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      Change, Community, And Career Acceleration: Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Approach To Fostering Diversity

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      If you’re like most people coming out of school right now—aka 77 percent of Gen Z students and recent grads—then you’re looking for a company that values diversity and inclusion (D&I). But what does that really mean? Is it as simple as joining a diverse team? What else should you be looking for in a company?
      These are big questions for anyone to be asking, but the team at Thermo Fisher Scientific—a Fortune 200 science company dedicated to making the world healthier, cleaner, and safer—have come up with a few answers. One of the most important is their multiple diverse, global Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
      So, What Are Employee Resource Groups? How Are They Different At Thermo Fisher?
      If you’ve done a corporate internship or been on the job hunt lately, then maybe you’ve heard about ERGs. They exist to provide additional community and support to specific groups and identities at large companies. For example, a company might have a group based around African Heritage identity or one for employees who served in the military.
      Almost all of these groups put together events like volunteering in the local community and networking sessions, but at Thermo Fisher they take it a step beyond to fully support and foster inclusion amongst all of their colleagues. Their ERGs draw colleagues together around common characteristics and provide a voice of diverse thinking. ERGs positively impact the company’s growth and development, and assist in providing thought leadership for:
      Recruitment and retention
      Education and training
      Professional development
      Community involvement
      Support and recognition
      Business development
      Activities that support a diverse and inclusive work culture
      One way they are supported is through active involvement at the C-level. “At Thermo Fisher we have senior-level leaders at our organization who sponsor and help promote the ERGs,” says Cheryl, a Talent Acquisition D&I leader at Thermo Fisher. “They’re a direct line to executives on how to build more diverse teams and more welcoming communities for everyone.”
      This means when someone has an idea that can help Thermo Fisher be a more inclusive community or build a more diverse team, they can assist and offer their support to make it happen.
      Perhaps someone in the Women’s ERG knows about Women in STEM groups at colleges that could help bring in more female tech talent. Or maybe someone noticed that a cultural event or holiday was going unrecognized by the company. These ERGs give people a platform to not only share their perspectives, but also to have them be heard and acted on.
      Finding Your Community, Bringing Your Whole Self To Work
      The truth about inclusion is that it’s not just a set of policies or practices. It’s about making sure everyone can find community at work so that they feel comfortable enough to be themselves. Besides the obvious benefits for morale and mental health, when people with diverse perspectives feel comfortable bringing their unique ideas to their work, it has a proven, positive impact on the quality of business decision-making.
      “If someone doesn’t feel a sense of inclusion or belonging they may not bring as much of themselves to work,” Cheryl explains. “And we work hard to build a diverse team because we want their unique perspectives.”
      These groups, by creating a community for everyone at Thermo Fisher, can bring out all of those positive benefits, both for the employees and the business. That’s also why the groups aren’t limited to just the traditional understanding of diversity, like ethnicity and gender.
      “Our groups cover a broad spectrum of interests and identities from ethnicity and gender to early talent, sustainability, working parents, and community action,” Cheryl explains. “Our colleagues have formed 10 different ERG groups, with more opportunities to come.”
      All That, Plus They Can Help Accelerate Your Career
      At Thermo Fisher, D&I is a team effort. And that effort can mean opportunities for people at all stages of their career to take on new types of challenges. Plus, thanks to the buy-in from leaders at the company, you’ll be supported in balancing the work of your primary role and your assistance in groups like this.
      That’s why getting involved with ERGs at Thermo Fisher is a win-win. The company benefits from your perspective and action, and you benefit from a more developed network and unique career opportunities.
      One member of the university recruiting team, Emily, noted that, “interns who have been heavily involved in ERGs during their internship are much more likely to receive full-time offers because of all the connections they made during the summer”
      One such success story is Sophia, an emerging leader in the company’s IT Development Program. Her involvement with the Asian and Women’s ERGs as an intern led to leadership opportunities in those groups when she joined back with the company full time.
      “I joined these ERGs as a way to be more engaged and involved in the community,” Sophia says. But when she took on leadership roles in the ERGs, she got way more than just that.
      “This is different from my day job and it exposes me to other functions, too,” Sophia says. ‘It has also been a great way to get my voice heard and network with executive leaders.”
      This type of company-wide idea sharing and collaboration isn’t just what makes D&I initiatives work at Thermo Fisher—it’s what drives the whole business.
      Want to learn more about this uniquely diverse team? Check out open opportunities at Thermo Fisher on WayUp!
      You can also learn about Thermo Fisher Scientific’s ERGs on their website. More

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      Why joining a virtual info session can change your career

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      Why joining a virtual info session can change your career
      In the midst of a pandemic, typical ways of meeting recruiters and expanding connections through means such as career fairs have been put on hold. Information sessions that students and recent graduates are used to are not happening and finding an internship or a job has been more difficult than ever in recent months. This does not mean that companies aren’t sharing knowledge and opportunities with young talent. Virtual information sessions hosted by company recruiters, universities, or career sites like WayUp’s Lunch and Learn Series, are still connecting young professionals with mentors and career opportunities as well as providing information and knowledge that can change your future.
      Why Attend An Information Session?
      Attending an info session first and foremost shows that you are both interested in the company or subject, and are proactive in advancing your career.  They also provide valuable insight into the career that you are pursuing. For example, past guests at WayUp’s Lunch and Learn series included: Michael Seibel co-founder of Twitch and current CEO at Y Combinator, Cathy Polinsky, CTO at Stitch Fix, and Dan Rosensweig, CEO of Chegg.  At the top of their fields, these presenters and those to come next can share advice to help advance your current career path and expose you to a different opportunity you were not aware of before. 
      Information sessions with specific companies reveal what recruiters in a certain field are looking for in qualified candidates, and what roles are currently available. Most of the time, the company hosting the session will offer interviews to the attendees of the session! Even if an interview is not guaranteed after a session, you now have the knowledge and insight to bring to your future job application, use it as an interview talking point, or create networking opportunities through digital connections. This is especially important for recent graduates who are looking for that perfect entry-level position. 
      How Can I Prepare?
      Simply researching the company, and the individual speaking is the best way to get the most out of a virtual info session. You may not be able to speak one on one with the presenter since it is a large video conference, but being able to make connections between your research and the presentation is a great strategy. Come with a list of questions for a potential Q&A or just to even keep track of personally for potential future interactions or job applications.
      What About After?
      If a Q&A session does happen, be sure to ask well-thought-out questions.  A good question shows that you were engaged throughout the presentation and can help you to stand out for any future opportunities at the company. 
      Share your findings from the session on social media! Posting about the session and tagging the company or speaker, can help you stand out and improve your professional network. Lastly, remember to follow-up! Chances are the leaders volunteering to put on info sessions are open to connecting with young talent.  Use the notes that you took during the session to find what really grabbed your attention and start a conversation! Sending a follow-up email with questions about what interested you in the presentation or their career path can be a great way to build a new connection and grow your network.  
      Where Can I Find Them?
      Tons of companies are hosting information sessions over the next few months! We’ll be keeping the list below updated with all the different sessions hosted by WayUp—so be sure to check back here to see them all and apply! More

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      3 Ways L’Oréal Is Helping Their Communities In The Wake Of COVID-19

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      Everyone has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The physical and financial health of millions of people has been threatened by this unprecedented disruption. Seeing this, L’Oréal immediately leveraged its status as a global beauty tech giant to help the communities it serves—and beyond—through a response effort focused around three pillars:
      Ensuring the health and wellbeing of L’Oréal employees
      Galvanizing the company to contribute to the greater good
      Taking this time to transform the way L’Oréal works
      While the company was quick to enact protective measures for its employees, like work-from-home policies and stringent cleanliness procedures for manufacturing environments, some of the most important work was done to protect communities outside the company.
      1. Looking Beyond The Beauty Community—And Galvanizing Employees To Do The Same
      When you’re a global manufacturing and supply chain leader, you have the power to mobilize quickly to make impact when faced with a pressing need. Immediately after the pandemic began, L’Oréal facilities around the world began creating and packaging hand sanitizer for essential workers, healthcare facilities, and care homes.
      As a part of their global COVID-19 relief efforts, L’Oréal donated $250,000 to Feeding America, which helps combat food insecurity caused by poverty, a problem which has grown since the start of the pandemic. In Europe, the L’Oréal foundation donated one million euros to its partner non-profit organizations fighting similar forms of insecurity across the Atlantic.
      As the company outlined in its official COVID-19 response, “These establishments are our first line of defense against coronavirus and are committed to protecting us and curbing the epidemic every day.” But it’s not just the corporation that’s helping out—employees are mobilizing as well. One of the pillars of the company’s pandemic response is to “galvanize the company to contribute to the greater good.” In that spirit, the company is matching the donations of their employees to Feeding America, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000.
      2. Supporting Their Partners & Small Businesses
      Beauty for all—one of the company’s core philosophies—means looking beyond the bounds of their business to support those in need. In addition to the public health impacts of the pandemic, many in the beauty community were also suffering from economic disruption. Stylists, salons, suppliers, and small businesses of many kinds are essential parts of the industry—and L’Oréal made sure to provide relief to them.
      Through donations, fundraising, and billing relief efforts, L’Oréal is jumping into action to help these small, vibrant businesses make it through. Partnering with organizations like the Professional Beauty Association, L’Oréal is helping to raise money for industry professionals who need assistance during the lockdown. Plus, for small businesses unable to get customers in the door, L’Oréal is delaying or freezing payments for their products.
      3. Leading A Tech Transformation to Connect with Consumers – And Employees
      COVID-19 forced many companies to quickly undergo technological transformations to adapt to an entirely remote working world, but L’Oréal took this as an opportunity to make industry-leading innovations.
      In a time when many of us can’t be physically with our friends, families, and communities, L’Oréal’s teams also stepped up to the plate to use technology to spread happiness. Lisa Price, the founder of one of L’Oréal’s beloved brands, Carol’s Daughter, gave a virtual commencement speech to honor the class of 2020. Using the power of TikTok, multiple brands under the L’Oreal umbrella launched social gifting programs to build a sense of support during these unprecedented times. A partnership with Snap Camera was launched with eight of L’Oreal’s Brand to create AR lenses for platforms like Skype, Youtube, and Twitch. Conference calls have never been more glamorous!
      The teams behind all these innovations went through a tech transformation of their own as many employees transitioned to working fully at home. Even while not being able to be physically together, employees quickly mobilized to create ways to stay more connected than ever. The USA Head of Talent Acquisition, Sumita Banerjee, started teaching virtual Zumba classes for both employees and their families to participate, milestones like birthdays were celebrated with virtual fêtes, and beloved pets filled in for missed office mates.
      For members of the L’Oréal team, it’ll never be easier (or safer) to connect with their peers —pandemic or not.
      Innovating For Good Is Just Part Of The L’Oréal Culture
      “We at L’Oréal USA feel a deep responsibility to do our part to help address this crisis in the many communities in which we live and work,” L’Oréal USA CEO Stéphane Rinderknech said.
      And while the COVID-19 crisis is new, this type of innovative response for the betterment of society is standard practice for L’Oréal. Whether it’s technological innovations for sustainability or crafting diverse communities at work, the beauty technology giant has long considered its business an avenue for positive change.
      Want to see how your career could help with efforts like these? Check out open opportunities at L’Oréal on WayUp! More

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      A Go-To Guide To Growing Your Career This Summer Without An Internship

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      For students, summer is a time of relaxation and reflection. It’s also a great opportunity to build on their education with experiences they may not have had time for during the school year. For many, this experience is provided by a summer internship, but that’s not the only way. 
      Here are a few strategies students and new grads are using to build up their resumes and create some talking points for future interviews. 
      1. Volunteer
      Community service is as important as ever and can easily showcase your commitment to both personal and community growth. In the midst of COVID-19, families who have never been in need are seeking support. Volunteering at your local food bank or meal delivery service can make a huge impact on your community and resume. Check out volunteer apps like Deed for easy ways to get involved. If an office or professional environment is a must, look toward non-profits, health care organizations, or political campaigns. In many instances, these volunteer opportunities provide the same experiences as paid internships. 
      2. Become A Virtual Tutor  
      This summer, students from elementary school all the way through college are looking to have a safe and productive summer. A great way to help make this possible for them, while also being productive and safe yourself, is to apply to remote tutoring positions with organizations like Varsity Tutors or Care.com. There’s a great social impact to tutoring, too: You’ll help to prepare this generation of students for the future. 
      Plus, tutoring can provide you with professional development opportunities, a flexible schedule, and a summer income.
      3. Contribute To Positive Change
      College students around the world are taking the summer to educate themselves on what is important to them or to learn a new perspective that they can share with their community. Creating grassroots fundraisers and book clubs are great ways for students to raise awareness and money for causes they care about. Students can also tap into larger movements across the globe through websites like DoSomething.org and Change.org and others which help to mobilize young people in the fight for equal rights. 
      4. Improve Yourself With Online Courses
      Summer courses are a great way to get ahead for the upcoming semester, work on what you know needs improvement, or expand your future career. Online summer courses are a great option to improve yourself while classes are not being held in person or internships have been canceled. Online learning partners like Pathstream, Emeritus, or Springboard offer certificate classes that prepare students for a career in a high-demand digital environment. This is a great opportunity to stand out while adding to your resume and skills! 
      5. Start A Side Hustle And Write About It On LinkedIn
      No matter what you choose, showing an eagerness to gain transferable skills and achieve your financial goals outside of traditional office work are great ways to demonstrate your drive to employers. 
      If you do not have an internship this summer, then create your own career-growing, wallet-fattening opportunity! Social media makes it easy for students to leverage their networks to expand their online presence. House-sitting, lawn mowing, and selling old clothes or textbooks you no longer need are all great ways to start. Be creative! 
      Documenting your progress for your network with posts and images keeps you in the front of their minds if new opportunities arise. You can also find new connections to help grow your side hustle!
      Written by: Gabriel CohnRecruiting Operations Associate at WayUp More

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      How This Finance Development Program Helped Me Start a Successful STEM Career With A Social Impact

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      For Saarem, choosing a career wasn’t going to be easy. As a high-performing finance major, he heard a lot about the different options for ​his career. However, coming from a family of medical professionals, helping people save lives and advance science were basic family values. And as a part of his Muslim upbringing, Saarem says, […] More

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      5 Digital Skills That Will Help You Get A Better Title And Make More Money At The Start Of Your Career

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      Getting your degree is a major investment in yourself, but your learning shouldn’t stop there. While a science or liberal arts education can serve as an important foundation for your other skills, you’re still going to need those “other skills” to get the job you want. And we’ve all seen those “other skills” on job […] More

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      Venmo Emoji Hacks, Innovation Tournaments, And More: My Summer Internship At PayPal

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      Some internships are memorable because of the friends you make. Others are important for your career because of the skills you learned or the connections you made. And sometimes you get to do work that really makes a difference at the company—and in the world. Luckily for Justine—an intern-turned-employee at PayPal—she got to make memories […] More