FIESTA President Theresa Cruz wants companies to actively break down barriers in pursuit of hiring employees from more diverse backgrounds. To do this, Cruz said companies must “meet employees where they’re at.”
FIESTA is a Florence-based non-profit that provides food, clothing and community resources for the Hispanic community. Cruz’s role allows her to work directly with Northern Kentucky’s growing Spanish-speaking population. As such, local employers often ask her how to better reach the region’s fastest-growing demographic.
Cruz participated in a three-person panel on how local companies can hire diverse talent hosted last week by the Covington Business Council. She was joined by Lamarr Couser, the national employment director of the Disabled American Veterans in Erlanger, and Dale Zdolshek, the director of employment development at Life Learning Center in Covington.
Each organization deals with groups facing barriers to employment, whether it’s the Spanish-speaking community, returning veterans or people grappling with poverty and unemployment. Together, the trio discussed how employers can deploy better strategies and practices to break down barriers to help local companies hire more diverse talent.
From Cruz’s perspective, Spanish-speaking job candidates face a number of challenges during the hiring process, including language and technology barriers. Cruz cited the example of filling out an online job application in your non-native language, which can be difficult for potential employees.
Beyond that, those challenges can sometimes permeate into the workplace, bringing cultural differences to the forefront of the shop floor.
To chisel away at those barriers, Cruz advocates for cultural competency training for staff, offering English classes and elevating welcoming Spanish-speaking voices in the workplace that can get staff on the same page.
“I think just employers getting to know who it is that they’re hiring, and getting to know the culture that would eliminate a barrier, and also training their staff in cultural competency goes a long way,” she said.
Zdolshek shared Cruz’s sentiment of “meeting people where they’re at.” His position at the Life Learning Center allows him to oversee the nonprofit’s Foundations for a Better Life program. This 12-week training program helps clients coming from the justice system, in addiction recovery or living in poverty secure gainful employment by addressing financial, spiritual, emotional and relational topics.
Upon graduation, Zdolshek said program representatives stay in contact with graduates, offering them support and encouragement. This establishes a relationship between instructors and graduates, which he said is crucial for maintaining their confidence.
“That establishes the relationship that you need to have, and the importance of that is so key in the success of individuals that are transforming their lives and giving them the support that’s needed,” he said.
Couser said one of the biggest challenges for veterans seeking employment is translating skills they learned in the military to regular jobs. To combat this, Couser said employers should be aware that the military teaches enlistees essential soft skills such as working in diverse groups.
“They’re lifelong learners, so they’re easy to train a new skill set,” he said. “They’re perseverant, they’re hardworking, they’re dedicated, they’re mission-oriented. They understand how to work in diverse groups.”
If organizations like his own can inform employers that many veterans possess these sought-after soft skills, it will help destigmatize veterans during the hiring process.
