How do we build high-caliber bilingual [Spanish+ English] talent? What programs should be used? Should they be public, private, non-profit, or a combination of the three? Why does it matter? Background Bilingual talent, without a doubt, is the fastest-growing workforce pool in the nation. Whether it's private, public or non-profit vacancies, speaking Spanish is a preferred skill and often a requirement. Talent is the life and blood of any organization. The leadership is the heart. The operations is the left arm. The staff is the right arm. I hope you pardon my anatomy analogy, but hope it makes sense. The talent is what keeps the organization going. So how do we build bilingual talent? Build Wings Leadership should provide avenues of opportunity to mentor and shape the organization's bilingual talent through putting this talent through management simulations. If you have a committee or project, put young Maya in the hot seat and evaluate her performance. Test her ability to … [Read more...]

Outreaching and recruiting bilingual [Spanish+ English] talent for your organization is not difficult. Often, we take the easy left versus taking the harder right. Often, we depend on spamming everyone directly to their inbox. Often, we are looking in the wrong place and have no plan to get there. First, bilingual talent is much like non-bilingual talent. We are motivated. We are determined. We are interested in better career opportunities. We just happen to be fluent in Spanish. Or Japanese, Arabic or French. Some organizations want to recruit on the cheap and put very little financial and human resources to work (both internal and external). If you are trying to recruit someone with a particular language skill is it cost efficient to advertise in general outlets or niche-specific outlets? If you are trying to recruit someone for a social media position, would you advertise on radio, TV, print or use Twitter and Facebook? Would you hire a non-bilingual headhunter for bilingual … [Read more...]

Inspired by a late night call with a bilingual [Spanish+ English] candidate in Woodburn, Oregon who was hesitating to push her business career forward because of a bridge down stream, I advised her not to worry about those details or crossing the bridge until she gets there. Often in this journey of life, we purposely set up mental roadblocks that provide ammunition for our wired brains to begin creating reasons and justifications for not crossing that bridge--even before we are even there. Worse yet, we are further led on by those around us to not do it. Simply put: cross that bridge when you get there. Not sooner. Advancing your career begins with pre-planning and aiming for that bridge. Cross it when you get there. Now.. David Molina is the co-founder/CEO of BilingualHire, Inc. He can be reached on his cell at: +1-503-708-4614, email: david@bilingualhireco.com or on Twitter. … [Read more...]

Over the course of the last two weeks, I communicated with 49 bilingual [Spanish+ English] candidates both online and offline, 12 of which were interested in a client's staff vacancy, and resulting in meeting 4 individuals in back-to-back meetings. Ultimately, I submitted 4 bilingual candidates forward. A lot can be learned from meeting face to face and the value is incredible. First, we learn from the opposite end, that is how the receiving end sees the picture, to gain a complete 360 picture. The candidate learns more precisely from an independent and external source about the position. A birds eye view. In turn, we learn about the interest of the candidate. The candidate in turn learns about us. The value of meeting face to face provide us the opportunity to share information and insight, gain a fresher perspective and build trust. Recently, I was going through Trust Agents by co-authors Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, which reminded me that in a world of interconnectivity, the … [Read more...]

What goes in your resume will determine whether or not you will go before an interviewing committee. Organizations have systems (automated or human) that look for key words, including: experiences (professional or volunteer), knowledge (academics), skills and abilities (i.e. can you lead, do sales, aggressive marketer, Latino community outreach etc.). The majority will base their decision on your professional experience and your references, so it is important you be as detailed as possible, and think through it. Every resume must be tailored to the position you are applying for. Keep it to one page (unless its a curriculum vitae or CV) and have someone with a good eye review it. Here is a collection of "must include in your resume" tips when applying through BilingualHire: Name/Contact Information: Ensure you put your full at the very top. Ensure you put your home address. And, make sure you put down a way to get a hold of you. Include your direct phone number (cell phone works … [Read more...]

In 2004, when we launched we didn't know (like any start-up) where this was going, how far and to what extent. Then, our company, Beaverton-OR based RED Consulting Group LLP, was hired by one of our very first clients, The Linfield College-Portland campus to help recruit the Director of Multicultural Programs and a Financial Aid & Scholarship Counselor. Over the years we've worked closely with Linfield College on their bilingual staffing needs. Fortunately, this has been a win-win for both our organizations placing three high-caliber bilingual talent (this is our fourth) which have helped Linfield meet their business needs. Today, we are in the midst of once again meeting the bilingual staffing needs of Linfield in their quest to fill the Financial Aid & Scholarship Outreach Counselor post. In short time, we'll be interviewing and submitting the resumes/cover letters of pre-screened high-caliber bilingual talent to join the Linfield team. We are extraordinarily grateful to be … [Read more...]

Last Friday, at the invitation of MEChA Statewide, a non-profit formed by community leaders and teachers to provide programs and support for Oregon's MEChA high school chapters, I participated at the '09 MEChA Leadership Institute hosted at Portland Community College at Rock Creek. The MEChA Leadership Institute, a yearly premier training for Oregon high school MEChA officers (president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, public relations and historians), is held annually to develop, mentor and prepare the officers for leadership responsibilities. I first moderated a large discussion group related to MEChA covering educational excellence, school involvement, community involvement and cultural awareness. The second session was on MEChA Officer Development, roles and responsibilities of the Presidents/Vice President. The Sessions There were a total of 18 Oregon high schools and 1 middle school represented. I was happy to run into several students from Hillsboro whom I had met … [Read more...]

In the U.S., first generation (foreign born) parents have difficulty sending their kids to college. All? Not all, but a good number. Is it because they don't know the admissions and financial aid process? Maybe. Is it because of being overprotective (especially Latino dads)? Part of it. Or is it because they don't know what to expect? Partly, yes. First generation parents more than likely have not visited a college campus, have never been to an orientation or heard directly from university admissions officials speak about the U.S. college experience, unless perhaps one of their teenagers has gone onto college. What Do We Want To Know? For Latino parents, like all parents, we want to know what this college is about. Sleeping quarters? Safety? Where are my kids going to eat? More than the day-to-day, will my kids get the care, attention and support they need to finish college? Is there student support services? Are there advocates for my kids? Will they succeed? This last point is a … [Read more...]

An interesting thing happened recently on a conversation I had with a colleague who recently did a job interview. While this person was best qualified for the position, and as much you can prepare for the interview, i.e. understand the organization from top to bottom, interviewed folks from within, and review all external reports on the organization, etc., nothing can prepare you for the unexpected. So if your interviewing read on. 1. Before the Interview. Understand what you are getting yourself into. Prepare yourself mentally. Don't just understand the job, understand everything about you. What you perceive as your strength might be construed as a weakness in someone's mind. Interview with someone, and then interview with someone completely different. The idea is to get comfortable answering the questions. 2. The Interview. The interviewing committee will be composed of individuals from throughout the organization, or department and are stakeholders. Each interviewing person … [Read more...]

It's no surprise bilingual [Spanish+ English] talent love the web. My mom, Catalina, has a Facebook page and connects with our cousins in Nayarit, Mexico. Today, we are more mobile and connected globally than ever before. As sales of mobile phones drop, and increased sales of smart-phones gain share, more people worldwide will change how business is done. This is smart business. This too changes the fast and furious online network. For instance, Facebook now serves over 300+ million users worldwide and has surpassed MySpace as the premier online community. In 2006, San Francisco, CA-based Twitter, a micro-blogging messaging service, launched and today boasts a monthly 1,383 percent growth (compared to Facebook 228 percent) rate. Recent reports note that employers now search the web for who you are, what you do and the image your portray. Additionally, many professionals utilize LinkedIn, where we can list our work experience, accomplishments and honors and connect with other … [Read more...]