Insights

Conferences are known for being great places to network, learn new industry insights, get acquainted with the latest technology, and hear from expert speakers. However, with so many conferences available throughout the year, it can be difficult to decide which ones are the right fit for your company’s needs. The best conferences give attendees strategies they can implement and see positive results from while also providing big-picture ideas and a look at larger trends. We’ve rounded up 11 conferences that deliver valuable information and learning opportunities every year that any talent professional could greatly benefit from.

Despite earning nearly 60% of the Bachelor’s degrees awarded by U.S. institutions, female graduates still lag behind men when it comes to STEM degrees. Women make up less than half of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM, and that percentage drops further for degrees like computer and information sciences and engineering. After graduation, women fill half of all U.S. jobs, but hold only 27% of STEM positions.

An investment in early career talent is a long-term investment in the success of any company — but in times of economic turmoil, that message can be hard to communicate to leadership. While stories of widespread layoffs at companies big and small have saturated the news lately, how does that narrative translate to the youngest members of the workforce?

Of the approximately 97,000 computer science degrees awarded every year, only around 9% are received by African American students. Historically Black Colleges and Universities make up a large portion of the schools graduating black students in the sciences, with 25% of African American graduates with STEM degrees coming from HBCUs. There are 107 HBCUs in the country that all create a strong community between students and faculty, provide a high quality education for an affordable price, and engage an ongoing alumni network. Incorporating these schools into your campus recruiting strategy is a great way to expand your talent pipeline, and find standout students in CS. We’ve rounded up the top 10 HBCUs for CS to focus your efforts on.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are a great resource for finding talented college graduates. Today, these schools are responsible for 22% of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black graduates overall, and 25% of STEM degrees awarded to Black graduates. For companies recruiting for entry-level STEM roles, HBCUs offer thousands of bright and qualified candidates, especially HBCUs with strong and highly-ranked STEM programs. To help you recruit top technical candidates and ensure you have a diverse pipeline, we’ve rounded up 10 HBCUs with the best STEM programs to focus your campus recruiting efforts on. Here are the schools that made our list:

If you’re looking for talented candidates to fill your business-focused roles, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are a great place to look. HBCUs make up around 20% of all degrees awarded to Black graduates every year, and are particularly helpful for preparing students for the workforce. One survey found that 55% of students who attended HBCUs felt they were adequately prepared for life after graduation, compared to 30% of students who attended non-HBCUs. For business preparedness specifically, HBCUs produce more African-American & Black CPAs and Wall Street associates than any other non-HBCU institutions. With all this considered, any company hoping to fill a role that requires business competencies should include HBCUs in their search. These 10 HBCUs have especially strong business programs and are a great place to look:

Liberal arts cover a broad scope of disciplines, encompassing many programs such as English, social sciences, art, philosophy, or simply liberal arts studies. These interdisciplinary degrees prepare students for a wide variety of careers and provide them with a strong skill set in areas like communication, leadership, and problem-solving. Students pursuing liberal arts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) experience a unique combination of strong community and challenging academics — readying them to be standout candidates in the job field. Liberal arts students at HBCUs will be prepared for a diverse set of roles across multiple industries, meaning they’re a great resource for any recruiting strategy. We’ve rounded up 10 top HBCUs for liberal arts for some inspiration on where to find excellent talent.

If the goal of your recruiting strategy is to find the best entry-level and early-career talent at colleges across the country, it’s essential to include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on your list of target schools. HBCUs were originally established with the goal of educating Black Americans who were denied access to higher education institutions prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but today, they still hold an important place in higher education. HBCUs combined enroll hundreds of thousands of college students – primarily Black college students, though 25% of HBCU students are either white, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Native American – and offer their own unique experience and culture. Additionally, around 25% of Black students earn science and engineering bachelor’s degrees at HBCUs and HBCUs account for approximately 20% of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black graduates.