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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Amtrak was selected as a 2023 Campus Forward Award Winner for their unwavering commitment to seeking out and hiring early career talent, their emphasis on diversity & inclusion, and investments in nurturing and retaining the next generation of talent. Please see below for the highlights of their approach to early career recruitment.
Demonstrated Investment in Early Career Hiring
Amtrak believes the next generation is the future. Thus, its program is designed to train and develop the next generation of leaders in an inclusive environment where knowledge is cultivated, innovation is encouraged, and achievement is rewarded. That's why Amtrak's workforce, including its interns, represents the communities it services – diverse, generational, and a place where everyone adds value. Amtrak partners with a diverse list of universities, community colleges, trade schools, and high schools throughout the nation, which expands its landscape and increases its outreach in investing in individuals and a generation who may not be aware of the passenger railroad industry. The company believes in promoting from within and thus is always seeking to transition interns into its rotational programs or convert them into full-time employees.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
The university recruiting team has been able to leverage platforms such as Handshake and Symplicity to take its recruitment strategy to the next level, allowing the team to reach beyond its backyard. With these platforms, the team has been able launch recruiting campaigns nationwide, host program-specific panel discussions, information sessions, and resume-building workshops, and tap into a diverse set of candidates who may not have had exposure to Amtrak. In addition to virtual events, Amtrak attends a variety of in-person recruiting events across the US, including veterans-focused events, and those targeting selected groups (HBCUs, HSIs), and works with organizations such as the American Association of People with Disabilities to ensure it is able to accommodate all. Plus, through the campus ambassador program, the university team partners with its business lines and ERGs to ensure students are informed not only about the application process, but also about the culture and overall possibilities at Amtrak.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
The university recruitment team strives to expand on Amtrak's core value of "Doing the Right Thing” — as it believes that an organization creates the best ideas when it includes people from different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints, while embracing uniqueness and individuality. This concept trickles into the team's recruitment process, as the recruiters ensure that there are diverse applicants through the selection of schools, including HBCUs, HSIs, trade schools, community colleges, and programs such as Year Up. The team also promotes the Amtrak brand at non-traditional events, such as community festivals (Fiesta DC and local official-sponsored events). Amtrak leverages its ERGs to ensure that early talent feels supported with a network of individuals joined together based on shared characteristics, interests, or life experiences. In addition to increasing awareness through attending unconventional recruiting events and ERGs, Amtrak also offers scholarships for underrepresented students.
Impactful Internship Program
Collaboration plays a key role in everything that Amtrak does. Interns are provided with meaningful project work that allows them to interact with department leaders, as well as other interns. Through an annual Hackathon, they can form groups and collaborate on new concepts that will ensure Amtrak's success and competitiveness within the passenger railroad industry. Amtrak also understands that each intern has a set of unique strengths, and the internship program also offers professional development activities, such as Intern Lunch & Learns and access to training and skill-building courses. In addition, Amtrak programs are designed to provide participants with valuable hands-on experience, and access to a network of career professionals who are eager and ready to mentor future leaders. Amtrak believes in promoting from within and thus are always seeking to transition interns into rotational positions or convert them into full-time employees. The program goal is to convert 50% of interns into full-time employees.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Amtrak provides various different avenues for early talent to explore. The company's rotational programs offer assignments that allow employees to train, develop, and grow professionally while making meaningful contributions to the organization in such areas as Information Technology, Human Resources, Safety & Security, Government Affairs, Commercial/Finance, as well as areas aligned with its Management Trainee program for Transportation, Engineering, and Mechanical. Once onboard, new hires are provided with mentors, have access to the leadership team, and are offered ongoing professional development. They are encouraged to be involved and ask questions, which empowers them to lead. Amtrak offers a competitive market rate salary and benefits, in addition to a welcoming environment that compares to none.