If you've recently visited BilingualHire, you'll notice a few, slight and minor changes around the edges. This includes the header links, the online banner and the new contact us form. We made these mostly to make your life easier eg. if your looking for a job, and need to find something in your area quickly. The online banner, "Need diversity? Attract bilingual talent here. Post a job now" redirects organizations HR departments to our new BilingualHire contact us form. The easy to fillout form asks for the basics, but it helps us quickly figure out where we could help. The cool thing about the form is that as founders we get inundated with emails both personal and work related that are asking us for our attention and the info provided here gets forever stored and saved so we don't lose your request. As many founders/business owners/entrepreneurs/executive directors/managers/leaders (fill in the blank) will attest, we hate losing, misplacing and forever missing your comunique that is … [Read more...]

Quite often I come into contact w/ recruiters looking to fill business, marketing, public relations and sales posts within their organizations. Those that are just getting the hang of the U.S. Latino market will "shotgun advertise" in a variety of channels, to include, newspaper, TV, radio, and social media outlets, often with some great success. The seasoned recruiters however will point to MEChA as an pool of high caliber, self-driven, and results-oriented individuals who understand the U.S. Latino market more than any other student talent pool (disclaimer: over the last 10-yrs more similar organizations have launched). Why is that? How MEChA is Viewed: The Not So Great, and the Great. On the one end, MEChA is grossly misunderstood and misrepresented by individuals of specific political stripes who point to the organizations 1960s founding documents as proof of their arguments. To be clear, MEChA exists solely within the confines of the U.S. educational establishment (middle, … [Read more...]

We recently added Disqus (pronounced, "discuss"), a comment system to make it easier for you to comment here on BilingualHire and for us to have an interactive discussion. Why Comment? Other than because we appreciate your thoughts, insight, questions and ideas, we value what you have to say. Comments provide a glimpse into whether we are making any sense; whether we are on the right track, or we are veering off. Comments provide welcome critique to help us refine, improve and advance our points. The More You Write, The Better You Get: Trust us. Writing is an art. A science. Really, the more you write, the more you get better at it. Whether you comment here, or you comment on another website, Twitter or Facebook, you should comment. You'll feel better you did. Who knows-- your thoughts may spur a discussion, a debate. That's always the intent. It's that simple. Your turn. As always, Edith and I value what YOU have to say. David Molina is the Founder and CEO of … [Read more...]

Guest Blogger: Randy Nuñez - "Six Tips In Pursuit of Your Next Job" If you are looking for a job, here's six tips in pursuit of your next job: Create at least two versions of your resume - functional and chronological. Create network accounts - LinkedIn.com, is the world's largest professional network helping people find and share opportunities. The key in LinkedIn to use the "search" box to find people you are interested in meeting and connect! It's essentially your online resume, bio & recommendations. Create online accounts - Idealist.org, and in fields you are interested. In education? Visit HigherEdJobs.com for the latest in your local area. Important - have at least one network meeting a week. Have a coffee or lunch meeting with a former boss, someone who works in your interested field, etc. Talking to people regularly is the key. Attend seminars, conferences, and other functions in areas you are interested in to stay on top of the latest trends and meet new people … [Read more...]

No this isn't a post about monkeys, gorillas and primates, it's a post about the one person in the room and building that's your advocate. Previously, I wrote Who's Your Jovita Lopez on mentors, servant leaders and knowledge base. Best case scenario, these individuals mentor and shape the next generation. They provide counsel, insight, share standard operating procedures (SOPs) and help you identify where the landmines are (where to watch out). They exist in the corporate, public and community sector. It is the reason there is continuity in any organization. In the workplace, the 800 Pound Gorilla advocates for you and your potential. They see something unique about you and strive to help. They put their entire weight behind you and help advance your career. Find and identify them. Make the ask. They want to help. Help them help you. The best 800 Pound Gorilla identify's, mentors and counsels the next generation on a daily basis. They do it with urgency and understand it is fastest … [Read more...]

Three-years ago this Memorial Day, I was deployed to the Joint Personal Effects Depot (JPED) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland along w/ over two hundred Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and DoD Civilian Contractors conducting a war-time mission first established on 9/11 at The Pentagon. JPED is ground zero and the solemn place where we received all the personal belongings of every American service member killed or wounded in Iraq & Afghanistan and meticulously received, inventoried and resent those memories back to the families of the fallen or service member stationed at Walter Reed, a military base or at home. During Memorial Day 2003, my brother LCpl Victor Molina, a Marine, was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. Like many, our hearts sunk when he deployed but were relieved when he returned safely home. Today, our country is engaged in two full-scale wars in Iraq & Afghanistan and while Iraq is winding down, our loved ones don't deploy alone; we deploy w/ them. We remember them and … [Read more...]

Blogger and author, Seth Godin, recently published Linchpin: Are You Indispensable. In a nutshell, there are three types of individuals Godin argues there are: beuracrats, workers, and linchpins on this earth. I'll skip the first two and focus on Linchpins. These are individuals that create something out of nothing, innovate when there is none, create paths where there are thick forests, and simplify the complicated. These are individuals that become so indispensable that in a world of quick staff replacements, shrinking middle class, and lack of leadership, linchpins work in chaos and create value wherever they go. Bilingual and bicultural linchpins, specifically, are in short supply. The question is how do we build more, how do we inspire and empower more to come out of the woodwork and start creating more out of nothing? Let's start with acknowledging the obvious and let's get back to work. The discussion continues. … [Read more...]

Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet with Earl Meininger, PHR, of Vancouver, WA-based Columbia Machine, Inc., a global leading manufacturer of concrete products equipment, serving customers in over 100 countries. We discussed their current workforce demands and the need to have the right technical bilingual/bicultural team members who can enable and help the company sustain and grow into the Latin American market. My takeaways from the meeting & tour: 1. The Manufacturing Industry Columbia Machine engineers and builds multi-million dollar customized equipment in Vancouver, WA and sells them to clients around the world. Upon entering the facilities, we had to wear safety eyeglasses and protective hearing plugs, and observe safety precautions such as watching out for moving forklifts and cranes. The equipment varies based on the customers demands. For instance, one machine can mix concrete and produce concrete cylinder blocks (all types), another machine replaces … [Read more...]

Over the weekend, I was reading through my email feeds and read @fredwilson's post on "Own Your Online Brand." And, Fred's right. We might not be able to control the negatives others write about us online, but we certainly can control the positive brand we seek to image ourselves and apply that online. You see, Google, the world's largest search engine, indexes in such a way that pushes the live content as well as those pages that are most active to the top of the page. Which means when I type, "David Molina, Oregon" I will find my LinkedIn profile, closely followed by my columns at LatinosPoliticsBlog.com, and then BilingualHire. All those are positive because they tell anyone searching for me, who I am, my writing, and my business. It gives readers a small taste of what to expect when they meet me. However, if I type, "David Molina, BilingualHire" then it pushes all of our BilingualHire content to the top, including heavy emphasis on these blog posts and my personal Facebook page. … [Read more...]

Let's face it. Interviews can be grueling. We assume because we have degrees or know someone we're a shoe-in. Here's some open distilled thoughts. Feel free to add or subtract. Details: know the details of the position you are applying for. Know it inside out. Talk to those who are employed at that organization beforehand, and those in the office, customers, clients, etc. Ask them about the position. The challenges it faces. Google the organization. What are the blogs, news media outlets, Facebook and Twitter, and other companies saying about the organization? If possible, talk to the person who just vacated the position, or others that currently occupy similar posts. Know the details and the needs. Know where the organization is headed. Gear: dress according to the position you are interviewing for. If you are applying for an office type position, might be helpful that you dress as to how you will actually be dressing during the course of your position. Always consider dressing … [Read more...]