DC Builds DC Interview Event Connects Local Talent with Construction Careers
16 DMV construction companies interviewed 117 local candidates for entry-level and management positions.
Washington, DC – CityWorks DC and the Federal City Council hosted the latest DC Builds DC Interview Event, connecting 117 District residents with hiring managers from 16 leading construction companies. The event, part of the ongoing DC Builds DC sector partnership, offered candidates on-the-spot interviews for high-demand jobs across the region’s growing construction sector. 83 (71%) of the candidates were offered roles or advanced in the hiring process.
Job seekers came prepared to interview for various entry- and mid-level positions, including project management, carpentry, electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, CAD/BIM coordination, and field engineering. While some positions required postsecondary credentials, others offered direct access to skilled trades careers with strong advancement potential and on-the-job training.
The event drew strong participation from both candidates and employers. Companies such as Freestate Electrical Service Company, Clark Construction, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsworkers, DPR Construction, Miller & Long, Davis, Poole & Kent, Gilbane, and Coakley Williams Construction engaged in back-to-back interviews throughout the day.
“We were impressed by the caliber of candidates we met,” said Iyssa Schwartz, Self Perform Lead at DPR Construction. “We’ve attended previous DC Builds DC Interview Events, and the candidates are more and more prepared each time.”
Stephen Showalter, a DCPS graduate pursuing an Engineering degree at the University of Pittsburgh, successfully interviewed for a Summer Associate role. “This event as a whole was an amazing experience and opportunity for me and the larger DCPS community. Between both interviews I took part in, I learned different things and could see the many different ways an interview can be conducted.”
Dr. Erin Ward Bibo, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at CityWorks DC, emphasized the partnership's growing impact: “We’re seeing real, measurable progress and evidence that the feedback loop we’ve created through DC Builds DC. Every interview and hire is another proof point that this model works—not just for companies looking to fill roles but for DC residents looking to build lasting, meaningful careers.”
“DC Builds DC is an exemplar of employer engagement in building up the sector’s local workforce pipeline,” said Kevin Clinton, Chief Program Officer of the Federal City Council, which co-convenes the Hire Local DC Sector Partnerships. “When employers and education & training providers can effectively coordinate, we increase DC resident’s access to careers in construction.”
Leading up to the event, CityWorks DC provided candidates with job-readiness coaching and interview preparation, ensuring applicants understood employer expectations and could speak confidently about their qualifications. The participating companies also collaborated to design a shared rubric outlining core competencies for success in these roles.
This latest event builds on the momentum of previous DC Builds DC hiring efforts, which have helped 270 DC residents secure job offers or advance to final-round interviews across the construction and hospitality industries. Organizers credited the success to deep collaboration between employers, workforce training providers, and local educators, all working together to close opportunity gaps and meet the region’s growing labor demands.
Learn more about DC Builds DC here.
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About CityWorks DC
CityWorks DC's mission is to dramatically improve the early career outcomes of DC youth and young adults of color by creating innovative programs and by mobilizing employers, educators, and city leaders to create a local, diverse talent pipeline. CityWorks DC seeks to ensure that young people acquire industry-valued credentials; paid, relevant work experience; and social capital, so that they can secure meaningful work that enables them to thrive. To do this, CityWorks DC launches innovative programs that work directly with young people to help them build family-sustaining careers, create personal wealth, and drive economic growth, and leads citywide initiatives designed to ensure lasting change. To learn more about the organization’s programs and partnerships, visit cityworksdc.org.
About Federal City Council
FC2 is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing civic life in the nation’s capital. Our members, which include 250 leaders in the private, nonprofit and civic sectors, are working to use their influence as employers and hiring decision-makers to help ensure that DC residents attain good jobs in proven, workforce-aligned career pathways that pay family-sustaining salaries. To learn more about the organization’s programs, visit https://www.federalcitycouncil.org/.
