Hey everyone, I'm Sarah! Show of hands, how many of you have ever heard of a company called "SAS"? Great! For those of you who haven't heard of SAS, well, you're in luck. Today I am going to tell you all about this amazing organization. From it's history to it's corporate culture and career opportunities, we are going to learn what makes this company stand out among the rest!

SAS is both a software and a company. The primary purpose of SAS is to help organizations understand and evaluate data so they can better utilize it---SAS transforms data so other companies get a fresh perspective about their business. In addition to providing software to other companies, SAS also provides assistance to their clientele.

First, let’s talk about the history and background of SAS!

While the company was founded in 1976, the need for a computerized systems program had been present for quite some time. There were no organizations that could fulfill this role---that was until SAS was developed. SAS, which stands for “Statistical Analysis System” grew its roots in NC State, which housed the resources that could take on such a big system.

"More than 300 people attended the first SAS users conference in 1976...by 1978, there were 21 employees and 600 SAS sites" (SAS); over the coming years, SAS would grow exponentially into the huge success it is today. As of January 2014, SAS is ranked #2 on FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For list (SAS).

The culture of the workplace is important because it encompasses the nature of the company, both internally and externally. SAS states that they have “an enduring commitment to employees, environment and communities.” So what exactly does this mean?

When it comes to employees, they base their relationships on trust and flexibility and aim to reduce stress. Amenities and programs including art studious and on-site health care facilities are always available.

SAS' environmental program minimizes the ecological impacts of business in 3 ways: reducing costs through managing resource consumption, growing eco-friendly business markets, and responsibly meeting the expectations of customers, government and the public.

SAS has a vast amount of career opportunities. From full-time positions to internships, individuals can find multiple avenues that are tailored to their interests and needs. Because of SAS' global presence, individuals can also broaden their horizons by working in offices outside of the U.S.

For those interested in computer programming, software development, tech support, and IT, SAS has something to offer you! For individuals who are looking for real-world experience, but who can only commit part-time, an internship at SAS might be more suitable.

***The Career Fair held at NC State will be at the McKimmons Center on Friday, October 3rd from 10am-3pm where SAS will have a station with representatives available to speak with interested students.***

I really enjoyed talking with you all about the SAS Institute. I hope you learned a lot about what the company is about and found it interesting. Maybe you might want to work for this company some day!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me---you can email me at sehooks@ncsu.edu.

***If you would like to find out more about SAS, you can go to their website: http://www.sas.com/en_us/home.html