20. Norfolk Southern

Undergrad Internships

Internship hiring for 2008 is not complete

Undergrad internships (paid and unpaid)

2008: 41 (to date)

2007: 163

2006: 186

100% of internships are paid, 0% are unpaid.

2007 interns came from the following classes...

2% Freshman

6% Sophomores

18% Juniors

74% Seniors

...and from the following majors:

35% Business

22% Computer Science

3% Economics

25% Engineering

9% Liberal Arts

1% Math

4% Science

0% Undeclared

1%

There is an official summer internship program

Average summer program: 16 weeks

Minimum: 12 weeks

Maximum: 16 weeks

Average hourly wage: $15.00

Average total intern compensation: $10,600

20% of eligible 2007 interns received full-time job offers

100% of interns with offers accepted

Applicants & New Hires

Recruited on 54 undergrad campuses in 2007-08.
Made job offers on 28 undergrad campuses.

Applicants for entry-level jobs

2008: 12,309 (to date)

2007: 18,471

2006: 20,588

Entry-level hiring

Entry-level hiring is not complete for 2008.

New hires in:

2008: 45 (to date)

2007: 116

2006: 106

Entry-level hires who were undergrad interns

2008: 14% (to date)

2007: 20%

2006: 7%

Most important characteristics for new hires:

1 Communication Skills

2 Leadership Skills

3 College Major

2007 entry-level hires came from the following majors:

38% Business

9% Computer Science

3% Economics

27% Engineering

9% Liberal Arts

2% Math

4% Science

1% Undeclared

% Other

...and are:

29% African American

1% Hispanic American

3% Asian American

1% Other

34% Total minorities

26% Female

Salary & Benefits

Entry-level hires since Jan. 1, 2008 (to date)

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

0% earn less than $35,000

0% earn $35,000 to $39,999

31% earn $40,000 to $44,999

9% earn $45,000 to $49,999

56% earn $50,000 to $54,999

4% earn $55,000 to $59,999

0% earn $60,000 to $64,999

0% earn $65,000 to $69,999

0% earn $70,000 to $74,999

0% earn $75,000 and above

Bonuses, Overtime & Perks

1% received signing bonuses

Average signing bonus: $1,000

1% received performance bonuses in their first year on job

Average performance bonus, 2007: $1,000

0% of 2007 entry-level hires eligible for overtime

100% of 2007 entry-level hires not eligible for overtime

Reimburse employees for education expenses? Yes

Do employees become eligible immediately? Yes

Maximum annual education reimbursement: $5,250*

Full grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? No

Partial grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? No

Time Off

Total paid vacation days

Vacation days during first year: 5

Vacation days after one year: 10

Vacation days after three years: 10

Vacation days after five years: 15

Vacation days after 10 years: 20

Total paid holidays: 11

No paid time off for religious observances and/or floating holidays:

Floating holidays/religious observance days off per year: NA

Paid sick/personal days allowed in first year: unlimited

Flextime is not an option for entry-level employees

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? No

Does health plan provide vision coverage? Yes

Extra charge for vision coverage? No

Are same sex partners permitted as dependents? No

Pension and Profit-sharing

Do entry-level hires have access to 401(k)? Entry-level hires are given access to a 401(K) savings plan

Max. company match as a percentage of salary: 3.5%

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

Are entry-level hires eligible for company funded pension? Yes

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

Other Benefits

Does company match employee charitable gifts? Yes

Does company pay relocation expenses? Yes

Max. annual relocation expenses? $3,700

Relocation policy for most new hires covers a lump sum of $3,700 for homeowners ($2,500 for renters) for homefinding and temporary living. In addition, the company pays to move household goods.

Employee Discounts on the following:

Cell phone service

Insurance

Computers, technology

Notes: Norfolk Southern's educational reimbursement offers up to $200 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and up to $300 per credit hour for graduate courses up to a maximum of $5,250 per year.

Work Environment

Average entry-level work week: 45 hours

Does average vary by business unit, department? Yes

Entry-level hire work locations...

0% in open work stations

50% in cubicles

50% in shared offices

0% in private offices

0% have no company-supplied work space

Typical dress code

Business Casual

Casual

NA

Does organization have fitness facilities on site? Facilities not available

Training Programs

The organization has a formal orientation program for new hires

Program length: 5 days

Orientation includes the following:

Guest speakers

Diversity exercises

Team building activities

Facilities tour

$8,000 average spent on training, per new hire, in 2007

There is a formal leadership or management training program that lasts less than a year:

Program Name: Operations Supervisor Trainee

How do new employees enter the program? Hired into the program

If not hired directly into program, when are most new hires first considered eligible?

The program is rotational.

The employee spends time at 3 locations or business units.

26-week training program

After completion of program, what percentage of employees receive a raise? 100%

How much is the typical raise: 5-9.9%

There is a formal leadership program for entry-level hires that lasts a year or more.

Program Name: Management Trainee Program

How do new employees enter the program? Hired into the program

If not hired directly into the program, when are most new hires first considered eligible?

Is program rotational? Yes

If so, how many locations or business units does the employee spend time at? 4

Minimum rotations: NA

Maximum rotations: NA

Length of program, in weeks: 64

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

After completion, what percentage of employees receive a raise?: 100%

How much is the typical raise: 5-9.9%

Does company have formal mentorship program? Yes

100% of entry-level hires participate

10* days of additional training expected

Notes: Additional training opportunities include a variety of online courses; all management employees attend the company's 4-day Thoroughbred School each year.

Getting Ahead

Three-year retention rate: 60%

Five-year retention rate: 47%

How are raises determined?

Performance

When are most entry-level hires eligible for their first raise?

One-year anniversary

How are promotions determined?

Performance

When are entry-level hires eligible for first promotion?

More than 1 year

Evaluations

Frequency of evaluations

Annually

Most important characteristics for entry-level hires:

1 Effort

3 Leadership Ability

2 Learning Ability

Min. tenure in years required for job change: 0

Transfer rules: Employees are eligible to apply at any time but are encouraged to complete a year in their current assignment.

Long-Term Prospects

Does position of vice president exist at this organization? Yes

If not, is there a comparable title?

No. of employees who hold VP or similar title: 31

No. of employees with VP or similar title with 20 years plus seniority: 22

Age of youngest employee with VP or similar title: 43

Seniority of youngest employee with VP or similar title in years: 8