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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Caterpillar was selected as a 2024 Campus Forward Award Winner for their unwavering commitment to seeking out and hiring early career talent and investments in nurturing and retaining the next generation of diverse talent. Please see below for the highlights of their approach to early career recruitment.
Standout Candidate Experience
Caterpillar’s approach to a positive candidate experience is built through strong communication and a clear outline of expectations. Caterpillar recruiters implement a hands-on recruiting approach, which fosters a relationship with candidates. Recruiters also utilize an onboarding tracker, which allows the candidates to view, in real time, where they are in the process of recruitment. Caterpillar University ambassadors and alumni also forge positive relationships with candidates to further foster a positive experience. In addition, Caterpillar recruiters pride themselves on being able to offer conversion opportunities prior to the candidate’s current intern session coming to an end.
Impactful Internship Program
Caterpillar’s focus on an impactful intern experience is unparalleled. Internships begin with Caterpillar days of assimilation, where all interns converge upon Peoria, Illinois and become immersed in all areas of Caterpillar, beginning the stages of “yellow blood infusion”. The fun doesn’t end there. Interns have many projects such as Hackathons and Case Competitions where they can not only display their skills, but also help Caterpillar solve real-world issues. They are also exposed to “Days in The Dirt” where interns are exposed to CAT machine demos, where they can see how these extraordinary machines operate. Caterpillar also encourages all interns to participate in Employee Resource Groups, fostering a more inclusive environment and ensuring intern’s voices are heard.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Caterpillar’s focus on helping entry level hires succeed is shown in their commitment to the entry level programs. Through development and rotational programs, entry level hires are provided a strong foundation. Early talent hires are also paired with mentors, who provide invaluable guidance and advice on how to navigate a successful career. Caterpillar prides itself on providing wide career path opportunities ensuring early talent hires are not limited in their career progression. Strong employee resource groups, such as Young Professionals, also provide opportunities for entry level hires to network and make a positive impact on the company.