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2010

Teri McElrath

US Cellular Talent Acquisition

Bi-Lingual Recruitment Chicago

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Bi-Lingual Recruitment Best Practices

Employer Sessions

US Cellular representatives from Talent Acquisition, Sales, Customer Care, and Associate Relations

partner to facilitate a presentation for job seekers. The presentation provides an overview of the

company, the Dynamic Organization, benefits, career opportunities, and how to apply for current

opportunities. The employer session allows recruiters the opportunity to meet face to face with job

seekers and answer any questions directly. By partnering with the Sales Organization, the job seekers

get a pre-view of what it is like to work in our retail stores. This format has proven successful at

organizations such as Operation Able. Currently USCC facilitates a monthly employer session on site at

Operation Able. This organization has produced Latino hires for the BCCC and Sales Organizations

utilizing this format.

BlackBerry 101

Talent Acquisition and the Sales Organization partner to facilitate Blackberry 101 events within the

community at monthly chamber meetings. This format allows the Sales Organization the opportunity to

update members on new promotions, devices launching, and drive traffic into the local retail stores.

This format also allows Talent Acquisition the opportunity to provide updates regarding current

opportunities within the area. This format has proven successful at the Hispanic Lake County Chamber.

Low Cost Recruitment Events

Organizations like Operation Able have offered to donate conference and meeting room space for US

Cellular recruitment events. US Cellular has the opportunity to host recruitment events/job fairs for little

or no cost. Leveraging space, volunteers, free advertising, and other resources will be critical in

building a strategy for 2010.

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Operation Able

Neighborhood: Chicago Pilsen Area (Near-West Chicago) DSM: Mary O’Malley & Chuck Watson ASM Territories Served: Shanel Smith, Martin Malkowski, Natasha Thompson, Carmen Ritacca US Cellular’s Targeted Communities: City South, City North, Suburban Southeast, Suburban Nearwest Best Practice: Employer Sessions (1st Tuesday Monthly)

Demographics: Pilsen is Chicago's largest Latino community. According to Claritas, Inc, of a total 1998 population of

44,133, 93.5% are Latino, predominantly of Mexican heritage. The median age in Pilsen is 18 years the

youngest for any Chicago community. More than a third (36%) of the community's children live below the

federal poverty level. Of the 12,340 households in Pilsen, approximately 22% are headed by women, and

31% have incomes of less than $15,000 per year. The 1989 median household income in Pilsen was

$20,571, more than 20% lower than the citywide median of $26,301. Between 1979 and 1989, the

median income in Pilsen declined 8%, compared to a 1% decline for the city.

About Operation Able National Able Network® is a nonprofit agency working to serve individuals, families and communities by bringing together qualified job seekers and businesses. Since 1977, Able's experienced, multicultural professionals provide the training, the personal skills, and the job search techniques that help people enter or re-enter the workforce as quickly and as easily as possible. Operation Able is a liaison between employers and those that have filed for unemployment through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Operation Able pre-screens job seekers to ensure that candidates minimum qualifications. US Cellular partners with Operation Able to facilitate “Employer Sessions” once a month onsite at their

office in Pilsen to talk to candidates about Retail Sales opportunities and encourage applicants to apply

on-line.

Resources Available Pre-screening and referrals Free conference room space for Recruiting Events Computer Center for job seekers to complete application

Recommendations: Next Steps Spring 2010 USCC Bi-lingual Recruitment Event on site at Operation Able Continue Monthly “Employer Sessions” targeting bi-lingual Spanish candidates

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Hispanic Lake County Chamber of Commerce

Neighborhood: Lake County DSM: Mary O’Malley ASM Territories Served: Suzanne Levine, Hershil Sheth US Cellular’s Targeted Locations: Chicago Suburban North Best Practice: Blackberry 101

Demographics: According to the 2000 Census, the Hispanic population is the second largest community in Lake County

and the third largest Latino community in the State of Illinois. If we take a look at neighboring

communities within the Chicagoland area, Cook County has approximately 1,229,964 million Latino

residents, Kane County; 145,035, Lake County; 139,958, Dupage County; 117, 130, McHenry; 36, 159,

and Kenosha Count;: 16, 038 residents. This data indicates that leveraging relationships in Lake County

will be critical in building and implementing a strategy to increase quantity, quality, and diversity of

talent in the North Suburban area.

About Lake County Chamber of Commerce: The Lake County Chamber of Commerce was established in 1915 as the Waukegan Chamber of

Commerce. The two main goals of the Lake County Chamber are to provide member businesses with

opportunities and value for their membership. Monthly networking opportunities at the Chamber

include the twice-monthly Networkers Group, Women's Networkers, the Hispanic Networking Group, a

Business After Hours hosted by a member business, and the Business Luncheon series. These

networking opportunities are supplemented by educational programs and seminars, community events,

an annual business showcase, and the Chamber's annual events, the golf outing, and the annual dinner.

Resources Available Hispanic Radio Station Broadcast on Sunday Networking Events within Latino Community Central location to host recruitment events

Recommendations Next Steps: US Cellular Blackberry 101 Spring & Fall 2010 Partner with Chamber to host 2010 Lake County Bi-lingual Recruitment Event Utilize Hispanic Radio Station to broadcast job opportunities

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Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Neighborhood: City of Chicago DSM: Mary O’Malley & Chuck Watson ASM Territories Served: Shanel Smith, Martin Malkowski, Natasha Thompson, Carmen Ritacca Best Practice: TBD

About Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) is the leading Hispanic business, networking, advocacy and development organization in Illinois. With more than 1,400 members, the IHCC is committed to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships -- matching government agencies and corporations with qualified Hispanic businesses; creating targeted forums for networking and advancement opportunities, and providing a vision for inclusion, integrity, empowerment and success of Hispanic-owned businesses, creating sustained progress and benefit for the entire community.

The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) is the principal voice for the more than 45,000 Hispanic owned businesses in the State of Illinois. IHCC promotes the growth and success of Hispanic firms and serves as a strong advocate for business issues.

Recommendations Next Steps: Partner with IHCC to host Spring Bi-lingual Recruitment Event @ Operation Able USCC representative should attend monthly meetings for visibility Join the IHCC as a Corporate Sponsor Sponsor a 2010 IHCC Meeting Engage IHCC Board about Business to Business opportunities

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Little Village Chamber of Commerce

Neighborhood: City of Chicago (Near Southside) DSM: Mary O’Malley & Chuck Watson ASM Territories Served: Shanel Smith, Martin Malkowski, Natasha Thompson, Carmen Ritacca Best Practice: TBD

Demographics: Little Village is a thriving commercial area in Chicago’s West Side with more than 1,000 businesses that

offer a vast array of goods and services. It is also home to the largest Mexican community in the

Midwest, a fact reflected by the many unique Mexican specialty products available from merchants in

the area. Little Village residents and business owners are amply recognized for their entrepreneurial

spirit, strong work ethic, and commitment to family and community. Businesses in Little Village create

jobs for thousands of residents.

The aggregated expenditure data underscores the purchasing power and consumer preferences of Little

Italy and nearby residents. In 2002, over $24 million was spent on apparel, $10 million on

television/electronics, and $9 million on housekeeping and supplies.

About Little Village Chamber of Commerce: The Little Village Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization that has represented the

interests of local businesses for more than 30 years. Its mission is to promote and support the growth

and success of businesses in Little Village and to leverage the community’s unique cultural identity to

generate new opportunities. The Chamber works closely with business and community leaders;

government agencies; law enforcement; corporate partners; elected officials and others to address the

issues that affect the community and the commercial area.

The Little Village Chamber of Commerce serves its members and promotes the Little Village business

community by focusing on these primary areas: Training, Assistance, Advocacy, and Commercial

Development. Additional information about the Chamber’s program, events and activities and the Little

Village community is available here on their website.

Recommendations Next Steps: Attend Little Village Chamber Meeting to explore partnership opportunities Join Little Village Chamber of Commerce Sponsor Business Expo 2010 Sponsor Mexican Independence Day Parade 2010

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2010 Challenges

Chicago West Suburban The number of days to fill a bi-lingual opportunity in the Western Suburbs compared to other

areas of the city far exceeds the 30-45 day preferred metric. Moving forward in 2010, it will be

imperative to identify partnership opportunities to help increase the quality and quantity of talent in

this area.

Chicago Northwest/Northeast Suburban This area appears to be a challenge as it relates to quality of talent in the Sales Organization. It

will be crucial to maintain the relationship with the Lake County Hispanic Chamber and utilize the

Chamber relationships to build applicant pools in this area. There is a need to take this relationship to

the next level and host recruitment events in the Lake County area. Alejandro Alumbreros, Store

Manager, has been instrumental in helping foster this relationship.

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Contacts & USCC Partners

Hispanic Pro Alfonso Barrera, Founder

Hispanic Lake County Chamber Jose Rodriguez, Director

Illinois Hispanic Chamber Adrian Soto, Director Entrepreneurship Center

Illinois Hispanic Chamber Arabel Rosales, Chairman

Operation Able Joyce Austin, Coordinator

US Cellular Sales Jose Jacome, Jose Cortes, Mario Rodriguez, Alejandro

Alumbreros

US Cellular Care Centers Derrick Achacosos

US Cellular Associate Relations Andrea Leonas, Timeka Young

Upcoming Events/Other Organizations

USHLI National Convention: February 2010 Hispanic Pro Networking Event: March 2010 Operation Able Employer Session: March 2010 Illinois Hispanic Chamber Monthly Meeting: March 2010 Illinois Hispanic Chamber and US Cellular’s Blackberry 101: Spring 2010 Little Village Business Expo: March 2010 Little Village Sidewalk Sale: April 2010 Little Village “Mexican Independence Day” Parade: September 2010

Additional Resources

Little Village Chamber of Commerce: www.lavillitachamber.org/About.html Lake County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: www.lakecountychamber.com Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: http://www.ihccbusiness.net/ Operation Able: www.nationalable.org/ Demographics: wikipedia