Some of the most lucrative opportunities for college graduates are in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, yet women and certain minority groups continue to lag behind in their representation in those sectors. However, the cultural tide has started to shift as an increasing number of high-profile companies are ramping up their efforts to diversify their workforces. At Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), corporate partnerships and career specialists are helping women and minority students land positions at prestigious companies.
“The STEM fields have had difficulty recruiting minorities,” said Rita Griffith, corporate relations coordinator for the Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement at the College of IST. “In turn, companies have really tried to find diverse, well-qualified people for their talent pool.”
While companies have been promoting diversity for decades, said Madhavi Kari, director of the career solutions office, awareness has been growing recently about the need for well-balanced representation in the technology field. According to a recent article on engadget.com, Google released internal data last year revealing that almost all of its workforce was male, and nearly all of them were from either white or Asian backgrounds. In an attempt to make itself more diverse, the company is putting $150 million into programs to help increase the number of female, black and Hispanic employees.
According to Griffith, the College of IST is in sync with the national trend of tech companies striving towards diversity and inclusiveness. One of the distinguishing features of career solutions is its Corporate Associates Program, which provides an opportunity for companies to develop long-lasting, strategic partnerships with IST. The companies are actively engaged in diversifying their talent pools. EY, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG and the National Security Agency (NSA) have invited students to events focusing on diversity. Those companies (along with others) help to support the Women in Business’ “Powerful Women Paving the Way” conference in the spring of each year.
“I believe that all of our corporate associates have a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness within their companies,” Griffith said.
Thompson Harner, a campus recruiter for EY and a 2003 Penn State graduate, said that his company’s strategy of “diversity and inclusiveness” is designed to maximize the potential of its talent pool and develop innovative solutions for its customers. He said that EY is committed to diversity in a broad sense that not only includes race and gender but also age, culture, life experiences, sexual orientation and physical ability. As a multinational professional services firm, EY offers assurance, tax, consulting and advisory services to companies. To develop sound solutions for its customers, Harner said, EY employees need to approach problems from a variety of aspects and angles. Diverse teams are a key component in stimulating innovation and solving problems.
“We encourage people to be themselves and to really bring their uniqueness to the firm,” he said.
Harner, who recruits students from the College of IST, the College of Engineering and the SmealHYPERLINK "http://www.smeal.psu.edu/" College of Business, said that EY conducts different types of programs and outreach activities to draw students to the company, including women and members of minority groups. EY's Launch Internship Program is tailored especially for accounting or related business majors from underrepresented groups in the profession who are two or more years from final graduation. Last year, he said, Penn State had four Launch interns, and this year there are 12 -- a 200 percent increase.
As part of an effort to attract women to technology careers, EY is hosting the first Women in Technology Consulting Conference (WIT) Aug. 17 and 18, in New York City. Attendees will be able to learn more about EY culture, people and technology-oriented practices while forging relationships with EY employees and fellow students.
While IST career fairs such as Pro Expo and Future Forum are useful in scouting talent, Harner said, he finds it more rewarding to network with students one-on-one. He hosts events with student groups such as Women in IST (WIST), whose purpose is to promote a sense of unity among the women of IST by offering networking opportunities, career resources, community and academic presentations, and leadership training. He also gives presentations in classes during the semesters.
“Sharing professional development activities with students helps me get to know them better, and we build connections that way,” Harner said.
The career solutions office is committed to helping build a more diverse workforce in the STEM fields, Kari and Griffith said. At recruiting events, Griffith said, an effort is made to feature “strong women executives” to serve as inspiration for potential female applicants. In addition, the office partners with student organizations that promote diversity in STEM fields, such as the Society of Women Engineers, and with other offices on campus, such as the Office of Disability Services.
According to Kari, getting more females to be interested in pursuing careers in technology requires a concerted effort from secondary schools and universities. Young women need to be targeted early in their academic careers, since it is highly unlikely that they would decide to major in IST after deciding on a non-technical field of study. The reasons for females veering away from STEM careers run deep, Kari said, including having parents who adhere to traditional gender roles and media representations of “computer geeks.” However, she said, those long-held notions are now being challenged by young women who are breaking the mold and pursuing careers in science and technology.
“Moving forward, I think you’re going to see an upward trend of girls thinking that computers are cool,” Kari said.