ExxonMobil Corp. employs approximately 62,000 people worldwide. That includes engineers, ranging from chemical processing to electrical engineering to materials integrity.

Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) alumni and ExxonMobil employees Jeff Blohm (’97, Mechanical Engineering) and Rozena Dendy (’98, Chemical Engineering) have both returned to their alma mater for recruiting events. Over the years, their employer has taken notice of the talent and preparedness of University of South Carolina interns and alumni.

Blohm, who has worked at ExxonMobil since 1997 and is currently a mechanical manager in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been recruiting talent at USC for 15 years. When he first started, the company was recruiting at more than 100 universities.

“ExxonMobil recruits at just over 20 schools now, but South Carolina has remained one of the core schools where we recruit,” Blohm says.

For ExxonMobil, an institution with a high ranking in the U.S. News & World Report  Best Engineering Programs is not the determining factor of whether an institution is considered a core school for recruiting.

“One thing ExxonMobil looks at with new hires out of college is, do they stay here? Our core philosophy is to hire new employees for a long-term career and invest in them,” Blohm says. “While some new graduates look for a quick turnover, our numbers have shown that South Carolina graduates tend to stay with ExxonMobil for a career.”

ExxonMobil returns to the USC campus twice a year for the STEM Career fairs, with the goal of finding students for internships and co-ops. The company prioritizes these opportunities as many full-time positions are filled by former interns.

“It's a win-win for us and the students. Not only do we see how they perform and if they're a good fit, but they also do the same by evaluating ExxonMobil to determine if this is what they want to do and where they want to work,” Blohm says.

Several USC alums have made their mark at ExxonMobil. Lindell Bradley (’72, Mechanical Engineering), the first Black varsity student-athlete at the school, worked on various technical assignments as a project engineer and served in leadership positions after Exxon and Mobil merged in 1999 as part of his 35-year professional career. Bill Bloking (’74, Mechanical Engineering) held several senior executive positions in his 24 years, including chief operating officer of Esso Eastern Products Trading Company and general manager of Natural Gas in India. And John Barnhill (’78, Mechanical Engineering) and his three sons (all USC alums) worked for ExxonMobil.

While Blohm was the USC team captain for several years, ExxonMobil changed their recruiting strategy last year by creating a university engagement manager for each of the core institutions. Dendy holds that title in addition to her role as the global sales and operations planning manager. She believes that MCEC alums bring a strong work ethic, impacting how they work and contribute to the company.

“Many of us like myself come from small towns and because ExxonMobil is a large corporation, everybody works in teams. As USC alumni start, they develop and grow in those teams and as an individual professionally, they have been able to contribute to the company's corporate objectives in a strategic way,” Dendy says.

ExxonMobil did not recruit at USC when Dendy was a student. She was recruited for an internship at the company at a National Society of Black Engineers convention in 1998. At the end of her internship, ExxonMobil asked what it would take to come back and work for them. 

“At that time, the value was meeting them in person at conventions and job fairs. But now we have a great opportunity to recruit at USC, engage with the student organizations throughout the school year to build a relationship with the students and work with the universities on grant opportunities. This allows us to build a stronger relationship and a thoughtful engagement with the university,” Dendy says.

“South Carolina alumni perform well, and that's a testament to the great program and setting up students for success. Staying at the company for the long term and job performance of alumni have aligned with USC being one of the core schools that has stayed with us over time,” Blohm says.

Blohm says that the strength of South Carolina and its graduates make them stand out as ideal candidates for ExxonMobil.

“The academics and experiences at South Carolina gives them a good background. They come with a strong foundational experience and are well-prepared to hit the ground running as engineers.” 

Blohm also says that USC students stand out among the competition thanks to experiences in leadership positions in student organizations, which they exhibit immediately at the company.

“These students are presidents of organizations or leading events. They bring those leadership skills, which usually are above their peers in other schools where we recruit,” Blohm says.

While chemical engineering is the most popular degree that ExxonMobil hires, USC mechanical, electrical and civil engineering alums have also been hired.

“ExxonMobil is a company of engineers. While their first or second job will be aligned with their degree, we’re less concerned after that,” Blohm says. “We're hiring engineers in general because of the way that they think and how they tackle problems.”

Both Blohm and Dendy are passionate about investing in the college to help students and watch them succeed.

“We're all proud to be graduates of South Carolina,” Blohm says. “I'm just glad I didn’t have to compete against the current students, because the quality of students that South Carolina is producing is amazing.”

Dendy is also impressed with how USC alumni who start at the company as interns or their first job remain with the company for the long-term. 

“As interns, it's an opportunity for us to see them in a three-month working environment and for them to see the company,” Dendy says. “We like to get interns early in their collegiate career so they can have a couple of internships seeing what it is like to work for the company and the different career opportunities. And then hopefully the internship turns into employment because that’s what ExxonMobil wants, and it gives us a higher chance of success for individuals that want to stay and contribute to the company performance in a positive way.”