The Choice Is Yours!

Employers are fighting for your talent

America has long been a country that is home to people with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and each year employers work hard to reflect that diversity. Not simply because “diversity” is a nice buzz word – but rather in hopes of creating a work environment that mirrors the actual world we live in. In order to compete globally, companies need to have employees that represent all social and ethnic groups, ages, and sexual orientations.

According to Camille Kelly, Diversity Employer Branding Specialist at Universum, the future looks bright for young employees with a diverse background — with employers fighting for their talent more than ever. “Attracting diverse students is high on the priority list for employers as they recognize the need for their workforce to reflect the multicultural workplace of the future,” she says.

But before you begin your career, take a minute to consider what you really want out of life. Are you a focused career climber, eager to become a partner as quickly as possible? Would you prefer to become a specialist in your field? Or are you—like many of your millennial peers—just as concerned with having a life outside of work as with stuffing your piggy bank.

On the following pages, we talk with several employers from a variety of industries to give you the inside scoop about what it’s like to work for them, what skills and qualities they’re looking for in employees, and what they do to continue working with diversity issues after you have signed on.

Also, read about the results from the Universum IDEAL Employer Survey 2007 – Diversity Edition. When diverse students consider their potential employers, diversity is high on the list. Also of concern is how that diversity is defined. In other words, what exactly is diversity? Read on and reflect upon what diversity means to you.

Maybe one of the companies in this special section could be your future employer? We wish you the best of luck with your bright future!

— the universum editorial team

Outlook: Diversity = Desirable >