MEDA’s Workforce Development team knows the needs of its low-income clients and working families, two-thirds of whom are immigrants. For 2016, there were already 171 job placements by the end of October. MEDA is investing in people’s lives and rebuilding the Mission’s Latino community — a community where over 25 percent have been displaced since 2000. That’s 8,000 community members forced from their homes in an ever-pricier Mission District. Stable jobs are a vital piece of the strategy for sustainable community development.
To meet clients’ needs, the nonprofit partnered with Manpower to hold a job fair on Wednesday at Plaza Adelante, MEDA’s Mission neighborhood center. About 65 dressed-to-the-nines jobseekers showed up with well-honed resumes in hands and their personal branding memorized. That’s because MEDA’s free job training includes comprehensive employment services. There are even mock interviews so jobseekers can be prepared for any curveballs thrown at them. Those are interviewer questions like, “What’s your worst quality?”
Some came today for part-time, seasonal work to supplement their household income, while others sought full-time positions as they looked to further their careers.
Some major Bay Area employers were on hand to meet with MEDA’s pre-screened clients. There were such retailers as Bloomingdale’s, Forever 21, H&M, Macy’s, Old Navy and UNIQLO. Clift Hotel, Fairmont, Hyatt and W San Francisco represented the hotel industry. Coffee purveyor Starbucks was on hand, too.
All of these employers came to the job fair at MEDA because they know the diligent Workforce Development team has done the legwork our clients. MEDA’s goal is to streamline finding ideal candidates, making recruiters’ own jobs easier.
MEDA Job Coach Robert Lopez spearheaded the event’s logistics, bringing clients and employers into one space to make connections. “I was excited to see so many clients come out. I was equally excited to see so many companies stop by. They trust in our job training process and that we have pre-screened the best candidates to fill their positions.”
One such candidate was Liova from the Excelsior. Lopez has been working with the young man for a month, helping him prepare for landing the part-time job he’s been seeking. Liova’s interviews went well today, so Lopez is certain the young man will land a job that best meets his needs.
It was quite clear that some jobseekers would even get multiple job offers.
With the success of today’s job fair, Workforce Development is looking to plan another two more such events: one in the first quarter of next year, plus another in summer 2017. Stay tuned for details.
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If you are interested in free job training, please contact us at (415) 282-3334 ext. 160; workforce@medasf.org.
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