How the nation’s largest pharmacy health care provider fills its pipeline with diverse talent.

CVS Caremark continues to hit new marks of achievement in its commitment to recruiting and retaining talent from our nation’s diverse population. As an innovative health-care leader, CVS Caremark builds partnerships that attract and equip diverse talent for dynamic and rewarding careers. Our strong support of education, training, healthy living, and career opportunities helps ensure that CVS Caremark’s diverse workforce is productive and thriving. A culture that cultivates an appreciation of differences is the cornerstone for this success.

The CVS Caremark Workforce Initiatives team performs local, state, and national outreach that targets youth, mature workers, veterans, and people with disabilities. Also, partnerships with schools, churches, universities, and faith-based and community organizations help us find and hire talented people with diverse backgrounds.

Pathways to Health Care Careers, a program that focuses on underserved youth, provides hands-on career exploration through job shadowing, intern experiences in CVS/pharmacy stores, training, mentoring, and employment. In addition, elementary and middle school students are introduced to rewarding occupations within the pharmacy and health care industries at career fairs, during CVS/pharmacy store visits, and via in-school presentations by technicians, managers, and pharmacists. As part of the seamless transition from school to work, store associates and managers help guide young people to post-secondary opportunities at partner colleges and universities.

Talent is Ageless is an initiative that cultivates mature job candidates who are either re-entering the workforce or changing careers. They often bring skills, experience, a strong work ethic, knowledge, and a passion for customer service to the job. National associations, such as the American Society on Aging (ASA), Jewish Vocational Services (JVS), and other agencies, help CVS Caremark reach and engage with older workers.

Veteran and Military Alliances, such as CVS Caremark’s partnership with Hiring Our Heroes (a U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiative), connects men and women who are leaving active duty, or who are in the National Guard or Reserve, to meaningful jobs within the company. CVS Caremark partners with Hiring Our Heroes and other military-focused organizations to reach potential employees who are leadership and management ready. As a result of these partnerships, CVS Caremark’s Workforce Initiatives team has hired veterans and military spouses at job fairs around the country.

Abilities in Abundance connects individuals with disabilities to fulfilling careers with CVS Caremark. Vocational rehabilitation agencies, schools, and nonprofits are valuable partners in helping to identify talented and enthusiastic associates.

CVS Caremark recognizes the role training and development play in helping workers reach their potential, and in enhancing employee retention. Endless learning opportunities are offered at every level of the organization. A robust suite of training tools reinforces each employee’s skills and helps advance his or her career.

In partnership with community agencies, the company has opened a number of CVS/pharmacy Regional Learning Centers (RLCs) in cities across the U.S. These RLCs are fully operational store and pharmacy training locations that support the development of employees at all levels.

A vibrant, diverse workforce and ongoing opportunities for career growth do nothappen accidentally. CVS Caremark’s Workforce Initiatives team aggressively seeks new opportunities to hire, train, and retain a quality workforce that reflects the communities it serves.