Entergy

Challenge

With a population of employees on the verge of retirement and a number of open positions, Entergy seeks to tap into diverse talent pipelines for roles across the company. However, the industry standard Edison Electric Institute (EEI) test, a hiring assessment for potential candidates, creates a barrier for a career with Entergy.

Solution/Project

Entergy partnered with Talent Rewire in the Innovation Lab to find a solution to successfully attracting and hiring new talent that reflects the demographics of the communities it serves, while creating opportunities for young adults to start a career at the company. As a result, Entergy introduced its Career Pathways program, in partnership with Jobs for America’s Graduates and The 1881 Research Institute, to identify potential candidates and better prepare them for the EEI assessment test. In the four-day Career Pathways workshop, student participants met with current Entergy employees, received assistance in enhancing their resumes, took part in mock interviews, toured an Entergy facility, and received in-depth test preparation for the EEI test. Entergy provided the students a stipend of $11 per hour and free transportation to a testing site that was more centrally-located than the traditional EEI testing centers.

The Outcome

The initial pilot included five participants, all of whom were diverse candidates. All five passed the EEI assessment test. This 100% pass rate compares favorably to Entergy’s baseline data. The Entergy team is working with hiring managers to set up interviews with the candidates. With a successful pilot program achieved, Entergy is working to expand the program with a larger group of students and hold the workshop annually. Additionally, the company is considering how it can standardize the program and share its success with peer companies located in other regions.