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NASA Dilemma: How to Diversify the Workforce
- Next Generation of Project Managers Panel
By Reginald Phillips
Bethune-Cookman University
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NASA is facing difficult challenges that they may have not faced since the inception of the space program. The challenge that NASA currently faces is how to gain the interest of today’s youth, identifying what it will take to bridge the gap between young NASA employees and those retiring in the near future, and determining new methods of recruiting that will help to increase the diversity between old and new employees. This conference was to present NASA’s new direction in building their workforce.
The agency has found that young children no longer dream of traveling to space or other careers within NASA and have sought to make adjustments in their recruiting methods. Laura Campbell identified ways that NASA is trying to interest children in their agency. She spoke of NASA’s space camp; the agency feels that space camp and its programs can build enthusiasm for space jobs and develop a higher interest level for children in the space program.
What will it take to bridge the gap between new and old NASA employees? Ray Lugo reported that although new employees are helped by the older employees, there is a challenge to come up with new ideas in order to inspire friendly competition and creativity among them. He also noted that there is reluctance from the hiring manager to hire younger, entry-level employees who they lack experience, therefore they hire older persons to fill vacant positions.
Charles Hunt feels that creating new positions will allow the agency to seek talented potential employees; he also stated that NASA must look outside of their normal recruitment areas and seek qualified applicants. In the past, the search took place in areas closest to NASA’s facilities or within families of current employees. Ken Dolan agrees and stresses that NASA needs to offer strong internships and co-ops, intensive recruitment at campus career fairs, and other job fairs should occur. He feels that the agency should get campus advisors involved in the process of recruitment, as well as requiring outside contractors to contractually agree to hire a certain amount of interns for positions that they have been awarded.
NASA needs to make an investment in their workforce declared Stephen Jeffress, claiming that the agency currently hires individuals who are in their thirties. Jeffress declared that they must begin to hire students out of college so that they can change the dynamics of their workforce. Seeking talented and skilled employees at a younger age will bridge the current workforce and allow NASA to continue to maintain a diverse workforce.
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Curator:
NASA Official:
Last Updated: April 16, 2008 |
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