CityWorks DC’s Hospitality Talent Pipeline Pilot Results in Residents Getting Jobs

Nearly 70 candidates were hired by Levy Restaurants at a Friday hiring event 

WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this month, CityWorks DC held a hiring event with Levy Restaurants, a hospitality partner to major entertainment and sports venues, including Nationals Park and Audi Field. The event featured interviews with Levy managers for various positions, including Food & Beverage Supervisor, Cook, Suites Attendant, and Catering Attendant.  Since the event on January 12, the organization has already hired sixty-nine candidates from the event, with more anticipated as applications continue.  

The hiring fair was an initiative of the Hospitality Talent Pipeline Pilot, a collaboration between Hire Local DC, CityWorks DC, Donohoe Hospitality, Levy, and an additional 18 local hospitality employers and 20 local education and training providers. The Pilot was developed to streamline recruitment and hiring by coordinating employers and education and training providers and to meet the industry’s pressing hiring needs with job-ready local talent. The Pilot has led to 78 job offers of talent across the city to in-demand careers.

"Hospitality employers, including Levy Restaurant Group and Donohoe Hospitality, shared the most important qualities they needed to see in candidates," said Erin Bibo, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at CityWorks DC. "We created a Job Readiness Rubric and resources for the education and training partners to prepare their candidates for the Hiring Event. Partners like DC Public Schools, the Workforce Investment Council, and United Planning Organization held Job Readiness sessions with their candidates to refine their resumes, practice their interviewing skills, and learn more about Levy Restaurant Group and the jobs they were hiring. All these efforts resulted in candidates who were ready when it came time to interview."

Brieanna Womack, a DC Public Schools alumna, said she learned much about interviewing at the DCPS Job Readiness Session, where she "got my resume shined." Enrique Williams also "learned a lot" at the Job Readiness Session, where he worked on his elevator pitch and learned about the importance of preparing for interviews by researching the company.

 “At CityWorks DC, our goal is to connect our city’s youth and young adults to jobs with growth potential,” said Jennie Niles, CEO of CityWorks DC. “Levy Restaurants has an excellent track record of higher than average wages and supporting the growth of its employees through promotion opportunities.”

Antwanye Ford, Chair of the DC Workforce Investment Council, has lifted this pilot as an exemplary model. "This is a case of providers and employers working better-  and smarter -  together, and it's benefitting our residents."

“I’m doing this for my son,” said Shyair Via, a hiring event attendee. “I haven’t worked since last year, and today, I was offered the role of a host.”

CityWorks DC will hold hiring events with more hospitality partners in February and March.  

Learn more about CityWorks DC at cityworksdc.org and Levy at levyrestaurants.com.