The Engineering Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations is committed to supporting students from all backgrounds in our career coaching, programming, and approach to cultivating employer partnerships. We seek to reinforce a sense of belonging for all students in Auburn Engineering and offer a place of welcome, support, and empowerment as you design your career.

Awareness, Attitudes, & Advocacy

As you explore opportunities aligned with your interests and motivations, it's important to recognize that employers increasingly value the ability to engage with people from diverse local and global backgrounds. Demonstrating cultural awareness, human-centered awareness, and interpersonal skills is a key career readiness competency - one that many organizations reflect in their values, policies, and workplace practices.

  1. Participate in employer information sessions, career fairs, and campus recruiting to learn about company culture and employer practices. 

  2. Check out the articles and websites below for tips on how to conduct your research, questions to ask, and to identify companies that have been recognized for their commitment to a diverse workforce and a culture of belonging for all employees.

Examine the company’s recruiting practices.

  • Participate in employer information sessions, career fairs, and other campus recruiting events where you can talk with a company recruiter. Ask questions such as
    • Can you tell me about your company’s current hiring initiatives?
    • Are there any initiatives currently in place to diversify the company’s workforce?
  • Talk to current staff at the company and get their perspective. You can reach out to professionals and learn from their experience by conducting an informational interview.
  • Search the sources below including professional associations and job boards to find resources, networking opportunities, and special programs. 
  • Access company-specific websites and search for the Careers section of the website. Unique programs for specific hiring initiatives can often be found in these sections.

Learn about the company culture and find out if there are employee programs in place to help foster a culture of belonging for all employees.

Sample Questions

  • What are your most important values as a company?
  • In what ways does this company support a diverse workforce?
  • Is there an employee interest group for staff with my shared identity?
  • What percentage of employees make up that identity group?
  • What percentage of employees in this identity group are executives and managers?
  • What groups do you consider underrepresented, and how is the leadership team taking steps to hire and empower people who fit that category?
  • Do your employees participate in diversity training, such as unconscious bias or cultural competency training?
  • Do you allow job candidates to tour the office or facility prior to accepting a job offer?

Investigate where and with whom the company does business. Review the company’s anti-discrimination policies and research the company’s compliance with federal laws.  Evaluate the benefits package. Look for components such as:

  • Compliance with Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employment
  • Childcare resources and dependent care benefits
  • Parental leave benefits
  • Employee health and wellness benefits
  • Pay equity standards
  • Retirement plans
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Health savings accounts
  • Learn more about components of a job offer

How Career Coaches Can Help

Engineering Career Coaches can help you find opportunities to explore careers, connect with professionals, and consider ways that will help you assess if a company is right for you.

For example, a Career Coach can help you navigate questions such as:

  • Do I share my identity in the application process?
  • How can I access mentors in career fields of interest to me?
  • Are there particular employment opportunities and internships accessible to students with my specific identity or background?

 

Resources, Empowerment & Support

We have included specialized career information below to assist students in their career development and shed light on relevant topics based on identity group. If you identify with a group not listed here and are seeking career resources, please contact the Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations at engcdcr@auburn.edu.