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CRA is back on campus and ready to answer your questions about what it’s like to work at a global consulting firm. As part of our ongoing effort to help students navigate this complex field (and start thinking about their careers), we visit campuses throughout the academic year. Most recently, CRA had a booth at Howard University Career Fair in Washington, D.C. The goal of putting our consultants on campus is to give students a glimpse into CRA—from our recruiting and interview processes to how analysts and associates interact with our international clientele. One of the people who volunteered to represent us at Howard University was, Kanhav Thakur, part of our D.C.-based Competition Practice, who has these words of advice for students. “Be open to everything and don’t hesitate to challenge yourself,” he says. “We have a collegial and collaborative culture here. When I first joined, associates would always take the time to answer any question I had, no matter how basic.” Thanks to all who stopped by our booth to learn more about us!
Careers | Charles River Associates
In 1994, high school teacher Rodney Wilson advocated for a month devoted to spotlighting and celebrating LGBTQ+ history. A year later, LGBTQ+ History Month was added to a list of commemorative months—with October being chosen specifically to recognize National Coming Out Day (10/11) and the first march on Washington for lesbian and gay rights that took place on October 14, 1979. This month also honors prominent and impactful LGBTQIA+ figures throughout history, as well as those working hard today to advance the cause of LGBTQIA+ rights. At CRA, we believe in supporting our LGBTQIA+ team members and amplifying their voices through yearlong initiatives and programs—such as our presentation on October 12 featuring Robert Falk, General Counsel of the Truth Initiative and the former GC of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We’re also constantly working to expand the reach and impact of our dedicated LGBTQIA+ employee resource group, OutLoud@CRA, while continuing to be strong allies—both in the workplace and beyond.
LGBTQ+ History Month Infographic | October 2022
At CRA, we always looking for opportunities to bring our colleagues together outside the workplace—so they can connect and get to know one another better. Our Chicago office recently held a summer outing, where team members had a chance to bask in the summer weather, play games, sample some delicious food and indulge in the create-your-own-ice-cream-bar station. Suffice it to say, it was a rousing success—and not just because of the ice cream. Catch a glimpse of the summer fun our CRA colleagues enjoyed at this fantastic event and check out our careers page to learn more about working at CRA and our upcoming recruitment events.
Upcoming Recruiting Events | Careers | Charles River Associates
Over the past 12 weeks—and across 12 global offices—CRA hosted a new cohort of more than 60 talented interns. We wanted the summer experience to be as enriching, educational, and enjoyable as possible for our newest colleagues. Our interns had several opportunities to participate in hands-on projects. They also attended a variety of sessions, ranging from DE&I trainings and various CRA Tech Labs to listening to career advice from former interns and remarks from our CEO. We also held several events to help the interns create and build relationships in a more relaxed, casual atmosphere— including a boat ride and summer party in Chicago as well as a happy hour in Boston. Thank you to all our interns for a wonderful summer!
Careers | Charles River Associates
For CRA, the past year has seen a bevy of DE&I milestones. In June 2021, we welcomed our first Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer, Raquel Tamez. That same month, we created our first rainbow-themed corporate logo in honor of Pride Month, while our CEO, Paul Maleh, signed an action pledge committing our firm to a set of specific, tangible DE&I actions. More initiatives soon followed, enhancing our recruiting strategies to increase staff diversity to hosting events aimed at galvanizing and empowering our team members. Last fall, CRA was recognized by RippleMatch as one of NextGen100 companies working to support the next generation of talent—a testament to our ongoing efforts to make our workforce as diverse and dynamic as possible. Our DE&I efforts in 2022 have been equally encouraging: rebranding and relaunching two employee resource groups; events celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month and Black History Month—the list goes on. While implementing DE&I programs can be a big undertaking for any organization, CRA is up for the challenge. Click below for more CRA DE&I insights!
A Year of DE&I Milestones at CRA
Interested in a career in consulting? Get ready for a summer of opportunity! During the month of July, CRA is hosting a series of virtual events for students to connect and learn more about CRA culture and the types of consulting we do. Wonder what it’s like to work in Intellectual Property, Life Sciences, Finance or other practice areas? Colleagues from across the globe in different practice areas will offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on what it’s like to be a CRA consultant. To register for one (or more) of our sessions, click the link below!
Meet CRA | Sign Up for an Informational Session
At Charles River Associates, we pride ourselves on having a culture that makes the wellbeing of our team members a priority. Over the past two years, we’ve had to reimagine what employee health and wellness looks like—as living rooms turned into offices and online meetings became our primary form of communication. During the past year, CRA launched several successful initiatives and programs aimed at supporting the physical and mental health of our team members. Our six wellness challenges included a virtual 5k that drew over 100 participants, while our virtual babysitters club provided free entertainment so parents could take a break. We even launched an inaugural class of Wellness Ambassadors. This year may come with unique challenges, but CRA has new ideas ready to put into action, such as self-paced training and tip sheets for maintaining mental health. With the continuous evolution of our wellness program and the introduction of bold initiatives, we look forward to a healthy and invigorating year ahead.
Benefits & Wellness with CRA+ | Year in Review
At CRA, our favorite present is the gift of giving. In that spirit, our Chicago office holds an annual holiday giving campaign. This year, we had the privilege of working with the Heartland Alliance, an organization that focuses on advancing human rights and dignity through providing services, including housing. Through them, CRA Chicago adopted two families. To support these families, our colleagues donated over 60 gifts, ranging from winter coats and boots to bedding and kitchen essentials—and toys too, of course. The families will also receive various gift cards. We are deeply honored to be able to make this holiday season more festive and warmer for two families in need. From our CRA family to yours, we wish everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season.
At CRA, our favorite present is the gift of giving. In that spirit, our Chicago office holds an annual holiday giving campaign. This year, we had the privilege of working with the Heartland Alliance, an organization that focuses on advancing human rights and dignity through providing services, including housing. Through them, CRA Chicago adopted two families. To support these families, our colleagues donated over 60 gifts, ranging from winter coats and boots to bedding and kitchen essentials—and toys too, of course. The families will also receive various gift cards. We are deeply honored to be able to make this holiday season more festive and warmer for two families in need. From our CRA family to yours, we wish everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season.
We strongly believe that our success as a firm depends on having engaged and happy employees. From the moment someone joins our team, our goal is to give them the resources and tools they need to not only do their work (and do it well), but to expand their skillset and grow in their career. To that end, we’re pleased to announce our inclusion on Next Gen's 2021 list of top 100 companies that support and empower the next generation of talent. At CRA, we are continually creating programs and initiatives to not only recruit diverse and dynamic talent, but to keep it. We thank RippleMatch Next Gen 100 for recognizing our dedication to every member of our team, as we continue creating ways to support our team members on their career journeys.
Charles River Associates is a Top 100 Next Gen Workplace | 2021
On the heels of LGBTQIA+ history month, we wanted to do something to remind our team members that Pride isn’t about a single day, week or month. It’s about raising awareness and building community—day in, day out, and year by year. To that end, we’re making Pride-themed lanyards available to team members in our CRA offices. This photo was taken in our London office just last week. It’s a small gesture, but one we feel will help keep the critical issue of LGBTQIA+ rights on everyone’s minds.
On the heels of LGBTQIA+ history month, we wanted to do something to remind our team members that Pride isn’t about a single day, week or month. It’s about raising awareness and building community—day in, day out, and year by year. To that end, we’re making Pride-themed lanyards available to team members in our CRA offices. This photo was taken in our London office just last week. It’s a small gesture, but one we feel will help keep the critical issue of LGBTQIA+ rights on everyone’s minds.