.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=logo}
The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
The Kroger Co. 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
Kroger knows that interns, recent high school graduates, and those new to the workforce are an important part of the company. That's why it offers internships, full and part-time positions across all areas of the business. From Technology & Digital to Marketing, Retail Operations, Management, Transportation and more — Kroger welcomes talent from both 4-year schools and 2-year programs! Its goal is to provide opportunities for individuals to gain valuable experience and skills that will help them in their future careers, while helping them to explore professional possibilities on Kroger’s team. Kroger’s commitment to early talent and diversity represents a core foundation in developing the next generation of leaders – both internally and externally. Korger’s efforts have earned national recognition, including awards for being a #BestPlaceToWork for disability inclusion on the Disability Equality Index, for its Internship Program Management, and for being a Top 100 internship program in the country by WayUp.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
Kroger recognizes that success in today’s workforce requires more than just a degree. That's why it has prioritized connections with college campuses across the country, from large universities to small community colleges. Kroger is also diversifying the types of schools it partners with, so that it can reach students from all walks of life. As it proactively engages students where they are, Kroger is identifying top talent and helping them discover a career at Kroger. And its efforts are paying off, inspiring hundreds of students to attend its culturally diverse symposiums. Events feature agendas that not only educate about open roles, but engage in development opportunities, job searching tips, and live mentorship. Kroger has even adopted an innovative “mini-internship” career series, allowing students to gain an intimate look at various careers across the country while discovering diverse career paths of people just like them.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
As part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework for Action, Kroger has worked to ensure it is connecting with a diverse range of students across the country. The company actively takes steps to increase the diversity of its internship program. Kroger’s efforts have led to a program with 60% diversity, including 40% identifying as a POC, 38% identifying as female, and a growing number of neurodiverse interns. In 2021-2022, Kroger’s interns represented over 82 schools and 91 majors across HBCUs, HSIs, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANAPISI), Alaska Native and Hawaiian serving (ANNH), and Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI). Kroger’s university recruitment team is committed to finding and connecting with talented students from all backgrounds, and its focus is to continue to increase the diversity of its intern pool so that it can continue to reflect the demographics of its customer base and create an inclusive environment.
Impactful Internship Program
Kroger’s strategic vision for the Kroger Internship Program is to produce a consistent, defined experience with opportunities to foster professional growth and learning. What differentiates the program is that Kroger has crafted a balanced, robust experience for students. The program both aligns with the company’s EVP, while also delivering training and development programs dedicated to Gen Z’s unique needs in the workplace. With 12-week rotations offered in the fall, spring, and summer, the program provides interns a chance to experience what makes Kroger a great place to work. Interns have the opportunity to connect with senior leaders and other professionals through frequent networking and career development events, such as food for thought learning sessions with senior leaders, formalized mentorships, partnerships with young professionals associate resource groups, wellness seminars, career chats, Unconscious Bias Training, social volunteer events, and a hybrid internship appreciation summit for interns across the country.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Kroger is committed to setting its new hires up for long-term success. That's why it goes above and beyond to ensure that newly hired interns are given all the tools and resources they need to thrive in their new roles. Kroger believes that process starts in the internship experience, and extends well beyond once they’ve been hired. Kroger’s onboarding process, "A Fresh Welcome," ensures that entry-level employees are fully prepared to excel in their roles. Preboarding begins with a welcome call from the hiring manager, followed by an overview of the onboarding process and a tour of the facility. Orientation includes a review of company policies and procedures, and role-based development provides specific training for each position. By the end of the onboarding process, new hires are fully equipped to contribute to the company's success.