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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Lithko Contracting 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
As the nation's second largest concrete contractor, Lithko knows that investing in early career talent is critical to the company's continued long-term growth and success. That's why Lithko focuses on developing early career talent, in addition to recruitment and employer branding efforts. The Early Career program impacts everyone, at all levels and across the organization, through intentional development opportunities that build an innovative and talented workforce. With the best talent in the industry, Lithko will continue to be able to grow at a rapid pace — that's why investing in early career talent is a critical part of the company's strategy.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
The Early Career team at Lithko intentionally sources and recruits talent with innovative and supportive strategies. Its fall "Land the Job with Lithko" virtual event series gave over 150 students the resources they needed to write an effective resume, interview like a pro, and conquer any career fair. In addition to virtual campaigns and events, the Lithko team hosts case study competitions at industry events. The inaugural "Skills Summit'' presents a unique opportunity for first- and second-year students to attend a competition that would typically be reserved for juniors and seniors. These students learned from Lithko's industry-leading coworkers about construction methods and presented their ideas on how to take on a difficult project. Hosting events like this gives Lithko's Early Career team insight into students' critical thinking skills and demonstrates to students Lithko's commitment to talent development.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
The Early Career team at Lithko Contracting works to demonstrate that diverse skills and experiences are necessary for a successful company. Last March, Lithko hosted a panel discussion in celebration of “Women in Construction” week. During the event, a diverse group of women from Lithko shared their experiences in the construction industry. In addition to other women being inspired by these capable professionals, men who attended the event said they better understood how they could support women on their job sites and in the industry. Lithko also works to hire and support military veterans, who are often non-traditional students and have different needs throughout the interview process and as an employee. Through education and meeting individual needs, Lithko hires and retains diverse classes of early career talent.
Impactful Internship Program
Lithko Contracting's internship program provides a meaningful and impactful experience for early career talent. Interns are matched with an Integration Manager, who is responsible for ensuring continuous development through ongoing feedback. At the beginning of the experience, interns develop integration outcomes with their manager, and utilizing a proven framework, interns set measurable goals based on these outcomes, track their progress, report on success, and reflect on opportunities for improvement every other week. With a highly tailored approach that ensures accountability, Lithko sets up interns for a successful construction career. 100% of 2022 interns reported learning valuable skills and agreed they made important contributions during their internships. In addition to successful early career outcomes, serving as an Integration Manager provides a professional development opportunity for a newer co-worker to learn how to be an effective supervisor.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Lithko Contracting invests in the retention of early career talent before they are recruited. A clear planning process ensures the Early Career team understands the long-term needs of each location. They fill these needs with interns and Project Engineers (PEs) who will grow with Lithko. Defined leadership tracks are outlined during information sessions and reinforced during the interview process and orientation. PEs work towards promotion within a year of starting with Lithko by setting clear goals within their chosen leadership track. Dedicated Integration Managers ensure mentors and subject matter experts are available to teach PEs competencies needed to be effective in their next role. Lithko leaders and Early Career development specialists hold PEs accountable to specific outcomes based on their track. In addition to traditional KPIs, Lithko knows their program is successful because former PEs are excited to represent Lithko on-campus and mentor the next class of early career talent.