.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=logo}
The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Ferguson 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
Ferguson’s early career development programs offer structured, hands-on training to provide early career hires with the tools and resources to support them in their career journey at Ferguson. This approach is valuable as new associates look to build the foundation on which to grow their career. Ferguson invests in strategic campus and organization partnerships, provides mentorship opportunities, and encourages ongoing professional development for all early career hires in support of the company’s most valuable asset — their people.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
Ferguson’s early career recruiting team approaches the engagement and hiring of early career talent through the mindset of continuous improvement. As the recruiting landscape and industry dynamics are ever evolving, the team has created a flexible yet strategic approach to virtual and in-person recruiting enhanced by technology. The team planned and participated in a variety of career fairs, student organization workshops, and related events at universities across the US, to include HBCUs, HSIs, and Military-Friendly Schools. While ensuring applicants have a great candidate experience throughout their interview process, Ferguson’s early career team takes it one step further by fostering one-on-one relationships with each applicant and allowing them to work with the same recruiter through their entire candidate journey, from application to hire.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Ferguson's culture emphasizes diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Every new associate is provided the opportunity to join any of the company's four associate-led Business Resource Groups, participate in mentorship opportunities, and contribute to Ferguson Cares initiatives. The early career recruiting team continues to work on building new student club partnerships, enhancing existing relationships at partner HBCUs, HSIs, and Military-Friendly Colleges, and broadening their virtual reach using a variety of technologies. Ferguson takes their responsibilities as an employer seriously, and is committed to providing a safe and supportive working environment for all associates.
Impactful Internship Program
Ferguson offers internships that are designed to provide a professional learning experience, which also offers meaningful and practical work related to a student's career path of interest and/or field of study. These internships span a variety of business areas, to include: sales, operations, information technology, supply chain, and corporate roles, and are offered in a variety of formats as well as various times of year to allow for the flexibility that is often needed with challenging academic demands. Interns are empowered to contribute in the day-to-day operations of the company, while also having the opportunity to build relationships with business leaders.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Preparing early career talent for long-term success at Ferguson is a critical component of the company's talent strategy. All early career hires are provided with intentional hands-on training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Ferguson believes in promotion from within and advancement on merit, with the aim to provide an ongoing training and development for all associates. Finally, Ferguson understands that the company thrives when their associates are happy and healthy, which is why they go out of their way to take care of our associates and their families. This can be seen through their comprehensive benefits program that focuses on four key pillars of holistic benefits: emotional, financial, physical and social.