Working with New Americans: From Recruiting to Upskilling

Over 80% of Colorado’s 570,000+ New Americans are of working age, and 32% of New Americans aged 25 and older have a bachelor's or advanced degree.

To support employers with harnessing the potential of this talent pool, the Office of New Americans has created a free webinar and training series titled, “Working with New Americans: From Recruiting to Upskilling.” Each episode covers foundational strategies and lists action steps per topic. The concepts in this series will serve employers from small to large and in any industry. Reach out to anthony.cherwinski@state.co.us with questions about establishing New American hiring initiatives or improving current strategies to support New American employees at your company.
 

In Part 1 of this webinar series, key takeaways include:
Recruiting
1. Identify New American serving community based organizations in your area and contact them. 
- Search engine query, “Refugee and immigrant serving community organizations” specific to your area.
2. Establish contact with state-driven workforce centers
3. Attend job fairs that target New Americans

In Part 2 of this webinar series, key takeaways include:
Applications and Interviewing
1. Applicant tracking systems
- Audit your metrics with an equity lens
2. Job descriptions
- Language Access
- Use plain languageIf English is required, specifically identify the language need in the job description 
3. Consider years of experience & equivalency
4. Consider different interview styles
- Paid working interviews
- Behavior based interviews
- Show the job before you offer the job

In Part 3 of this webinar series, key takeaways include:
Managing
1. Establish a mentor or buddy system
2. Create a “check-in” timeline for supervisors
3. Provide interpretation or translation when needed for trainings and safety
4. Establish employee resource groups
5. Language Access
- Translate signage
- Use images
- Color coding

Upskilling
1. Provide English language learning programs
- There are free options!
2. Communicate advancement opportunities through multiple mediums 
3. Offer schedule flexibility to support advancement
4. Tap into your existing team!
- Review experience and backgrounds of existing employees!