Diversity In Action

A job at Constellation Energy affects thousands of customers

Energy is non-negotiable in people’s lives, so it’s essential to understand the challenges of a job in the field, says the diversity director

In the energy business, strong technical skills are only half the equation that adds up to a good employee, says Janese Murray, executive director for corporate diversity at Constellation Energy. Equally important is the person’s ability to “do things right the first time.” In weather emergencies, for example, repairs must be made safely
and as quickly as possible across the company’s huge customer base.

Job candidates, Murray says, must understand their pivotal position and how they affect the lives of thousands of customers.

“We take our role seriously in how to face the future challenges of energy in this country. Energy is non-negotiable in people’s lives,” Murray says. “If you’re considering an energy company as an employer, it’s essential to understand the many challenges associated with that role.”

Constellation Energy is a major North American supplier of electricity and one of the largest providers of natural gas. Besides residential customers, the company serves more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100 companies. It has seventy-eight electric generating units across the U.S. with a total capacity of about 9,000 MW. Some plants are nuclear; others are coal, natural gas and oil fired; and some use renewable and alternative fuels.

As an energy company engaged in the potential development of new nuclear plants in the United States, Constellation Energy welcomes EE, ME and nuclear engineering applicants; especially the nuclear engineers, who are in short supply nationwide, Murray adds.

She notes that IT pros continue to be needed for hardware, software, network and helpdesk positions. “We also have some IT people in business areas as project and relationship managers. There’s a broad base of IT backgrounds here,” Murray says.

Constellation Energy’s hiring issues mirror those of many other power companies. A wave of baby boomers, now readying for retirement, means that there are positions to backfill and a continuous recruiting push. The company is arranging for older engineers to train younger ones through internships and co-ops. Because nuclear engineering programs have been cut back at universities, Murray says it’s especially important for current nuclear engineers to give students on-the-job training.

“Our employees understand the importance of training and transferring knowledge to younger people coming in. We want to focus our efforts by bringing in interns and converting them to full-timers. That’s everyone’s ideal,” Murray says.

Constellation Energy has established partnerships with historically black colleges and universities like Morgan State and Howard University, which are near corporate HQ. A Constellation engineering VP is on the board of Advancing Minorities in Engineering (www.amiepartnerships.org), a welcome recruiting venue, Murray says.

The company also targets minority-focused organizations, including NSBE, SWE and SHPE, at schools like Georgia Tech and the University of Maryland-College Park. Recruiters also attend minority organization job fairs for students and working engineers.

Once hired as full-time employees, new grads can join the Developing Professionals group or another networking group for new hires. “The main goal is mentoring and retaining all good engineering talent,” Murray notes.

Last year the company established a diversity council, initially chaired by the CEO, for employees of diverse ethnic backgrounds and women. Murray is on the council, which is a cross-functional group of representatives from many business units. She expects to see additional employee affinity groups soon, and all new employees get diversity training as part of their orientation.

The company provides mentoring programs relating to knowledge transfer. One program, focusing on retaining talent, is open to everyone. The other features succession planning for people with skills that relate to specific areas such as nuclear engineering.

Constellation Energy reimburses tuition for employees continuing their education.

Employees are encouraged to volunteer in their communities. “We try to build relationships with vocational and technical schools,” Murray says. “Our affinity groups also do their own things and some are very active in their communities.”

Although Constellation Energy values work-life balance and its importance to employees, Murray notes that by its nature “the business is 24/7.” Some people are able to work from home; some have flex hours if appropriate.

“There are parts of the organization that don’t ever shut down,” Murray explains. “We offer flexibility, as long as we can continue to effectively operate our business.” Employee assistance programs provide extra support to those who need it, like people dealing with caring for elderly parents.

“It’s important to understand the rules and procedures and to follow them appropriately so we can provide the services,” she says. “We also rely a lot on teamwork. Our employees look out for each other. If you’re looking for a company that provides growth opportunity in a safe, collegial environment, this is the place for you.”

D/C