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Employers tell Spanish speakers: 'We need you': Police, bank, others seek bilingual staff as Latino population grows
(News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 1--RALEIGH -- Jose Rios knows firsthand how some members of the Latino community feel about the police.
The Raleigh police officer, who grew up in a Latino neighborhood, said negative perceptions of law enforcement workers could have started generations ago, when reports of racially and ethnically motivated police brutality were a regular occurrence.
Rios spent Monday at the State Fairgrounds, away from his normal duties, trying to recruit people with backgrounds similar to his.
"There's a fear of being accepted in law enforcement, and my job is to make them feel comfortable," he said.
The Raleigh Police Department was one of 30 employers at a job fair held by TV station Univision 40-WUVC.
The channel's fourth annual fair focused on bilingual positions in the Triangle, which are increasing despite the national economic downturn.
"We're here because we want to send a message: We need you; your community needs you," said Barbara Cojocar, the detective in charge of recruiting for the Raleigh police.
Univision started the fair to connect viewers with longtime advertisers who want to diversify.
"We have a strong brand, so the station is a strong vehicle for giving back to the community," said Yvonne Cerna, director of marketing and communications at Univision 40.
"There is almost never a shortage of jobs for bilingual speakers, especially in this area, where the Hispanic community is growing."
About 250 applicants attended the fair, down from 500 last year. The number of employers stayed consistent, though Cerna noted that more companies have started to contact her because of their interest in tapping into the community.
From 1990 to 2008, the Hispanic population in the counties that make up the Triangle grew 623 percent, according to census projections.
Maria Garcia, 28, has been in the United States for eight months. She moved from Bogota, Colombia, after getting married to a U.S. citizen. She specialized in communications in Colombia and was at the fair hoping to find a job as a translator.
"But I am very nervous about my English," she said. "I have a hard time introducing myself, and that's the main problem."
Major employers come
Fair participants filtered through the Kerr Scott Building all day, talking to employers such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, BB&T and Bright Horizons child care.
David Kane, director of recruiting for Leith automotive, was looking for salespeople, exclusively.
"It's an important part of business to get bilingual salespeople so the Hispanic consumer feels more comfortable," he said. "People are still buying cars, and especially within the Latino community."
Lane & Associates Family Dentistry made its first appearance at the fair.
Chris Tanas, vice president of business operations, said the company wants to hire Spanish-speaking employees to attract Spanish-speaking patients.
More important than hiring, however, is being a presence.
"We need to show our face," Kane said. "If we end up hiring people, that's a bonus."
sadia.latifi@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-4768
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