Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each and every week we come together right here we
talk about all the topics important to you and the
place where you live. Thanks for joining us again this week,
and Happy Patriots Day. I'm Nicole Davis. Trying to find
a job these days can be overwhelming. It best. It
kind of feels like you're one of a flood of
people applying for limited positions. And you know, then if
(00:30):
something's not a scam and you actually do find something
and it seems to work out, something seems to go wrong.
Either the pay doesn't fit what you need, the commute's
not right, you need hybrid, you can't get hybrid, it's
not the right skill set, you don't have a degree,
I mean, you name it. The problems are never ending,
it seems here in the Boston area. There is a
message this week though, from those working in hospitality. We're
(00:52):
hiring and by the way, we need you right now.
Meet Boston is putting on a new regional job fair
focusing on hospitality, hoping to connect to those who need
work with hundreds of opportunities and restaurants and tourism and hotels,
all of which are a huge part of our city's economy.
Martha Sheridan, the president of Meet Boston, is here to
talk about it with us along with Conan Harris of
(01:13):
Conan Harris and Associates. Martha, before we go and start
talking about the job fair, I'd really like to get
your input about the job market in Boston period, Like,
what are you seeing when it comes to businesses, when
it comes to job hirings and firings. We're in such
a period of economic instability. What are you noticing in
your position.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Or so there is work available in the tourism and
hospitality sector, for sure, Nicole. We are we're a year
round destination, certainly in Boston and Cambridge in the greater
Boston area, but we do have seasonal ebbs and flows,
to be quite honest with you, So I think you
know what we are seeing is that while the year
(01:53):
round workforce has somewhat stabilized since those horrific times of
COVID when we were very, very understaffed, the seasonal aspect
of what we do is still very important. So our
businesses get very busy from May right through November, and
they do need those extra extra people on hand to
(02:16):
fill those shifts. So we're here to find the right people.
But even beyond that, you know, we call this a
career fair because we want to use this event to
introduce people to this industry as a potentially full time,
lifelong career opportunity. So this is a really good way
for us to do it, whether it's hiring someone on
(02:36):
as a seasonal employee and then they end up getting
hooked and staying or just talking to people that are
in the room about what other opportunities might be out there.
This is a great place for us to make sure
that we emphasize it's a great industry to make a career.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
And Conan obviously, you do a lot of work with
connecting underserved communities to work opportunities, and you really folks
on making sure that there is equity and there's equal
opportunity in these job opportunities. Tell me what you're seeing
out there when it comes to connecting people to the
hospitality industries and so on and so forth.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I think it's similar to what Martha just alluded to
in a sense of we want to make sure that
this industry is connected to all of Boston residents and
we want our neighborhoods to know that there's a career
opportunity out there for them, but not just people from
my neighborhoods. We'll make sure that our students recognize that
this hospitality is something that's open for you. We want
(03:33):
the job seekers to understand that hospitality is not just
a job but a career. But for those folks who
do want to be having an internships or part time employment,
that the industry is open to them. We want to
make sure that we're creating that identity, that understanding and
making sure that that connection takes place.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Now, you brought up a really good point, Martha, because
I know that meat Boston has been working really hard
over the past couple of years about talking about how
all of is a tourist destination and look lifelong almost
lifelong Boston resident at this point, So like, I wholeheartedly agree,
all of our neighborhoods have something to offer, and I
think this is a great opportunity to not just connect
(04:13):
people from around Boston who want a job, but also
maybe highlighting other businesses that may be hiring that people
may not have focused on in the first place.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Absolutely, and you know, we do make sure that we
cast a wide net when it comes to seeking out
businesses to exhibit at the career Fair. So we really
want to make sure that businesses in Roxbury, in Mattapan,
in Hyde Park, Cambridge all know that if you have
positions available, come on down and set up your set
(04:42):
up your table, meet some people, and you know it's
good for the It's good for the workforce as well,
because the workforce might automatically assume, well, I'm going to
have to commute to downtown Boston for a job in
tourism and hospitality. But what we're showing them by having
businesses that are throughout every neighborhood, you may be able
(05:03):
to find a job right around the corner for you.
And as we talked about having getting students involved in
this industry, what better way to make it really easy
for them to latch onto tourism and hospitality than to
create jobs for them right where they live. So that's
really a really important part of this effort here.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah, and Conan and I appreciate the fact that you
bring to this job fair so many different ways for
people to get involved. I think people sometimes get overwhelmed
when writing a resume, right, like there's so many different
types of resumes, and you have to think about keywords,
and you have to think about these days. It's so
complicated And cover letters? Do I cover letter? Do I
not cover letter? Anymore? Is this nineteen ninety nine? I
(05:42):
never know, I never know if I should cover letter.
So tell me a little bit about what people will
get to take advantage of when they come to the
job fair, not just opportunities, but like resources that.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
You have of First, I just want to recognize me
Boston and just saying you know, they have a partnership
organization and this is their gift to their partners to say, listen,
you guys are ramping up doing business and you need
more Boston residents to have an opportunity for employment. We
want to create this atmosphere where all of Boston residents
can get an opportunity to see the work that is
(06:15):
out there and participate. So that's huge. Secondly, we looked
at ways to improve some of the work that was
taking place and said, how do we create resources for
these job seekers that are coming. And one of the
ways that we thought to do that was thinking about
how do we create dress with success when you go
into an interview, what do you need to look like,
how do you need to carry yourself? What are some
(06:36):
of the perks to understanding different uniforms to put on
when you're going to present in front of a potential employer.
Then once you're in the job, how do you advocate
and navigate for yourself to get from these entry level
roles to more management roles. I'm going to open that
door up, and we know that all of these particular
jobs and industries understand customer service. This is an end
(06:59):
of street that is about how do you engage people?
How do you talk to folks? What's that smile when
people walk into that hotel and you're the first portion
of entry. That is the ploy that's the resources that
we want to make sure that we're providing for folks.
Not only that, we're looking at how do we make
sure folks get meant their haircut well, I do want
(07:20):
them to get their makeup done, want to be their
best self in front of employees, employers, and they get
those headshots. It took me forever to give my own
personal handshots, So for us to be able to provide
that for the particular folks, it's a huge resources for
folks that are coming in off the street going to
a career fear. We're not only giving you employers, but
(07:40):
we want to set you up so you can be
successful in front of those employers. That's where the workshops
are coming in place and the other resources.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
And you talked about the students too, I mean, this
is just incredible knowledge for them to get. You're not
going to learn a lot of this in school these days.
I mean you've got economics classes and civics and all that,
but this is lifeless. This is so far beyond book
smart stuff. So being seventeen, sixteen, eighteen years old and
coming to a job fair like this, I mean, this
(08:08):
puts them so many steps ahead.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Well in two, I think the format that we have
is you know, at first, it's probably somewhat intimidating for
people that are new to this formula. Sure, but if
you're coming into that room and you know last year
we had eighty businesses exhibiting, say that you get the
opportunity to sit down with eight or ten of them
during your time there and drop off your resume. Each
(08:33):
time you go to a new table, you get a
little less intimidated, you feel a little more comfortable, You
know what kind of questions you're going to have to answer,
and they can carry that with them outside of that room.
Even if they don't end up with a connection at
this particular job career fair event, when they go for
a job interview on their own, they're already starting to
(08:53):
build really essential skills that we're helping them with so
that they can go out into the world and see
that kind a type of job that they might want
and conan.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Honestly, I think this works both ways because for employers,
as they get to meet all these fresh faced new
people that are coming through from maybe a younger generation,
this is really just helping them become more inclusive too
by getting introduced to new groups of people.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Huge And one of the things that we saw is
that when we said is all work is good work, right,
but we want to not just look at support employers
with entry level role folks and some of just our students.
We want some of our folks that's in midteria to
look at this hospitality industry as a place where they
can find a home to build that to pivot and
build that second phase of their career and say, hey,
(09:40):
this is the opportunity for you to be as somebody's
executive roles to build into somebody's board roles. That is
crucial and important as well. To look at this industry,
it's not just for our entry level folks in our students.
As much as we want them to be here and
be a part of this, we also want some of
our Threa folks, the gut more experience that understands management
(10:00):
looks like that understands how to be evern, engage folks
at a more entry level and then put them in
management roles so they can go and find a new
career and opportunity to find success in this industry, Tonan.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
A great example of that is right with me Boston,
where a couple of years ago we interviewed a woman
we had a vice president level position available and we
hired her from the career fair No, okay, yeah, this
is not just entry level. That's such a good point, Conan.
We want to make sure people know there's every level here.
Could be accounting, it could be security. We have one
(10:35):
of our big hoteliers, you know, hired a great security
person that's been there you know, since they got hired.
And there's so many different levels that this answers too,
So we want to make sure we impress that upon folks.
It's not just entry level, it's not just part time.
It's full time, it's salary, it's hourly, it's whatever you need.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
It to be.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Let's talk about the what one or why, because obviously
this is happening soon. So Martha tell us a little
bit about where this is going to be and when
it is, do you need tickets, so on and so forth.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I'll tell you it's April twenty ninth at the Highatt
Regency Okay in Boston, downtown Boston, which is easily accessible
via public transportation, which is really important. But I'll let
Conan tell the audience how they can register, because that's
an important component. That's your portal, that's your entry, not
just to the Career Fair, but to other benefits that
(11:30):
you're going to receive.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
And just know that it's from eleven to three. It's
at me Boston dot com. You can go right to
the met Boston website and plug right in and it
will be there. But also you can come and we'll
register you on site. Just know that it's an eleven
am to three pm. But it's important to note this, Nico,
this is not just the one all of meat Boston.
(11:53):
This isn't their drinking water. They do workforce development year round,
They're doing supply diversity work year round. This is not
This is one one part of a larger conversation for them,
and they want to make sure that they're infiltrate in
this industry with all of Boston residents and give them
all of Boston residents and opportunity to see this industry
(12:13):
as a place that they can call home. And not
just kudos to them, but respect to them for continuing
this work long term.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Absolutely. Look, it's a combined effort because you're out there
doing the work, meet Boston is out there doing the work.
And we have such a diverse and educated and incredible city.
We're all going to find our space here eventually. A
quick question for advice, if somebody is listening and they
want to come to the job fair, what should they bring?
They were past the days of like printing out your resume?
(12:42):
Do we still do that?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Like?
Speaker 1 (12:43):
What should people have with them?
Speaker 2 (12:45):
I think I think it hurts go ahead, going on it.
I don't think a resume would hurt.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah, I think that if you don't, you can bring
your resume, but you can also have it on your
phone that you can email it in because what we
have is a portal that you can slide it through
as well and that the employers will have access to
as you have in these conversations. So yes, I think
that one the old school is always the best way.
Having something in your hand. But come ready for an interview,
(13:13):
because we want to make sure that you're ready to
put your best foot forward, Come ready to look at
employers in the face, have a conversation about the opportunity
of employment with Come put your best foot forward, have
your resume in hand if you chose to, but I
would I would recommend doing that. You can never lose
or being ready right on, right on task. So I
(13:33):
love that come ready and prepared for an interview.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
I hear that, all right, Martha. What where can people
find more information about meet Boston. I mean, you have
so many great initiatives right now, we just don't have
time to go through all of them, unfortunately. But where
can people find out more about the work you're doing for.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
This and for other activities that we're involved in. Just
go to meet Boston dot com. We have a beautiful,
robust website with lots of links right from the homepage
to things like this and other events that we're working on.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
And Conan, what about the work you're doing in the
neighborhoods and getting out there in our community. How can
people find you?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Send an email otway. We look forward to engaging everyone,
and you'll see the Meet Boston on Korea feel on
our website as well, so please feel free to engage all.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Right, great Conanharrison Associates dot com, Meetboston dot com, Conanharris,
Martha from Meet Boston, It's been wonderful having you on
the show. Thank you both for your time.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
Thank you appreciate it, pleasure. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join me again
next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole
Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.