Employers looking to hire engineers find themselves in an extremely competitive market.
CF Industries doesn’t just need engineers, they need the best of the best. The company also recognizes the need to recruit young talent to ensure a strong future.
Donna Harvey, who was recently promoted to recruit for CF Industries companywide, said large companies aggressively recruit top engineering students. CF Industries competes with organizations like DuPont, Dow and Monsanto and oil and gas industry corporations such as Exxon and Shell for top talent.
“Everyone needs engineers,” Harvey said. “We’re even competing against the food industry. CF Industries is strongly focused on our future by having a very robust engineering co-op program.”
CF Industries recruits top engineering students from the nation’s best schools for its co-op program. The company offers competitive pay and provides housing. Students participating in the program work alongside senior process engineers.
Three of those students are currently working at the Yazoo City Plant.
Nick Kehlor is a student from Purdue University from South Carolina.
Tushar Ladha is a student at Georgia Tech and a native of India.
Tyler Beckley is a student at Stanford University from Illinois.
“These are top students at top universities,” Harvey said.
They are also potential employees. The co-op program allows the students an opportunity to learn from veteran engineers in an actual working environment. It also allows CF Industries to gauge their ability to learn. Some former co-op students are now in leadership positions.
The three current participants all agree that it has been a positive experience.
Kehlor said he was encouraged by how quickly the plant’s employees welcomed him.
“This is my first real job,” Kehlor said. “I didn’t expect to fit in that well because I knew nothing about this plant, but everyone has been so willing to help me learn. It was very easy to fit in. The work environment is so outstanding here, that I can’t imagine it being any better.”
Ladha, who spent some time at the CF Industries plant in Oklahoma before coming to Yazoo City, agreed.
“We’re still learning, and it’s a complicated process, but everyone is so accommodating and helpful,” Ladha said. “Everyone makes sure I get any help I need. It has really helped me gain confidence.”
Beckley said spending time with seasoned engineers and being allowed to work on real projects is a priceless learning experience.
“Everyone will take time out of their day to steer you in the right direction,” Beckley said. “It has been awesome to work on projects that full time engineers could be working on.”
In addition to learning on the job, participants in the co-op program give back to the community by offering tutoring at Yazoo County High School and the Yazoo Boys & Girls Club.
