials a leader in the portable fuel cell power. Juan Smith, EMU student tsmith68@emich.edu
Jennifer Miller on November 23, 2010 11:45 AM
Jordan Komoto is the Human Resources lead for Ann Arbor’s manufacturer Adaptive Materials, specializing in fuel cell manufacturing. Part of Komoto’s job at Adaptive Materials is to interview and hire employees for the company. In a field such as Komoto’s, working with candidates for a technology driven field, it is imperative to find capable, hardworking, and intelligent workers. A business striving to compete in technology must have employees who are current and able to think creatively. It is through a solid human resource department that this is feasible. In the interview, Komoto gave tips for interviewees. One of his tips was that he looks for, “Confidence, competence, and a willingness to learn” in possible employees. He says that even if it is not the best interview, that competence is extremely important. As a current Eastern Michigan student, I find it imperative that this knowledge be learned before entering the job market. Too many times you hear of people failing miserably in interviews and if their inner confidence would shine through they would do much better. I do not think you need to know everything about a job before you start it, employers don’t expect you to be an expert in a job you have never performed. From this interview, I have gathered it is what you are able to do, not necessarily what you have done, that matters. Jennifer Miller, EMU Student

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