Opportunities abound at Boeing, where IT employees get to test the water in many different technology areas before choosing a specialty. The Chicago-based aeronautics company's IT job rotation program gives new employees a chance to learn about various technology specialties during six-month stints in different units. At the end of the third rotation, employees can choose an area of the business where they want to focus.
IT staffers can also "spend a day in the life" of business partners within Boeing. "We get to understand their daily concerns and the issues they might be having, and we look to improve those processes with IT solutions," says J.T. Scott, a manager in enterprise work authorization systems. "At Boeing, there is a true appreciation for diversity and the various concepts, ideas and experiences we all bring to the table," Scott adds.
Employees also use their IT skills for charitable endeavors. Emily Roberts, an executive computing specialist, recently worked with a dozen Boeing IT pros nationwide on a project to improve transportation scheduling for the American Cancer Society's patient navigation services. The team developed a Web-based, remote-access scheduling program that "decreased time spent on their transportation scheduling by 60%," Roberts says.
"I got great exposure," she says, "and I really got to see what kind of great intellectual capital Boeing has within IT."
Perks vary by location but include on-site fitness centers and employee sports leagues for golf, softball, bowling, tennis and soccer, to name a few.
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