Landing the first job after graduation can be a daunting task, with studies showing it can take up to six months for college graduates to secure employment. Even then, graduates often question if they’ve landed in the right role to truly kickstart their careers. Recognizing this challenge, Belden has developed a distinctive approach to hiring and nurturing young talent: the Belden Early Career Leadership Program (ECLP).
Instead of immediately assigning recent graduates to specific, potentially limiting positions, Belden’s ECLP offers a unique pathway. This program is designed to cultivate graduates into future leaders, empowering them to choose their specialization after gaining extensive hands-on experience across various business functions. This dynamic, three-year rotational program provides participants with comprehensive exposure to Belden’s diverse operations, offering invaluable insights into different fields and career paths.
The Belden Early Career Leadership Program is structured as a three-year rotational experience, offering participants diverse tracks to explore:
- Finance and Accounting
- General Management
- Human Resources (HR)
- Information Technology (IT)
- Operations & Supply Chain
- Research & Development
- Sales & Marketing
Participants in the Early Career Leadership Program have the opportunity to tailor their experience by selecting tracks that align with their interests. These rotations can span across Belden’s global locations, providing international exposure and broadening perspectives. Each participant undertakes three one-year rotations, ensuring a robust understanding of the chosen career paths through practical immersion. During these rotations, participants engage in real-world tasks, contribute to special projects, and benefit from targeted training, fostering both professional and personal growth.
Beyond hands-on experience, the Belden Early Career Leadership Program offers several key advantages:
- Mentorship from Senior Leaders: Participants receive direct feedback and guidance from experienced senior leaders, accelerating their development and providing invaluable industry insights.
- Global Networking Opportunities: Collaborative learning projects with peers and colleagues foster new connections across Belden’s global network, building a strong professional foundation.
- Access to Senior Executives: ECLP participants gain unique access to Belden’s senior executives, drawing inspiration, knowledge, and strategic perspectives to inform their career journeys.
In July 2021, Belden celebrated the accomplishments of six ECLP graduates who successfully completed the rigorous three-year program. These individuals have transitioned into full-time roles at Belden, leveraging their program experiences to excel in positions that match their developed skills and passions:
- Merve Arabul, HR Manager
- Lukas Barth, Lean Projects Manager
- Emir Baydur, Production Team Leader
- Felix Dressler, Connectivity Center Manager
- Alessia Favaro, Strategic Marketing Manager
- Dale Lettern, Internal Account Support & Manager
A graduation ceremony, held in Neckartenzlingen, Germany, and streamed virtually, honored these graduates. Belden Vice Presidents Brian Lieser, Eleazar Esquivel, Andries Boone, and Karin van Meurs attended to acknowledge the graduates’ dedication and achievements within the Belden Early Career Leadership Program. The celebration continued with a toast and idea exchange, marking the beginning of these graduates’ promising careers at Belden.
Belden proudly supports these recent Early Career Leadership Program graduates as they embark on the next phase of their professional journeys. Their success is a testament to the program’s effectiveness in cultivating valuable business acumen and leadership capabilities. Congratulations to Belden’s accomplished ECLP alumni!
