Mechanical Engineering Student Perspectives on the Impact of Company Sustainability on their Career Decisions

Abstract

Companies can be an important part of solving major world problems such as climate change, pollution, and race and gender-based inequalities. Although awareness of the need for corporate sustainability has grown, companies could be doing a lot more. During the recruiting process, students showing they care about corporate sustainability can pressure companies to do more. As the number of students who are asking companies sustainability-related questions or showing they value corporate sustainability increases, it becomes more likely that companies will feel pressured to change to attract new talent. To empower more students to pressure companies this thesis aims to understand how MIT mechanical engineering seniors currently consider sustainability with respect to their career decisions and what would make students more likely to think of sustainability as an important aspect of their career decisions. The analysis found that although the majority of students care about sustainability, they face barriers such as knowledge gaps, lack of preparation, and discomfort. These barriers prevent them from questioning companies and factoring sustainability into their career decisions. Educating students on corporate sustainability, how to evaluate, and question companies may help reduce these barriers. Additionally, students may feel more empowered if they understand the impact they can have on corporate sustainability.