With a recovering economy, the market for STEM employees is becoming increasingly competitive and supply is often not able to meet demand. The challenge of attracting and maintaining potential talented employees can be more difficult in some geographic locations. This session discusses the multiple initiatives that General Dynamics Mission Systems has taken to attract and retain employees in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.
This session will describe how General Dynamics collaborated with other local companies to engage talent through a county-wide internship program that allows interns an opportunity to learn about other companies within the county, participate in social and cultural activities as well as professional development activities in the region and to network with potential colleagues. Additionally, the company has introduced several programs that inspire interest in STEM at an early age including:
- Annual High School Robotics Competition
- Shadow Day/Facility Tours
- After School Engineering Program
- DIGITS program
General Dynamics believes that programs and opportunities that engage students' interest throughout their education and as they enter the workforce is an effective approach for recruiting young employees. Providing tools and mentoring programs for career development assists in retaining and growing the skills of that workforce. This session is an opportunity to share these processes and solicit best practices from other STEM professionals.