New state program attempts
to retain 'tech-savvy'
grads
By Anna Herkamp
Summer
Reporter
Bigger isn't always better, according to Stuart
Jones, manager of Purdue's careersINsite program.
The careersINsite is a new initiative dedicated
to battling the "brain drain" of Indiana's tech-savvy university graduates.
While many people would assume that "tech-savvy"
would only include students graduating from the Schools of Engineering
and Technology, the program also wants to reach out to students in Liberal
Arts areas such as marketing and public relations.
The program is a collaborative effort among Purdue,
Indiana University, Ball State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the
Indiana Information Technology Association.
The goal of the $1.3 million project funded by
the Retaining Technology Talent grant is to make graduates aware of
the career opportunities offered in Indiana.
Students often perceive Indiana as a place that
won't support their career goals, and we want to make them aware of
the choices they have here, Jones said.
Over the past several years, it has become apparent
that many of Purdue's most talented tech-savvy graduates leave Indiana
and go elsewhere to begin their careers.
Many companies such as IBM, Microsoft and Dell
will come to campus for big job fairs and lure Purdue graduates away
from the state in which they were educated, said Jones.
There are several misconceptions about taking a
job with a "larger" company, he said.
Much of the time, companies from Silicon Valley
will offer students competitive salaries, and this is mistaken for job
security and even greater opportunities than what they would find here,
Jones said.
"Our job is to raise levels of awareness and show
graduates that they can contribute significantly and make as much money
as they would elsewhere. We want to sell Indiana as a great place to
work and live," he said.
The problem with the start-up companies in Indiana
is that they have more trouble recruiting because their resources aren't
as great as those like Microsoft, Jones said.
CareersINsite is meant to be an educational tool
not only for the graduates but also for some of the smaller start-up
companies in Indiana. "We want these companies to have just as successful
recruitment," Jones said.
The main reason for starting a program like careersINsite
is to help benefit the state that offers the education for technology
careers, said Jones.
While Jones said he feels that there is plenty
of technology talent in Indiana, Tim Luzader, director of the Center
for Career Opportunities at Purdue feels differently.
"Indiana needs more advanced technology people,"
Luzader said.
Luzader agrees that there are many misconceptions
about moving to another state to begin a career.
Many times the opportunities and quality of life
aren't what they thought it would be, he said.
"When they realize the grass isn't necessarily
greener on the other side they come home," he said.
"Our goal is education," said Luzader. Students
need to realize the difference between having a high salary and having
a high enough salary to support the cost of living, he said.
"Other states' corporations are aggressive at seeking
talent from Indiana because they recognize the level of skills and talent
we have here; the goal of programs such as careersINsite is to try and
keep some of the talent we produce," said Luzader.
In the future, students can expect to see the careersINsite
name at job fairs as well as promotions in student organizations across
campus, Jones said.
• For more information about job opportunities
and the Center for Career Opportunities, visit the web site www.cco.purdue.edu.
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