I recently looked over the participants in a meeting, and there was a person who I had helped during their interview process for an associate position at Exponent, and now they're a principal. It was a great feeling. We really do hire incredible people who want to grow with us.
Advance in Your Career
I first started at Exponent back in 2011 as a human resources assistant, supporting the VP of HR and recruiting team and in early 2020, I rejoined Exponent as a recruiting coordinator.
Now I'm in the role of recruiter. I primarily support three practices: Materials and Corrosion Engineering, Buildings and Structures, and Civil Engineering. I work out of the Oakland office, with some travel to Menlo Park.
My days are always different.
I'm in the office and I attend recruiting events. It's exciting to have in-person events back! Sometimes I'm participating in candidate interviews and presentations. Other days I'm traveling, answering emails, attending meetings, and taking calls. I like the variety of work!
Exponent values work-life balance.
Outside of work, my time is really devoted to my family. My kids have a lot of activities, from soccer to dance and jiu-jitsu, and we barbecue almost every weekend. My family enjoys traveling, and we recently went to Disneyland and Hawaii. We also try and find time to make local trips to Monterey, Santa Cruz, or the city!
A Supportive Environment That Fosters Growth
Although I don't have a scientific or technical background, I've worked with many candidates and consultants over the years. I've learned that many people in graduate school care about expanding their learning opportunities beyond a narrow focus on one area of research. They're interested in a variety of projects. They want to apply their expertise to real problems and make an impact in the world.
At Exponent, you can do all of that and more. There are endless opportunities to solve problems on a wide variety of projects. And you don't have to stop publishing papers when you work here. You can still obtain professional licenses, guest lecture at universities, or serve on an advisory board.
Professional development is encouraged here.
When someone first joins the firm, they are teamed up with a peer for the first few months of employment as part of our Buddy Program. We also have a formal sponsorship program where someone who is developing will be paired with someone senior at Exponent.
Our people are what our clients value. Their scientific and technical expertise is what they come to us for.
Our Hiring Process
We don't have application deadlines. We're always looking for great candidates, and it's wonderful that many candidates I speak with are familiar with Exponent. Hiring managers may have specific needs at any given time, but you don't need to wait for a job opening to apply to Exponent. We have an open door for qualified candidates in all our practices.
Our hiring process begins with two video interviews. When candidates advance through the process, the next step is a full day interview when they meet about six or seven different consultants and deliver a 40-45 minute technical presentation, followed by Q&A. This meeting is also an opportunity to tour the office and labs.
We hire throughout the year, and start dates are flexible. We understand that graduating from school, switching jobs early and mid-career, and possibly relocating states is a big deal. We also work with candidates for several months — or even a year — before they graduate with their Ph.D. We are very flexible. It's important to us to take the time to build relationships and onboard our people in the right way.
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