Smarter Utility

 

TMCNet: Companies recruit workers at Latino Job Fair

[March 07, 2010]

Companies recruit workers at Latino Job Fair

Mar 06, 2010 (The Virginian-Pilot - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- VIRGINIA BEACH -- Brothers Axel and Anthony Oquendo have been looking for a job for months, scouring Web sites and filing applications all over the city.


But they finally had some success this afternoon after an interview at the third annual Latino Job Fair. Celinda Appleby, a corporate recruiter with Bell Nursery, said she'd likely offer them a position at one of the company's local gardens.

The duo said the fair made it easier to find a job.

"I'm glad they did it," said Axel Oquendo. "It made me more comfortable." The event, hosted by Spanish radio station Selecta 1050 AM, brought together 15 employers from throughout Hampton Roads looking for Latino workers. About 500 people attended the fair in the school gymnasium at St. Gregory's Catholic Church on Virginia Beach Boulevard.

"The vendors that are committed to doing the job fair are companies that really want to diversify their workforce," said Andy Hindlin, Selecta's president and general manager. "So it's important for them to be in touch with the Latino community." "They're looking for people with degrees, they're looking for people with bilingual skills, they're looking for people with strong backs, customer service," he added, "They all have different priorities." Verizon Wireless was looking for bilingual sales representatives. Norfolk Southern Corp. recruited managers and train conductors. Home Depot wanted help remodeling homes.

Meanwhile, the Army scouted for potential soldiers and the Norfolk and Virginia Beach police departments searched for new officers. All said they wanted more Latinos in their ranks.

"Right now we are in need of Hispanic officers to be able to assist the community better than we're doing now," said Norfolk police Officer Damaso Medel. "The population keeps growing more and more." The Mexican consulate also offered help with updating immigration paperwork and work visas.

Eileen Comas said she was encouraged after finding job opportunities at Verizon Wireless and as a Spanish-speaking police dispatcher. She's only had two interviews in the last 15 months, she said.

"It's been very difficult to find employment," Comas said. But "I found two or three good ones." To post a resume for free, visit the Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.hrhcc.org.

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com To see more of the The Virginian-Pilot, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pilotonline.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

[ Back To Homepage ]