Forbes has ranked Dordt University 176 out of 300 on America’s Best Small Employers list.
Forbes partnered with Statista, a national market research firm, to create the list, which began from an initial group of 10,000 businesses and was narrowed down to 300 through surveys, social media listening, and tracking on job-related websites.
“For Dordt to receive Forbes’ recognition as an outstanding small employer is gratifying, particularly since ‘joy-filled work’ is one of Dordt’s six strategic initiatives,” says President Dr. Erik Hoekstra. “I’ve been blessed to work at Dordt for more than a decade, and my sense of why our team members experience Dordt as a great employer is two-fold. First, the laser-focused missional alignment, and second, that we see our fellow team members as created image bearers of God and we care for one another in ways that reflect authentic Christian community.”
Dordt University’s mission is to equip students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal.
“At Dordt we have a very intentional hiring process,” says Sue Droog, executive director of human resources and organizational development. “We work to identify people who support our mission and are the most educated and qualified in their field—and it shows. We have very low turnover because of it.”
Part of Dordt University’s hiring process includes reading and responding to Dordt’s Educational Task and Framework which gives prospective employees an in-depth opportunity to learn more about Dordt’s foundational beliefs and purpose, before participating in the interview process.
At Dordt, promoting joy-filled work means viewing work as purposeful and meaningful service to Christ and his kingdom. This understanding flows right from the university’s mission.
“Our faculty and staff believe in our mission and are fully committed to doing their part to equip students to go out and live lives of service to God and their neighbors and impact our culture for Christ,” says Droog. “When you believe so fully in a mission like our faculty and staff do—everything sort of falls into place. A shared vision and excitement for that vision helps us in our daily work and in our planning and ideas for moving forward into the future.”
