Connecting the Dots

Bear’s Dot Foods looks to hire—and inspire—the next generation

BY JOE LITTLE

FOR MANY DELAWARE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, choosing which post-graduation path to embark upon can be a stressful process. But one Bear business might have just the ticket–or more of a passport, really–to make this daunting choice a little easier.

At Dot Foods, we are proud to offer Passport to Dot–an experiential learning program geared specifically toward graduating high school seniors looking for their first professional “foot in the door” with a major player in the supply chain industry.

Open to students of at least 18 years of age, the Passport to Dot program offers students the chance to kick off their professional career in a field of their choosing while learning the inner-workings of business and industry. Participants will work closely with their peers as well as Dot’s management and leadership over the course of the program.

Passport to Dot is highly customizable depending on the participant’s preferred field of study. Various Dot Foods locations, including our Bear distribution center, offer opportunities in sales, marketing, information technology, accounting, and more.

“We are proud of what this program has become. It has introduced us to some incredible young men and women, and we hope it continues to grow. It’s just one of the many ways we can proudly support the communities we serve,” said Nakishia W. Bailey, human resources manager for Dot Foods’ Bear, Delaware location.

Passport to Dot is not a sit back and observe type of gig. Participants aren’t spending their days twiddling their thumbs or fetching coffee–for anyone other than themselves, that is. For every program participant, Passport to Dot provides a positive, hands-on work environment complete with real challenges, real opportunities, and yes, real money.

And that’s just the beginning.

Many graduates of the Passport to Dot program have gone on to join Dot’s growing team–both in Bear and throughout North America–in a variety of professional, full-time positions. We’ve found this program to be invaluable when it comes to our recruiting and workforce development efforts, and it just gets bigger every year.

One of the major perks of Passport to Dot is that it’s perfect for every student no matter what’s on their after-graduation radar. For college-bound students, it provides the flexibility to pick up hours, grow a professional network, and make some money in between classes. For students choosing to go straight into the workforce, Passport to Dot offers a first step toward a rewarding full-time career in the supply chain industry.

For more information on Dot Foods or the Passport to Dot program, visit www.Careers.DotFoods.com/Passport-To-Dot.

Joe Little is general manager of Dot Foods’ Bear, Delaware location. Founded in 1960, Dot Foods is North America’s largest food redistributor. Dot operates distribution centers in 15 North American cities and employs 7,000 people.