DC Builds DC Hiring Event Connects DC Residents with Open Construction Careers
Hire Local DC’s latest interview event matched job-ready candidates from DC’s training network with local construction employers hiring for open roles.
Washington, DC – On Thursday, October 15, at least 84% of the 80 candidates at a Hire Local DC hiring event for the DC Builds DC Construction Sector Partnership received job offers or advanced in the interview process with one or more of 20 participating construction companies and unions. Candidates came to the event through Hire Local DC's network of education and training providers. The event took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library through a robust partnership between Hire Local DC and D.C. Public Library.
The results reflect a shift in how DC's construction employers find talent. Through Hire Local DC, employers share their hiring needs directly with training providers, who then prepare candidates to meet those needs. Employers come to each event with open positions and leave having met a pool of qualified DC residents in a single day.
"This experience is completely different from your typical job fair," said Erin Bibo, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at CityWorks DC. "At most job fairs, you're in a crowded room competing for a minute of a recruiter's time for jobs that may not even exist. Here, you know which jobs employers are recruiting for, you've prepared with an informed training provider ahead of time, and you sit down for a real one-on-one interview. You get specific feedback from each interview, including assessments on what you did well and where you need to improve."
Hire Local DC is jointly convened by CityWorks DC and the Federal City Council. Its nine interview events to date have produced over 600 construction and hospitality job offers or final-stage interviews for DC residents.
“Every employer here today has real openings to fill, and rand* is no exception," said Victor Tejada, Talent Acquisition Manager at rand* Construction. "I’ve been impressed by how prepared and well-informed the candidates are, and that’s because of the Hire Local DC team. They held a virtual information session last week, so candidates and their training providers already knew about rand*, our openings, and what we look for. We’re grateful for the work they do and proud to be part of it."
Throughout the day, CityWorks DC staff and volunteers ran a candidate support room that offered help to every participant.
"I felt really prepared going into today”, said Thomas Boggan, a candidate from UPO who advanced in the hiring process with two employers for electrical roles. “My coach, Ms. Patrice, gave me great advice to prepare. She knows a lot of the employers here today and really knew what they were looking for. And everyone here today was so welcoming. I felt like I had so many people cheering me on.”
Training providers see the difference as well. "One of our alumni was hired at a DC Builds DC interview event about a year ago. The whole experience for him was so affirming, and he was so excited to start,” said Clarence Cross III, Associate Director of College & Career Pathways at Friendship Public Charter Schools. “However, when he was assigned his first work site, he quickly realized that even if he caught the first Metro of the day, he wasn’t able to make it to the site on time. I called the Hire Local DC team straight away, and they called the company on the candidate’s behalf to see what could be done. They reassigned him to a different site, and he was able to stay on the job. I cannot tell you how unusual this is. In many cases, schools and training programs don’t have that level of access to or relationships with company leadership. My students and I know they are in such good hands here, and they have a whole team working hard behind the scenes to support them.”
Hire Local DC works toward two connected goals. The first is ensuring the city's youth and young adults are equipped for, hired into, and thriving in quality jobs across the District and region. The second is building local industries' confidence in hiring homegrown talent to meet workforce demand. Hiring events are one part of a larger strategy that includes sector-specific training, employer partnerships, and ongoing support for new hires.
Hire Local DC's first Impact Report, released earlier this year, reviews the first four years of work with DC's construction and hospitality sectors, shares key learnings and best practices, and outlines what it takes to sustain lasting systems change. Read the Impact Report 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 Hire Local DC
Hire Local DC is a collaboration between CityWorks DC and the Federal City Council, convening employers and strategic partners together to ensure that DC residents obtain DC’s “good” jobs. Hire Local DC believes that when companies hire local talent, their businesses thrive, our residents thrive, and our local economy thrives.
