STEM, as you might know, refers to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Whether you got that expertise through work experience, your college major, or even doing online courses like Codecademy, you’re a part of that special STEM group if you have the right skills.
Recruiters are always seeking out STEM talent. STEM people are not only critical to any modern company’s success, but also harder to find because of the steep learning curve.
However, not everyone realizes just how essential STEM talent is to every type of company. It’s not just engineering firms and tech companies that need STEM majors. Your dream company, no matter what it is, is probably hiring STEM talent right now.
Here’s a short list of companies you might never have expected to hire STEM talent, but actually do.
1. Banks & Financial Services Firms
Banks and financial services firms show interest in math majors for obvious reasons. However, a lesser known fact is that they are also a top spot for programmers and technologists.
Finance is an industry with a massive budget. So it’s no surprise that they can afford to hire some of the best talent in computer science—which is exactly what they’ve been doing for the past few decades. Financial Technology (more commonly known as “FinTech”) powers everything from modern stock exchanges to AI-driven investment and trading software. Finance is a numbers game; consequently, machine learning and artificial intelligence can automate and analyze many of its functions.
If you’re an up-and-coming programmer, data scientist, or someone with a passion for emerging tech trends like blockchain and AI, then these companies could actually be a great fit for you.
2. Consulting & Accounting Firms
Like banks and finance companies, it’s obvious why accounting firms would need math majors and the like. However, they’re also in need of technologists and programmers due to the growing necessity of digital tools for business.
Consulting firms (and the consulting groups within accounting firms) are responsible for optimizing a business at every level, and that includes how its employees do their jobs and the tools they use to do them. Some consulting firms (like Avanade), focus specifically on optimizing a business’s technology and IT infrastructure.
That’s why programmers, IT specialists, and network architects are more valuable than ever for consulting firms. Improving the ways a company uses technology prompts a widespread, immediate, and impactful change, and that’s just what they’re hoping to drive.
If you majored in one of these fields and you’ve got a mind for business, then an IT consulting or management consulting position might be a great fit for you.
3. Restaurant & Hospitality Companies
Food is one of the industries most affected by the rise of technology, especially smartphones. In order to keep up with rising customer expectations, mobile and online shopping is now standard for chains. These companies need software developers working constantly on mobile apps and websites for ordering.
There’s a reason McDonald’s and Starbucks are constantly in the top 100 on the app store. People love having their food ready to go when they get there. And you could be the person who makes that happen.
4. Clothing & Retail Companies
It’s not all design and deliver for clothing and retail companies. They’re actually really complex businesses with tons of moving parts. Engineers and supply chain managers build and analyze tracking systems. It takes a lot of work to ensure smooth and timely delivery of stuff as trend-based and seasonal as clothing.
Plus, many retailers use mobile apps for sales, promotions, and customer engagement.
Supply chain management majors, programmers, and data analysts are always in demand in this space.
5. Delivery & Logistics Companies
Delivery companies might not seem like the most exciting to work for, but looks can be deceiving. Online shopping has been a blessing for delivery companies like UPS. There are now more deliveries than at any point in human history. And they’ve come up with all sorts of formulas For example, UPS drivers almost never turn left.
It takes a lot of math, science, and usually some programming to make decisions like that—and they end up saving millions of dollars and keeping pollution out of the atmosphere, so all that effort is actually well spent.
Plus, engineers and tech tinkerers are a vital part of their continuing efforts to improve delivery trucks and even work on delivery drones.
6. Food & Snack Companies
Just like retail businesses, food and snack companies have a ton of logistics to consider. They have complex supply chains that are made even more difficult to manage by the issue of food spoiling and safety standards. Plus, they’ve got to have a strong presence on the web and on mobile in order to compete in their incredibly tight markets.
All of this makes for a type of company that demands top tech talent just to stay competitive.
Tech Talent Is Everywhere
If you’ve got a STEM background and didn’t see your dream company’s category on this list, don’t worry. The reality is that every company needs STEM people, so your opportunity will arise eventually. In fact, they might already be looking.
Check out our Top Companies page on WayUp for even more amazing companies hiring people just like you!
