Encourage New College Graduates to Explore Careers Locally
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSummertime is my favorite time of year, with all of the outdoor events, concerts and activities in and around Indianapolis. Summer is also a pivotal time of year for thousands of Indiana college graduates as they look forward to moving into the next phase of their adult lives.
For many college graduates, the next step after graduation is starting a career. Many graduates from Indiana colleges and universities have also grown up in Indiana. Now they want a change. Perhaps the lure of year-round sunny weather or a larger city is enticing. Maybe they think Indiana doesn’t offer the career they’re looking for.
I can relate. In 2010, before my family and I left Tucson so I could take a job at Roche, I’d never been to Indiana. All I knew was what I’d learned from watching the movie Hoosiers. Soon, I realized there was so much more to Indianapolis than basketball and corn. That first year we attended Colts, Pacers and Indians games. We went to the Children’s Museum and visited Conner Prairie. We tried many amazing restaurants. But my absolute favorite thing about Indy is how welcoming and connected everyone is. You’re never more than one or two degrees away from someone who can help you.
As Indiana business leaders, we are all working diligently to secure the very best talent. I hope you’ll join me in encouraging new college graduates to take a closer look at Indianapolis and what it has to offer:
- Affordability: Indianapolis is one of the most affordable cities in the United States, giving employees more money to spend on the arts, sports and culture that abound in Indianapolis. Roche recruits are always thrilled to learn about the low cost of living, especially when they realize how much that increases their quality of life.
- Career opportunities: Central Indiana is internationally recognized for its bioscience and technology industries, especially pharmaceuticals, medical devices and agriculture. High-paying jobs in these areas, as well as in all areas of technology, medical and life sciences, continue to grow here. Working for an Indiana-based global company offers many travel and advancement opportunities – all within the same organization.
- Strong connections: It’s incredible how well companies work together for the greater good. For example, several Indianapolis companies are working to create a strong sense of community among their interns, encouraging them to stay after graduation. The inaugural Indyfluence event on July 18 will enlist more than 400 interns from several companies to join forces on more than 10 community service projects, followed by a networking event. No other city offers anything like this.
Another great example is IndyHub, an organization that connects people in their 20s and 30s with people, places, opportunities and organizations throughout Indianapolis. Through fun networking and volunteer events, IndyHub helps young professionals learn about and become more invested in our great city.
We have a wealth of young talent graduating from our world-class Indiana universities. Let’s work together to remind these talented graduates they don’t need to venture to the coast or overseas to find a challenging career and a city they are proud to call home.
Bridget Boyle is vice president and site head, human resources for Roche Diagnostics Operations.