The university’s Center of Career and Workforce Development is thrilled to announce that they have received a PA Smart Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, a grant that will support the Hispanic community. Tracy Montoro, the director of workforce development, and Hayley Anderson, the director of communications and outreach for the center for career and workforce development, discussed the purpose behind the grant.
“We’re excited to share a resource designed to support regional workforce development with the community at no cost. This is one way we can help remove barriers that keep the regional workforce from connecting with the employer.” Montoro emphasized.
According to the most recent Census data from 2020, over a quarter of Harrisburg’s population identifies as Hispanic, and the Latino community is the fastest-growing demographic in Pennsylvania. Also, Cumberland County is one of the fastest-growing areas in both the Harrisburg region and the state and is also seeing an increase in its Hispanic population, furthering the need for Spanish resources.
The module was created in collaboration with Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and further supported by the South-Central Pennsylvania (SCPA) Works Workforce Development Board and the local Career Center. It was also supported by several university members, including the Global Language Department. Associate Professor, José Ricardo-Osorio, created the Spanish translation for the module and ensured that the Spanish provided is inclusive to all types of Spanish speakers from different countries and regions.
The program is primarily aimed at entry-level job seekers, walking participants through the steps of creating a resume. It helps users understand what a resume is, how to format one and what content to include. The Spanish-language version of the module highlights the differences between resume standards in the US and other countries. There is also a free English version of the module available.
Anderson explained the module’s accessibility and user-friendliness. “It’s a self-paced online module that’s free, 24/7, 365… You can use it as many times as you want,” she said.
The Center of Career and Workforce Development plans to share the module with organizations that serve the Hispanic community. Among these organizations includes the Latino Connection, LHACC, Centro Hispano and more. The module will also be shared across multiple local school districts.
Beyond the resume module, the team is expanding Spanish-language training for businesses. Montoro discussed how the workforce development team has worked with large employers like Walmart and Mattel to provide Spanish language training for supervisors.
As more organizations and companies jump on board, customized training such as English for non-English speakers and Spanish for English speakers is becoming increasingly in demand. Through these language services, more people will feel encouraged and welcomed into the workforce.
Anderson has been closely involved in the module’s technical development, and confirmed that more Spanish-language resources are to come and that the resume module is live and available for immediate use.
Looking to the future, Montoro and Anderson are excited about expanding outreach for this project and continuing to support Spanish-speaking resources throughout the community. As the Hispanic population grows within the area, the need for more resources is vital – the resume module is a step toward encouraging Spanish speaking communities to join the workforce with a sense of encouragement and confidence.
Resume Modules (English and Spanish)
Resume Modules Contributors:
- Allyson Burt
- Melinda Fraker de Fonte
- Victoria Kerr
- Ryan Kudasik
- Tracy Montoro
- José Ricardo-Osorio
