INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, is visiting a number of the best colleges in the US to promote Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs in the nonwovens and engineered materials industries.
INDA is promoting STEM jobs in the nonwovens field to college students
The project, which is part of INDA’s Academic Outreach Initiative, was launched in 2017 with the creation of the new assistant director of Career Services position at INDA. Since then, the association has been working with INDA member companies to help them fill entry-level positions with promising and talented college students from flagship universities.
According to INDA, the project has been a success in its first year, leading to the development of the programme. Its Career Corner sees constant updates in the form of resumes and available entry-level, internship and career positions. Meanwhile, INDA also participates in career fairs at college universities and partners with member companies at strategic universities to actively promote and fill vacant positions in the industry.
Its plans for this academic year include conducting department-specific information sessions with interested students, participating in academic camps held at universities, and also helping member companies host field trips with their companies for half-day visits.
Commenting on the success of the initiative, Barb Hamann, PHR, SHRM-CP, corporate recruiter at Rockline Industries, says: “I have been very impressed with INDA’s strategy to partner and focus energies on building connections between students and employers in the industry.
“I am not aware of any other association that has taken this approach for building future interest and prioritising a workforce development initiative like this,” Hamann continues. INDA’s Academic Outreach Initiative has brought results for both hiring companies and job seekers.
In the academic year 2017/18, INDA met with over 2,000 college students at 18 career fairs at a dozen universities. Member companies were provided with more than 40 high-quality resumes for each career fair attended, INDA states.
Akshay Jain, a 2017 graduate of Texas Tech with a Master’s in Industrial Engineering, found a position as associate scientist, Global Product Development at Rockline Industries after working with Justin Gutierrez, INDA’s assistant director of Career Services.
Jain says: “INDA’s Academic Outreach Initiative and Career Corner was a great resource during my job search. INDA’s market analysis and news helped me in understanding the industry and Justin Gutierrez provided insight into how to match my skill set with an innovative nonwoven company.”
In a bid to help attract the next generation of nonwoven professionals, INDA’s Academic Outreach Committee and Guitierrez have been promoting nonwoven/engineered materials as a diverse, technology-oriented, exciting industry that solves real problems. Meanwhile, at career fairs, members share adjacent booths with INDA in order to position the overall industry and specific opportunities.
Companies participating in the Academic Outreach Initiative include: Berry Global, Fibertex Nonwovens, Fitesa, Freudenberg Performance Materials LP, Glatfelter, Johns Manville Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Lydall Performance Materials, Proctor & Gamble Co, Suominen and The Nonwovens Institute.
INDA will be at the following career fairs for STEM majors: Virginia Tech (11-12 September); NC State University (18-19 September); University of Tennessee (24 September); NC State University College of Textiles (26 September); Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (3 September); East Carolina (17 September). INDA will also exhibit career opportunities for all majors at Auburn University on 30 October.
For more information on the Academic Outreach Initiative, visit: www.inda.org
