Duncan Aviation recently hosted a career fair tailored for local refugees with legal status to work in the U.S. and by doing so, are stepping up to the Prosper Lincoln agenda focus on Employment Skills.
Refugees are men and women who have escaped religious, ethnic or political persecution in their homelands and are welcomed by the U. S. Department of State. They arrive with their legal status intact and are ready to work. Contrary to negative stereotypes, refugees are often skilled, capable and resilient individuals, who hold qualifications and practical experience across various areas of work.
The career fair event was spurred from an interest to learn more about the skills and experiences of a currently untapped talent pool. Bryan Seck, one of Prosper Lincoln’s Employment Skills Developers, connected Duncan Aviation with agencies that serve refugees.
“As with every hire, we hire qualified candidates who are competitive for an open position and speak/write the required level of English,” says Leon Holloway, Human Resources Manager at Duncan Aviation.
Refugees who are not fluent in English learn the language by enrolling in (ESL) English Second Language classes at one of the partnering organizations including: Good Neighbor Community Center, Lutheran Family Services, Center for People in Need and Lincoln Literacy or at Southeast Community College soon after arrival and progress quickly as they learn from those around them. It is not uncommon to meet a refugee who speaks two or more other languages while also learning English—a clear demonstration of their capacity to take on new challenges and learn new languages.
Several Duncan Aviation departments hosted booths at the career fair including Facilities and Custodial Services, Material Services/Warehouse, Aircraft Interior Modifications, and Airframe Maintenance to expose jobseekers to a variety of career opportunities at the company. The event was very successful with approximately 40 job seekers and case managers attending throughout the day.
“A common misconception is applicants must have previous experience working on airplanes, or have an advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering.,” said Jennifer Monroe, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist. “That is not necessarily the case. Although we did meet a number of talented Engineers during this process, which is definitely a bonus!”
Positions are available that require little previous experience and provide on-the-job training.
Learn more about open positions hiring now. https://www.duncanaviation.aero/careers/
Is your business hiring? Interested in hosting a similar event? Contact Josh Redfield (Joshua.redfield@nebraska.gov) of EmployLNK. EmployLNK is the new name of the Lincoln Business Task Force which continues to bring together workforce development agencies as they connect employers with job seekers.