Progress Takes Innovation: Building a Career in AI

John C. | Consultant, Talent Acquisition | New Jersey, United States

Originally Published: May 14th, 2024

Can you share your journey and experience in Talent Acquisition for AI roles at Dell Technologies? What inspired you to get involved in this dynamic field? 

I have always been a problem solver, so I went to school for Engineering. After graduation, I entered the software consulting field in a talent acquisition (TA) role and enjoyed learning about how other engineers solved business and technology problems. I started my TA career at Dell Technologies supporting Professional Services. As a result of my experience and ability to identify and attract top talent in emerging technologies, I have been fortunate to be aligned to support business units that are driving development or adopting innovating technologies. Examples include supporting Professional Services for Converged and Hyper-Converged Infrastructure, Multi-Cloud Administration/Orchestration, the OCTO for Zero-Trust, and the AI Business-AI Innovation Team, which I currently support.

With the constant evolution of AI, what traits help someone to be successful in this field?  How does Dell attract these top-tier candidates?

We typically look for candidates who are thought leaders and understand that AI is evolving very quickly. They will need to be adaptable, willing to learn and not afraid to make mistakes. They should have the attitude and aptitude to leverage their experience with the understanding they will be exploring new concepts and applications of the technology.

I feel we have a great story to tell that attracts candidates. Dell has a successful track record of driving innovation. This is a result of our culture and leadership. I find that once a candidate knows our track record of driving innovation, how we work and our AI strategy, they become very interested in learning more.

Dell Technologies emphasizes diversity and inclusion. How does your team ensure a diverse pool of candidates for AI roles, and why is diversity crucial in driving innovation in AI within the organization?

We drive diversity though our gender-neutral job posting, awareness of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, community engagement, employee resource groups (ERGs) and direct sourcing. We believe a diverse candidate pool drives innovation. I recently attended an event for the Association of Latino Professionals for America at Rutgers University with representatives from Dell’s Finance Development Program, Field Sales, and Talent Acquisition. We received many questions regarding Dell’s AI strategy and how these future leaders can build a career in AI. The point is that AI is all around us. There’s a lot of awareness and interest across many demographics on how AI is changing the way we live and work.

How do you see Dell Technologies positioning itself as a leader in AI, and how does this influence your approach to talent acquisition for AI-related positions? 

Dell is a respected brand in the industry and with our customers. We have the leadership, technologies, strategy, partners and can deliver a comprehensive AI solution to our customers. This includes everything from the data center to enabling next generation algorithms. When speaking with candidates, I’m confident that Dell is well positioned for the future.

To learn more about AI at Dell, read Nick B.’s story.