Investing in the Next Generation Today, Pays Dividends Tomorrow

The pace of innovation never slows down, which is why I find it important to pause and look at the impact to the next generation. At Cadence, we have been building a foundation of delivering incredible technology, which includes partnering with customers and industry leaders designing some of the most complex systems we have ever imagined. Nearly every industry has come to rely on our technology—aerospace, automotive, data centers, consumer electronics, healthcare, and so much more. In order to ensure we keep up with the pace of innovation and attract the best of the best, it is imperative that we invest in programs that allow future generations of interns and new college graduates to flourish.

We put a lot of time and effort into the retention and hiring of the best talent in the industry. I’m learning that attracting and retaining employees can be challenging and takes focus with a keen eye on diversity, equity, and inclusion. An organization is only as good as its employees, and fostering a diverse, supportive, and engaging environment is critical to the health of any organization and ensures that you attract the highest quality employees.

As you can imagine, this can be challenging with so many great companies competing for the same resources coming from the similar leading colleges and universities. How do you hire the best of the best? How do you gain mindshare and consideration when new graduates are making their early career decisions? One way to do this is to make sure you have elite programs in place that stand out, are creative, and offer flexibility in a challenging environment. This is the only way to engage and develop talent for the long term.

How Intern and New College Grad Programs Help

After some time and research focusing on what was working and what needed to be improved, we decided to take the next step to ensure we had the best shot at attracting the highest caliber talent. We architected a program that was not one size fits all and was built for the long haul—simply showing up at career fairs was not enough.

We divided our program into two key areas offering pathways for individual needs, from intern to new college grad. While very similar in experience, we felt we needed to focus on the specific needs of each. By allowing them to grow at their own pace, they would find the experience more rewarding with longer term commitments and a healthy work-life balance.

For example, we found that our interns need a lot more introductory classes and more experience with our broad technology portfolio. Additionally, they need entry-level projects based on real-world problems to learn how best to apply Cadence technology. Interns also need to work on soft skills around planning, communication, teamwork, and project leading. This wider-net approach that offers many windows into what Cadence has to offer is something that really resonates with interns.

On the other hand, new college grads need more detailed training and help finding the right area of technology or skillset that best fits their strengths. They need time integrating with a specific team or management chain to better understand the challenges customers are facing when designing complex chips to full systems. They also need to build skills that allow them to share project results with customers and Cadence management to build their own brand and internal recognition. This level of effort requires a commitment from management and helps deliver a rewarding level of engagement for new hires.

We learned quickly that interns and new college grads have different needs and should not be treated in the same way. We need to make sure that we build a program that is truly diverse and looks at each individual from their perspective, fosters an environment of learning and flexibility, and encourages initiative that will grow with Cadence.

Why Industry-Leading Programs Make a Difference

In years past, our interns and new college grads tended to have similar experiences as they engaged with Cadence. We have taken a new approach and put focus into programs that appeal to high achievers looking to start their careers in an exciting industry with tremendous growth opportunities.

It is important for us to continue to attract and retain top talent and to make sure that the talent pool is diverse and represents the Cadence brand in the best light possible. We are just at the beginning of this journey and will continue to monitor and improve based on feedback from those involved in the program. We have set high goals for success, but our hope is that the program develops into a premier model in the industry and helps Cadence continue its culture of innovation into the next decade and beyond.

To learn more about Cadence and the key benefits that this program has to offer, please contact wfouniversity_program@cadence.com.