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2007 Best Places to Launch A Career

71. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

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225 N. MIchigan Ave

Chicago, Illinois 60601

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No one does diversity better: 70% of new entry-level hires are women, and 56% are minorities.

Undergrad Internships

No. of undergrad internships in:

2005: 17

2006: 20

2007: 20

2006 interns from the following classes:

0% Freshman

10% Sophomores

80% Juniors

0% Seniors

10% Graduates

2006 interns from the following majors:

30% Business

0% Computer Science

0% Economics

0% Engineering

0% Liberal Arts

0% Math

30% Science

0% Undeclared

0% Other

100% of internships paid

0% of internships unpaid

Is there an offical summer internship program? Yes

Average length of summer program: 12 weeks

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

Average hourly wage: $13.00

Are interns paid on lump sum basis? No

Average total intern compensation: $6,338

5% of eligible 2006 interns received full-time job offers

100% of interns with offers accepted

Applicants & New Hires

6 undergrad campuses where employer recruited 2006-07

1 undergrad campuses where employer made job offers

Applicants for entry-level jobs

2005: 70

2006: 60

2007: 40

Entry-level hires

2005: 28

2006: 46

2007: 15

Entry-level hires who were undergrad interns

2005: 1%

2006: 2%

2007: 1%

Most important characteristics for new hires:

2-Analytical Skills

1-Communication Skills

3-Work Experience

Other

Must be able to work effectively on teams comprised of diverse individuals

2006 new hires majored in:

30% Business

0% Computer Science

0% Economics

0% Engineering

0% Liberal Arts

0% Math

30% Science

0% Undeclared

40% Other

...and are:

28% African American

8% Hispanic American

18% Asian American

2% Other

56% Total minorities

70% Female

Salary & Benefits

Entry-level hires since Jan. 1

Average base salary: $45,000 to $49,999

NA*% earn less than $35,000

NA*% earn $35,000 to $39,999

NA*% earn $40,000 to $44,999

NA*% earn $45,000 to $49,999

NA*% earn $50,000 to $54,999

NA*% earn $55,000 to $59,999

NA*% earn $60,000 to $64,999

NA*% earn $65,000 to $69,999

NA*% earn $70,000 and above

Bonuses, Overtime & Perks

0% received signing bonuses

Average signing bonus: $NA

100% received performance bonus first year on job

Average performance bonus, 2006: $2,000

100% of 2006 entry-level hires eligible for OT

0% of 2006 entry-level hires not eligible for OT

Reimburse employees for ed expenses?: Yes

Do employees become eligible immediately?: No

Maximum annual education reimbursement: $7,200

Full grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? No

Partial grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? Yes

Time Off

Is there a Paid Time Off (PTO) Bank? Yes

If no, total paid vacation days:

During first year: NA

After 1 year: NA

After 3 years: NA

After 5 years: NA

After 10 years: NA

Total paid holidays: NA

Time off for religious observances: NA

If yes, max PTO days:

During first year: 20

After 1 year: 20

After 3 years: 20

After 5 years: 25

After 10 years: 30

Total days off for religious observances: NA

Is flex time available? Yes

Sick, personal days, first year: NA

Health Benefits

Do entry-level hires have access to health plan? Yes

Employees pay part of the cost? Yes

Does health plan provide dental coverage? Yes

Extra charge for dental coverage? Yes

Does health plan provide vision coverage? Yes

Extra charge for vision coverage? Yes

Are same sex partners permitted as dependents? Yes

Pension and Profit-sharing

Do entry-level hires have access to 401(k)? Yes

60 months to full vesting in 401(k)

Max. company match as a percentage of salary: 6%

Min. employee set-aside as a percentage of salary to receive max. co. match: 6%

If 401(k) match not calculated as percentage of salary, explain:

Are entry-level hires eligible for co-funded pension? No

Months to full vesting in co-funded pension: NA

Are entry-level hires eligible for profit-sharing program? No

Months to full vesting in profit-sharing program: NA

Maternity/Paternity Leave

Maximum Maternity Leave

0 days during first year

5 days after 1 year

5 days after 3 years

5 days after 5 years

Maximum Paternity Leave

0 days during first year

5 days after 1 year

5 days after 3 years

5 days after 5 years

Other Benefits

Does company match employee charitable gifts? No

Max. annual company match for employee charitable gifts: $NA

Does company pay relocation expenses? Yes

Max. annual relocation expenses? $12,000

Employee Discounts

Car rentals

Cell phone/service

NOTE: Entry level pay varies between $35,000 and $60,000 depending on the department and grade level of the job.

Work Environment

38 hours worked weekly by entry-level hires on average

Does average vary by business unit, department? Yes

Entry-level hire work locations...

0% in open work stations

100% in cubicles

0% in shared offices

0% in private offices

0% have no company-supplied work space

Does organization monitor e-mail?: No

Does organization monitor Web usage? No

Typical dress code

Business Casual

Formal/Business

Does organization sponsor employee volunteer opportunities? Yes*

Does organization offer employee daycare? Not offered

Does organization have fitness facilities on site? All locations

NOTE: Employees participate in a variety of volunteer activities, but the only one that BCBS sponsors is Special Olympics.

Training Programs

Does your organization have a formal orientation program? Yes

If yes, how many days is it? 12

Orientation includes:

Computer Training

Guest Speakers

Diversity Exercises

Tour of Facilities

Paperwork completion, explanation of benefits, coaching, networking, required training

$NA average spent on training, per new hire, in 2006

Is there a formal leadership program for entry-level hires of a year or less? Yes

Passage/Passport Programs*

Do candidates apply directly? Yes

If not, how is eligibility determined? NA

When are new hires first eligible? Immediately

Is program rotational? No

If yes, number of locations or business units: NA

Minimum rotations: NA

Maximum rotations: NA

Length of program, in weeks: 2

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

After program, employees offered permanent positions: NA

After program, do employees offered permanent position receive raise? No

If yes, amount of typical raise: NA

Is there a formal leadership program for entry-level hires of a year or more? No

NA

Do candidates apply directly? NA

If not, how is eligibility determined?

NA

When are new hires first eligible? NA

Is program rotational? NA

If yes, number of locations or business units NA

Minimum rotations: NA

Maximum rotations: NA

Length of program, in weeks: NA

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

After program, employees offered permanent positions: NA

After program, do employees offered permanent position receive raise? NA

If yes, amount of typical raise: NA

Does company have formal mentorship program? Yes

5% of entry-level hires participate

5 days of additional training expected

NOTE: Passage is voluntary program for employees without direct reports. It consists of 17 half-day training sessions; time to completion depends on participant's commitment level and schedule.

The Passport program is for managers only (entry-level employees hired into management positions could be eligible) and consists of 17 required courses and 8 supplemental programs that must be completed within the first 1 1/2 years of employment.

Getting Ahead

Three-year retention rate: 64%

Five-year retention rate: 64%

How are raises determined?

Performance

When are entry-level hires eligible for first raise? One-year anniversary

How are promotions determined?

Performance

When are entry-level hires eligible for first promotion? Performance based

Evaluations

Frequency of evaluations

Twice a year

Important qualities

3-Analytical Skills

1-Productivity/Efficiency

2-Sales/Revenues

Min. tenure in years required for job change: 0.5

Describe any rules that apply:

Long-Term Prospects

Does position of VP exist at this organization? Yes

If not, is there a comparable title? NA

No. of employees who hold VP or similar title: 15

No. of employees with VP or similar title with 20 years plus seniority: 8

Age of youngest employee with VP or similar title: 42

Seniority of youngest employee with VP or similar title in years: 4