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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Textron 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.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a top priority in Textron's internship, co-op, entry-level opportunities. In the recruitment space, Textron aspires to have 50% of on-campus events with DEI related groups. Noteworthy collaborations in 2023 included partnerships with SWE, NSBE, PRIDE, SHPE, and CSA. Textron believes in creating relationships with student groups on campus and going beyond just careers. Textron also sponsors diversity conferences like HBCU CDM, SASE, and SWE to source talent and support their employees’ professional growth. Textron prides themselves in their alumni involvement and encourage employees to return to their campuses, share experiences, and connect with emerging talent. Ultimately, every business unit location has their own culture and initiatives that early career employees can get involved with from day one.
Impactful Internship Program
Textron's internship program stands out as an impactful experience for early career talent. The company prioritizes relationship building, soft skill development, and technical aptitude, providing interns with a comprehensive orientation, networking opportunities with executives, and engaging projects. Placed across various Business Units, interns benefit from an exploration series to understand each unit before applying for return roles. Textron fosters a community mindset, actively connecting interns with teams aligned to their interests. As a feeder for entry-level hiring, the program ensures a seamless transition, offering returning roles to all recommended interns. Textron is proud to anticipate a 70% return rate for the talented individuals who join the 2023 internship cohort in 2024, highlighting the program's enduring impact on career development.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Textron has three main paths for candidates to join the company full-time – regardless of which path a candidate may choose, entry-level hires have ample opportunities to grow as a leader; To foster leadership growth, Textron encourages involvement in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and champions a promote-from-within culture. Leveraging Textron University's online learning platform and a robust tuition reimbursement program, Textron ensures continuous development for entry-level hires, promoting a culture of internal advancement. This comprehensive approach reflects the company’s commitment to cultivating a smooth and supportive journey for every new team member.