Sustainable Job Searching
The line snaked down the hall, as an eager group of future workers came to learn more about starting sustainable construction careers. Northwest Natural Gas offered its meeting space for the February Sustainable Career Fair, coordinated by Constructing Hope, Home Building Foundation, and Home Building Association of Greater Portland. Invitations to participate went out to companies that focus on sustainability. Businesses were recruited from HBA’s rosters, its Home Performance Council, Earth Advantage, and the community.
Nearly 80 trainees attended from four pre-apprenticeship programs for adults: Constructing Hope, Oregon Tradeswomen, P.O.I.C., and Portland Youth Builders. The trainees had some mock interviews before they came, and they approached the booths well prepared with questions. Constructing Hope trainee Caleb Dosier told us he had not been aware of that there were so many options.” It was awesome to get all this information from all of these businesses! It was really cool.”
The trainees were incentivized to work the room. Each had a passport to get stamped when they spoke with potential employers, then were entered in a raffle for prizes. HBA Members Builders FirstSource’s team talked about their environmentally friendly “Ready Frame” system. BFS’s Paul Jefferies told us “It was fantastic! It was great to talk with the trainees.” New member Akeem Griffin is a Constructing Hope graduate himself, and usually had a table full of trainees wanting his attention. TaylorSmith’s Lauren Schumacher says even though they aren’t currently hiring, they took advantage of the opportunity to build their roster of potential employees.
The Career Fair was developed by HBF and HBA as a result of the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Longtime HBF partner Constructing Hope won a more than $7 million- dollar workforce grant to help prepare their trainees and those from the other three adult programs for sustainable construction careers. The coalition, known collectively as PATP, all receive a two- day intensive in their training sessions from Earth Advantage, then are awarded a certificate in sustainability.
HBA and HBF are partners in the grant, with the intention of bringing “green” construction careers to people most adversely affected by climate change. Over the next three years, HBA and HBF are providing educational opportunities such as this career fair, and inviting the trainees to attend HBA sustainability events such as BuildRight. These engagement events could not have better timing. A recent analysis by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis expects 4,000 new construction jobs in the coming year, more than any other industry.
From speaking with the trainees, career fairs like this one could prove to be a catalyst. Ina Avendano Howe of Oregon Tradeswomen told us this was a great way to help trainees explore career options. “Our students found it helpful and two are determined to go in the direction of sustainable trades.” As for Constructing Hope trainee Dosier told us he became excited about pursuing a career in solar installation.
NW Natural Gas representative Sama Shagaga exclaimed they are happy to host again. “It was a fantastic event, everyone here was thrilled with the impact.” HBA and HBF would like to thank all of the companies that participated: Builders FirstSource, Earth Advantage EnerCity Collaborative Greensavers Gryphon Custom Homes Habitat for Humanity Portland, HomeRX, Lovett Deconstruction, Noyes Development, NW Energy Collaborative, NW Natural Gas, OSSIA, Resilient Retrofits, Swift Sure Energy, Sunbridge Solar, TaylorSmith Sustainable Construction.