December 1, 2003

NC State's Engineers Get Jobs in a Downturn Economy

 — Well-Rounded Grads Heavily Recruited by Northrop Grumman ES, Baltimore

At a time when graduating seniors in the class of 2003 faced the worst hiring slump in two decades, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (ES) of Baltimore, Maryland, hired an astounding 30 new starts at North Carolina State University alone. Many corporations have been cutting back on hiring of new graduates, and most 2003 seniors across the US graduated jobless. So what does it take to be one of the select few to receive a job offer? An edge.

In the case of Northrop Grumman ES, that edge comes in the form of “strong, outstanding, ready-to-work graduates,” according to Northrup Grumman’s Eric Pearson, manager of engineering staff development. Pearson is especially interested in well-rounded individuals, such as those who are graduates of NC State’s Benjamin Franklin Scholars program, in which students are double majors in engineering and humanities.

Such graduates are naturals for Northrop Grumman’s Professional Development Program with leadership development option, a program in which new hires are eligible to apply for the leadership option as they rotate through a series of specialized units for the first year of employment.

“Ben Franklin scholars are the kind of multidiscipline engineers I search for and train for strong leadership positions that will guarantee the future of Northrop Grumman,” Pearson stated. “With this option, it is our intent to provide leadership training so these new employees can be successful leaders in three to five years, whereas in the past this opportunity wouldn’t happen until after ten or more years of employment.”

The relationship between corporations and universities is mutually beneficial; graduates of this program are highly attractive job candidates for many engineering industries, and students need jobs. The growing and successful association between Northrup Grumman and North Carolina State University exemplifies the importance of building such partnerships.

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