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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Novo Nordisk NAO 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.
Multi-Faceted and Thoughtful Approach to University Recruitment
The Early Talent Development Team at Novo Nordisk is a compact, efficient team that has been developed to sit outside of the organization’s standard recruiter workforce. Unlike other large pharmaceutical companies, this structural decision has allowed the team to be solely focused on the recruitment, development, and program management of Novo Nordisk’s Early Talent Development Programs. Not confined by traditional full-time recruitment procedures, the team has developed its strategy to be agile and adaptive to make the team’s recruitment efforts more accessible to a diverse population of students with varying needs. Some of these efforts include simplified interview structures, condensed screening experiences, attendance at on-campus and virtual informational events, and a fully virtual interview process.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Novo Nordisk has always been committed to recruiting a diverse slate of candidates. To achieve this, the team has established relationships with HBCUs and hosts specialized events geared toward the university’s student population, such as informational sessions, interview prep workshops, resume reviewing, and coffee chats. Some of these partners include Howard University and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Novo Nordisk has donated grant money to help support NCCU and other HBC’s to increase the population of diverse and highly-skilled talent in the industry. Novo Nordisk frequently recruits at large conferences like National Black MBA to support DEI&B initiatives, and has ERGS centered around its diverse workforce. The company also believes in supporting students at the local high school level, and partners with the Trenton High School and Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County. The organization works with these institutions to host volunteer days, mentorship programs, donation funds, and much more.
Impactful Internship Program
At Novo Nordisk, interns will have the opportunity to kick-start their careers by working closely with experienced industry professionals and gaining valuable, hands-on, full-time work experience. For ten weeks, interns will be immersed in the environment of a global pharmaceutical company and contribute to sustainable and meaningful project work. The program also includes an un-matched learning experience that offers vendor-led trainings, leadership engagement talks, volunteer opportunities, and company-wide events. Interns will also participate in a guided mentorship program that offers professional and personal development. As the capstone event of the program, interns will compete in the Innovation in Action Case Competition. Assigned to cross-functional teams, interns will work closely to develop an innovative solution to a business problem currently facing Novo Nordisk. At the conclusion of the program, teams will present their findings to a board of top Novo Nordisk officials.