At Dell Technologies, junior high school students in priority neighborhoods discover the diversity of computer jobs

“We have already welcomed 22 junior high school students at the Millénaire site for their required week of observation. They were from the Aiguerelles, Garrigues, and Escholiers de La Mosson schools. There will be another session in March. Another two or three will be held later in 2020,” explains Catherine Bourigeau, employee at Dell Technologies.

With her colleague Carole Gaillard, she presented a proposal to the company’s management team to lead a program welcoming interns in groups of about fifteen junior high school students from priority neighborhoods in Montpellier, along with children of other employees.

The proposal was accepted: “Diversity is a key factor for Dell Technologies. We have people of 32 different nationalities at the site,” points out Jérôme Fourré, large commercial accounts director, who participates in the program.

As part of the Companies and Neighborhoods Charter, co-managed by the French government and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and driven by the association Face Hérault, the students follow a full five-day program that reveals the fifteen or so vocations present at the Montpellier site, where about one thousand people work. Vocations include sales, technical support, marketing, human resources, and more.

In addition to company presentations, testimonials are also provided by Stéphane Huet (General Manager, France), Muriel Avinens (site director), and managers such as Jérôme Fourré, along with meals shared with employees, time spent with sales and technical support teams, and more.

“A total of 120 people at Dell are involved with the action,” highlights Jérôme Fourré.