2008-09-02 - Students handpicked to participate in “Engineering Leaders for the Future” program
RALEIGH, NC, September 2, 2008 . . . Representatives from all five of ABB Inc’s U.S. divisions met on August 26 with students who have graduated from universities across the country to profile the trove of engineering opportunities within the host of Local Business Units that comprise the five divisions. The students, recently hired by ABB, were handpicked for ABB’s “Engineering Leaders for the Future” program, and ABB division business professionals met with them at ABB’s division headquarters for Power Products on Campus Drive in Raleigh.
"It was exhilarating to be able to introduce a global company with so much reach, and a deep product line that is evergreen, to a room of college students genuinely interested in the future of electrical energy and a rewarding work opportunity,” said Kathleen Watson, who presented on behalf of ABB’s Automation Products division. “Employment opportunities exist all along the ABB electrical chain -- from generation through to how electricity is deployed and used inside buildings and processing facilities." Watson is the product manager for component and machinery drives lines at the company's New Berlin, WI, drives headquarters.
From Study to Employment – Rotations through Countries in N.A.
"We started the program this summer to give students with an expressed interest in engineering a very concrete track from study/graduation to employment," said Noelle Heinrich, who administers the program. Over an 18-month period, graduates with mechanical, electrical or industrial engineering degrees go through three rotations across ABB’s five divisions, and visit businesses located in the U.S., Canada and/or Mexico.
At the end of the program rotation, the graduates are sought by, and placed into, the divisions and countries that graduates identify as a high point of interest – and where ABB managers have identified the opportunities they want to place graduates into.
"ABB and this program are part of something larger than our individual businesses and divisions," said Heinrich. "Like all technology driven, and automation-based companies, ours needs to identify, attract and retain engineers who want to work in electrical, mechanical and/or industrial applications; this need is growing exponentially, right alongside the tremendous success and growth of this company!"
Watson joined fellow presenters from all ABB divisions; these presenters included: Kathy Doherty, vice president, Human Resources, Robotics and Power Systems; Connie Nigro, director, Human Resources, Power Products; Jonathan Bretzius, P.E., East Regional channel manager, Process Automation; and Erwin DiMalanta, business development manager, Robotics. Allen Burchett, vice president Strategic Initiatives, presented the Divisional business overview.
Part of a Global Enterprise
The global nature of ABB's business is attractive to students, according to the team of presenters. "We try hard to communicate that the opportunities are virtually limitless," said Heinrich, “because ABB is far flung in its geographic reach, with deep local-market service to customers; so new employees can choose among opportunities that span from the oil-sand fields of Calgary, to pursuing work in one of the most deeply funded R&D centers -- among all automation suppliers -- in Zurich, Switzerland."
Presenters noted that the “Did You Know?” series of questions they ask the students is tremendously effective in piquing interest from participants. These are questions that range from little-to-well-known facts about energy generation, transmission and usage, to facts about ABB. For example, the new hires are asked if they know: that the company’s sales exceed $30 billion annually?; that ABB is the leading motor manufacturer in the world?; that ABB has the largest market share in motor drives sales globally?
“These questions ignite the discussion and spark the students to listen even more carefully,” said Heinrich. “As part of the wrap-up to the day, we re-visit these questions and enlist the students to tell us if and how the orientation has helped them enlarge their view of their opportunities within the company. We know that these questions then become part of what attendees ask their friends and families. The facts create a lot of curiosity and excitement.”
The early success of “Engineering Leaders for the Future” is creating momentum and interest, as it continues. Watson and other presenters noted they were excited to be asked to be part of the August meeting – and already are looking forward to future gatherings with students/new hires and other potential ABB employees.
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