An educational software company based in Smithtown has been recruiting employees from among the ranks of Stony Brook University students – to the tune of hundreds of employees ever since its owner began the practice in 2000.
William Stevens, owner of Eduware and former teacher, has hired more than 50 alumni and students in the past three years and has 26 current and former SBU students as employees, according to the university's Career Center, which has helped facilitate the hiring process.
"The Career Center has been essential in helping me find exceptional employees," Stevens said in a statement. "It's a good business practice and a win-win."
He's even moved his business from Huntington to Smithtown to be more convenient for his student employees. Students have landed jobs at Eduware as computer programmers, graphic designers, office managers, customer support, social media advertising, and more.
One of those students, Pavel Jamal, said he had only basic knowledge about making a website when Stevens hired him.
"Through my studies and after working here for the last four years, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in web development," said Jamal, a computer science major in a five-year bachelor's and master's program. "I can definitely call myself a professional web developer.”
