When it comes to choosing a place to work, there are a number of factors to consider: the job, opportunities for advancement, company culture, training — the list goes on and on. At Burns & McDonnell, we attribute our continued success (over 110 years in business) to factors that not only make our company a great place to work, but also help us stand out from the crowd.
6 Things That Make Burns & McDonnell Different
Employee ownership: This isn’t merely a selling point we tout on our website and office collateral; it’s something that truly shapes the core of who we are as a company. Each employee is an owner in the company, which means he or she has a stake in our success — and a vested interest in helping fuel our growth. And when more than 3,700 people think this way, well, the results can be powerful.
Company culture: The unofficial Burns & McDonnell motto? “Work hard, play hard.” We strive to strike a balance between finishing projects in an efficient and expedient manner and knowing when it’s time to take a break and unwind.
“If you want to go to a young professionals event or a happy hour, there’s always an opportunity,” says Lauren Taylor, human resources generalist. “If you want to be a part of a sports team, not only does Burns & McDonnell front the costs, but there are a ton of co-workers who are ready to be your teammates. And if you like to give back, the company has connections with more charitable organizations than you could ever have time to volunteer for because philanthropy is important to us.”
Growth: No one wants to be in a dead-end job that offers no room for potential. And that’s why continued growth opportunities remain a high priority. Sure, you can climb the career ladder as you gain more knowledge and skills in your particular role. But you can also explore other paths and responsibilities.
“We need a variety of skills, talents and backgrounds to make us successful,” Lauren says. “You can end up taking your career in a technical direction, or, if you find that you have a flair for sales and marketing, you can also explore opportunities in those industries.”
That sort of flexibility not only encourages exploration within each employee-owner, but also inspires that person to learn something new and adapt to change.
Community involvement: No matter how full our plates or how high our workload, one of our top priorities is to give back to the community. Whether through financial donations through the Burns & McDonnell Foundation or by volunteering our time at area schools and events, being active in our community is important to all of us. It’s also a commitment we strive to increase each year.
Professional development: As a result of the diverse nature of our business, our employee-owners have the potential to explore different career paths in the company. We offer a number of professional development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, on-site training, off-site training and professional certification funding to help keep our employee-owners on the leading edge of their industries.
Hiring the best: A company is only as good as its employees — and while we might be biased, we have the best in the world!
“We’re not just looking for the best engineer, architect, construction professional or designer,” says Lauren. “We want the full package — technical and communication skills, creativity, leadership, drive, initiative, a client-based mindset and someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who will embrace our employee-ownership culture and thrive.”
Now you’re hooked, right? If you’re in the market for a career at a growing engineering, architecture, construction and design consulting firm, consider joining us at Burns & McDonnell. You’ll be glad you did! Stay up-to-date with our latest career opportunities through our Careers page and feel free to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
